Moving from east coast to west cost-MD to WA

**amihere** · 03-07-2011, 05:56 PM

Hi there,

we are moving from Maryland to Seattle, and were planning to make it as a road trip.we have only 3 days to reach there and dont want to waste a lot of our time.

also we are planning to drive for 8 hrs/day .

if anybody can give us some alternate/ best routes that would be nice.

TIA

**Midwest Michael** · 03-07-2011, 07:27 PM

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I'm sorry, but your plan doesn't add up - and it really isn't close.

You certainly can't make this trip in 3 days covering 8 hours a day - in fact, there is no way you can safely cover this distance at all in that time frame.

There are a few different routes you could take, but they are all about 2800 miles. To do that safely, you need a bare minimum of 5 days, and that would be in the 10-12 hour a day range. You're looking at needing a minimum of a week to make the trip driving only 8 hours a day.

BTW, Trying to do it in 3 days would mean you'd have to be driving for 18 hours a day for all three days - and simply put that's homicidal no matter how many drivers you have. If you only have 3 days, you can't drive - period.

**Southwest Dave** · 03-08-2011, 01:57 AM

To put it into perspective, to drive that far in 3x8 hour days you would have to drive at 115mph from door to door without stopping for gas, food or a bathroom break, even with a police escort it is not possible. Michael's advice is spot on with 5 day's being the minimum to do the trip safely. That would mean actually driving for 8/9 hours a day, but by the time you add breaks for lunch, bathroom, to stretch the legs and fill with gas you will be on the road for 10-12 hours as suggested.

**greenacresmama** · 03-10-2011, 02:07 AM

I would try flying and shipping your car. I have talked to a lot of people about driving this fast and it sounds flat out dangerous and could make you literally sick. This would not be and I think that a cross country should at least try to be a little fun! If you don't have time, maybe a relative has more time and would like to trip the car for you if you paid for gas and then you got on a plane.. Just a thought.. And my nephew in law did this with 3 other people and they shifted the driving and made another person stay awake and watch and they still said it sucked bad..

**amihere** · 03-16-2011, 10:43 AM

HELLO EVERYONE,

We are planning a road trip from Maryland to Seattle(one way), during march last week. We have 5 days to reach seattle , and want to drive for about 6-8hrs of daily.Would like to know some tried/best/alternate routes to be taken. Anyone have suggestions for routes.

TIA
Ami

MODERATOR NOTE: Please do not create multiple threads about the same trip

**Midwest Michael** · 03-16-2011, 10:50 AM

I'm sorry, but you need to read the answers to your original question.

It is still not possible to meet both of your goals. Driving 6-8 hours a day for 5 days will not get you to Seattle. You can cover the ground from MD to Seattle in that time, but you need to expect to be on the road for a good 12 hours a day at that pace.

Again, if you only want to drive 6-8 hours a day, then you need a minimum of a week for this trip.

**glc** · 03-16-2011, 12:49 PM

5 days. You need the absolute fastest route. That would be the PA/OH/IN toll roads, I-80/I-355/I-290 around Chicago, then I-90 the rest of the way to Seattle. This would give you overnights near:

Angola IN
Austin MN
Rapid City SD
Butte MT

You will be ON THE ROAD each day for at least 10 hours.

If you have a EZ-Pass, bring it. It will save you both time and money on the PA/OH/IN/IL toll roads.