Driving solo from LA to Columbus, Ohio

[glc]

That drive is about 2250 miles, which can be done easily in five 450 mile days. If you drive the speed limit, don't encounter significant delays, and make "normal" 15 minute rest and fuel stops, this will have you on the road for about 8 hours a day, not including your lunch stop.

Breaking it into 5 equal days, overnights should be Flagstaff, Santa Rosa, OKC/Tulsa, and STL. Recommend you stay on the east side of the larger cities to avoid morning rush hour.

[DonnaR57]

If you follow GLC's advice about places to stay overnight, I'd take it one further: stay somewhere between OKC and Tulsa, to avoid cities. For STL, stay on the Illinois side - as far away as you can, as STL is a hot spot right now. Maybe Edwardsville or Vandalia?

Clean motels - well, frankly, my husband and I stayed in a few motels this summer while on our way to see our family. We like the properties under the Choice chain - Quality and Comfort Inn/Suites being our favorites. All of them were super clean, but if you're worried, take some wipes along with you.

I would be more concerned about two other places - fuel stations and restaurants. For fuel, which you're going to need and cannot avoid, take along a pair of gloves. If those are too cumbersome, then as soon as you finish fueling, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer! (Travel with your own!) For restaurants, you may be able to do a take-out and eat either in your car, a picnic table at a rest area, or in your motel room.

Rest areas - we found that most of them were "business as usual", and "about the normal" for state of cleanliness. Like always, though, I always prefer a truck stop/travel center, especially Flying J, Love's, Pilot or Petro. Those appear to be the cleanest during the rest of times, and were just as clean this time around.


Donna

[glc]

There is almost nothing between OKC and Tulsa, plus it's a toll road with very few exits. There is a Hampton Inn at the Stroud exit, everything else along that stretch are mom and pop places. On the northeast side of OKC, there's a bunch of hotels just south of the I-35/I-44 junction at the NE 122nd St exit. Just east of Tulsa, there's a few hotels at the Claremore exit. The only one right at the exit is a Super 8, the others require a drive through town. Between there and Joplin, there are a few at Vinita and Miami.

Best selection east of STL is Effingham, if you can make it that far.

[landmariner]

I will second staying in Effingham, IL, east a little way from St. Louis. The I-70/Rt 33 is a usual coffee and gas stop for me. Take the most direct northern by-pass around St. Louis (I-70-I-270-I-70). I've never had traffic issues this way but it does happen.

In Santa Rosa, NM, I would highly recommend La Mesa Motel, a very affordable basic Rt 66 motel without all the memorabilia. It has all the basics, is renovated from ground up a half dozen or so years ago, and is one of the cleanest hotel/motel I have ever stayed at.

[Jll2020]

Awesome! Big thanks!

[Jll2020]

Thank you so much...I'll check it out...

[Jll2020]

Thank you! Very helpful :)

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Thank you for the excellent info. Appreciate it.