Sacramento to Akron - suggestions?

[imported_maria]

My best friend asked me to accompany her on a trip out to Ohio. Leaving Sacramento this Friday around 2pm and hoping to get to Akron sometime Monday. Any suggestions as to how far we should drive each day to make it in this timeframe? Cities to rest in or things to do along the way?

Thanks a bunch!

This is a marathon kind of drive -- so it'll be tough to do it in your time frame unless you are both drivers. If you leave Sacramento (take I-80) at 2:00 PM on Friday, drive to Elko NV before you quit for the night (425 miles) -- you could get there with time out for dinner by 8:30 PM.

Saturday: Drive from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM, you can get to North Platte, NE. Lunch time falls around Evanston, WY and dinner around Pine Bluffs, WY (right on the WY/NE border). 894 miles.

Sunday: Leave at 7:00 AM, drive until 10:00 PM which will get you just across the Ohio border. Lunch is around Omaha and dinner falls about Joliet, IL. 921 miles.

Monday AM, you'll only have about 3 hours of driving left to get to Akron. 179 miles.

The total mileage is 2419, total driving time about 36 hours. I suggest you take rest stops about every 2 hours or so, even if just for a few minutes, but the driving times listed don't include those.

Personally, I do not recommend anyone plan a driving schedule this rigorous as it CAN be unsafe. You would be better off IMHO to stretch it out another day and take it a bit easier. That said, I have done trips of this type and it CAN be done -- just be mindful of your physical condition -- if you start yawning or otherwise getting fatigued, don't risk it. Take a break or switch drivers, or stop for the day. Just keep a flexible attitude about it so you'll be willing to alter your plans (or your schedule) if you need to -- then don't worry about it. Just go and have fun! It's an adventure!

Leave home at 2 PM. Drive 10 miles to airport. Buy ticket, fly to Akron/ Canton airport. Enjoy weekend in Ohio.

[imported_maria]

We are both driving. If we decide to take our time, any suggestions on things to see or do that are just off I80?

Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate it.

[imported_maria]

That would be my preference, but we're actually delivering the car to her hubby who just started his minor league baseball season. Actually, looking forward to the adventure.

Thanks for the input.

Flaming Gorge Recreation area in west Wyoming; Pony Express and Oregon Trail sites in Wyoming and Nebraska, the Amana Colonies and Herbert Hoover home and presidential library near Iowa City; and Chicago.

If it were me, I'd see the Amana Colonies and plan an afternoon bashing around downtown Chicago and the lakefront.