Driving from Los Angeles to Baltimore, MD, Fastest Route?

[sd1023x]

So, I'm moving to Maryland, I'm taking off this thursday (July 21, 2005) and I'm having trouble planning my route from Los Angeles. I've asked people, well, I really didn't ask, they just volunteered their opinions to me and supposedly there are two routes, one kind of northern route that has long drive in mountain roads (no fun) and a middle route that is mostly flat country which sounds better to me. I'm not trying to do anything fancy, mostly I'm going drive as much as I can, sleep in motels along my driving route and keep chugging along.

Does anyone have any experience with this, any advice, any specific simple routes that will save me some time? Is mapquest the fastest route? It seems to have many exits and many many different freeways in which I can possibly make a wrong turn.

Tentatively I was thinking, 15N to 70...but after that I'm lost. I'm going to AAA to get some maps today to better plan my route, but advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Mark Sedenquist]

So, I'm moving to Maryland, I'm taking off this thursday (July 21, 2005) and I'm having trouble planning my route from Los Angeles. and supposedly there are two routes, one kind of northern route that has long drive in mountain roads (no fun) and a middle route that is mostly flat country which sounds better to me.

Actually there are, at least, 100 different routes you could follow, but if you are interested in the fastest route I-70 would be the one. I-70 does have mountains (the Colorado Rockies) and I-15 crosses three passes between Los Angeles and Las Vegas but it is the straight shot. Interstate highways are easy to travel and the mountains shouldn't be thought as that much a challenge to travel.

Is mapquest the fastest route? It seems to have many exits and many many different freeways in which I can possibly make a wrong turn.

There are about six major routing programs, Mapquest is just one of them -- the thing you have to keep in mind is that no matter what Mapquest or MSN, etc suggest as the time of travel -- when one factors in fuel stops, rest stops, construction, urban congestion, and eating, the best average speed you will ever be able to do on a 8-hour basis is 53 mph (to average 65 mph over 8-10 hours you would need to be going close to triple digits when on the road). A reasonable time period for this drive would be five days.

There are hundreds of route suggestions on this forum and elsewhere in the site for such a cross country adventure. Remember to have some fun!

[sd1023x]

thanks for the info, I did some more searchin and found this website: http://www.mapsonus.com and I think I know now how to at least stay on the 70.

Thanks for the info....53mph....hmmm...that sounds like a challenge to me. LOL

Thanks for your help.

-john

[Robert Schaller]

Whoever told you the middle route is "flat" is not quite correct. I'd guess the "middle" route is I-40 -- and it is anything but flat. From Kingman AZ all the way to Moriarty, NM, this route is up and down. Sure there are "flat" stretches, but you'll have some of those on I-70 as well.

These routes are both very scenic, in different ways. I'd also recommend I-70, as it is beautiful and you'll find it a bit cooler across Colorado, which will be nice this time of year. Once past Denver, however, it is as "flat" as the others!

I think I-40 is also a very fast route -- you can do this journey in about 4 days using I-40, I-44 and I-70.

Bob

[tjv189]

The above poster is correct. The best route would be to go I 10 E to I 15 N to I 40 E to I 44 E to I 70 E, then follow I 70 E all the way to Baltimore. There isn't a better route out there. I used to drive truck and I say this from my experience. Also, you can see the Grand Canyon and most of Route 66 along the route I mentioned. Very scenic also.