Eastern NC to Vegas via I-40! (AGAIN!)

[Midwest Michael]

Okay, is this better? I know y'all don't like the Goldsboro to Nashville drive, but we've done it several times before, so I know we'll be fine.

Um, I don't think anyone ever said that Goldsboro to Nashville alone was the problem. At 600 miles, that's a very full day on the road, but by itself, that's a safe and sustainable pace.

It was make the 600 mile drive in the morning, explore the city in the afternoon, and then follow it up on the next day with a late breakfast before heading out on a 700+ mile drive that raised the red flags.

Your current plan is a much more relaxed pace that will leave you quite a bit of time for exploration along the way.

[lmking1224]

Um, I don't think anyone ever said that Goldsboro to Nashville alone was the problem. At 600 miles, that's a very full day on the road, but by itself, that's a safe and sustainable pace.

It was make the 600 mile drive in the morning, explore the city in the afternoon, and then follow it up on the next day with a late breakfast before heading out on a 700+ mile drive that raised the red flags.

Your current plan is a much more relaxed pace that will leave you quite a bit of time for exploration along the way.

Oh, I hope I didn't come across the wrong way when I said that. I wasn't being rude or anything...well, I wasn't trying to be. I just know everyone recommended no more than 500 miles. I appreciate all of the feedback that I've been getting. I want this trip to be perfect. I don't want to be exhausted, and I want us to be able to see things and have a good time.

[glc]

The only suggestion I would make is to check out Green River before you decide to stay there. It's a tiny little town with limited lodging choices and very few restaurants. As I said before, Grand Junction is a better bet and it's still well within a day's drive from LV.

[lmking1224]

The only suggestion I would make is to check out Green River before you decide to stay there. It's a tiny little town with limited lodging choices and very few restaurants. As I said before, Grand Junction is a better bet and it's still well within a day's drive from LV.

The only reason I chose Green River is because it seemed like a better halfway point between Vegas and Denver, mile-wise. It's going to be cold, but I thought we might check out the national park that is there. There is a Holiday Inn and a few lower-end motels. I'll talk to hubby about Green River vs. Grand Junction. Thanks!

[DonnaR57]

My husband and I have driven through Green River UT many, many times. Many is the time we've eaten breakfast there, having spent the night in Richfield, UT. GLC is right: there are few choices for motels and restaurants there. Yes, there is a Best Western there, as well as a Comfort Inn, Motel 6, Super 8, and a few others. Most are not right on the interstate, but in town off of Exit 184. As far as food is concerned, we usually eat at the Westwinds Truck Stop. There are a couple of cafes there, plus a Subway and an Arby's.

Arches National Park is about 35 miles from Green River, down US-191. Frankly, it takes at least 6 full hours to really SEE Arches, which you probably won't have if you're coming out of Las Vegas that morning.



Donna

[Southwest Dave]

As Donna mentioned Arches is a big place and just a drive through the park and back would add well over 3 hours to your drive the next day, plus sight seeing. If you continued to Fruita, a little nearer than Grand junction, then you could do an early morning drive around the rim of Colorado National Monument which is a pretty neat detour. You might even be able to drive over the Continental divide at Loveland pass just a short detour off I70 near Dillon. If you are set on visiting Arches, then you really need to get to Moab from Vegas and enter the park early next day and then exit to I70 taking UT128 through Castle valley which is a lovely little drive along the river and through a canyon.

Perhaps you shouldn't reserve a room and just see how far you get on a given day without over extending yourselves. [It's easy to get tempted to push further but then feel exhausted next day] If you stick to your plan of keeping the miles limited and evened out with a little 'wiggle' room it might work better. The weather could play it's part as well, it could be slow going and cause delays one day in the event of a storm one day and on another you could see calm with blue sky. You might get on the road a little earlier one day than another.

[lmking1224]

If you are set on visiting Arches, then you really need to get to Moab from Vegas and enter the park early next day and then exit to I70 taking UT128 through Castle valley which is a lovely little drive along the river and through a canyon.

I like this idea!

See...I like this forum a lot...you guys are so helpful!

I do like the idea of just going with looser plans, too...

[lmking1224]

Okay, I know y'all are probably tired of hearing about this trip, but I decided to tweak it one more time. I decided to take one MORE day away from Vegas...I didn't necessarily want to do it, but I think it will make things better on the way out so that we can see more things. This is my finalized itinerary (I think).

Leave on December 3rd
Leave Goldsboro, NC
Arrive in Nashville, TN (592 miles)

Stay in Nashville, TN on December 3rd and December 4th

December 5th
Leave Nashville, TN
Drive to Little Rock, AR
(349 miles)

December 6th
Leave Little Rock, AR
Drive to Oklahoma City, OK
(339 miles)

December 7th
Leave OKC
Arrive in Santa Rosa, NM
(426 miles)

December 8th
Leave Santa Rosa, NM
Arrive in Holbrook, AZ
(348 miles)

December 9th
Leave Holbrook, AZ
Arrive in Las Vegas, NV
(340 miles)

Stay in Vegas December 9th - 15th

December 15th
Leave Las Vegas, NV
Arrive in Moab, UT
(458 miles)
(Chose this so we can see the Arches the following morning)

December 16th & 17th
Leave Moab, UT
Arrive in Denver, CO
(354 miles)

December 18th
Leave Denver, CO
Drive to Salina, KS
(434 miles)

December 19th
Leave Salina, KS
Drive to St. Louis, MO
(423 miles)

December 20th
Leave St. Louis, MO
Drive to Louisville, KY
(261 miles)

December 21st Leave Louisville, KY
Drive to Prosperity, WV
(303 miles)

December 22nd Leave Prosperity, WV
Drive HOME (Goldsboro, NC)
(321 miles)

[lmking1224]

By the way...

We decided to add a little time on the way there so we can stop and see a few things in Memphis, OKC, Albuquerque...

We chose Moab (from Vegas) because we want to see the Arches the following morning on the way to Denver.

We chose a relatively short trip from St. Louis to Louisville because hubby wants to see the Louisville Slugger thing, and I want to see the horse stuff in Lexington. Since Louisville and Lexington are relatively close, I think we'll be able to do it all between arriving fairly early in the day in Louisville and leaving out of Louisville the next morning.

[Southwest Dave]

Okay, I know y'all are probably tired of hearing about this trip,

We never get tired of talking trips, it's what keeps us sane when not on the road ourselves ! Hope you have a great trip and drop by and update us with your experiences of the trip !