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Cross-country Driving

Hard2Fit

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Anyone here made the drive cross-country?
I've been invited to house-sit for a friend in SF which would give me the opportunity to escape the coming cold weather and catch up with some friends.
Rather than fly and rent a car upon arrival I'm considering driving (DC to SF).
This is because I may stay as long as a month, gas is cheap right now, its something I've always wanted to do, etc.
The two possible routes seem to be US50 or I80.
Any thoughts/suggestions?
 

spertia

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I've driven from California to Tennessee (or vice versa) three times. In general, I'd say that the drive actually goes by much more quickly than you might expect.

One of the times, for a number of unexpected reasons, a friend and I ended up doing the entire cross-country drive without stopping (not recommended!). Took us about two days of straight driving, taking turns at the wheel.
 

Arethusa

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I did it. I also drove a friend of mine to Iowa because she needed a ride to school at the start of this semester. It's not that bad, but I'd personally just fly out there and rent a car or use BART unless you really want to see stuff along the way.
 

Hard2Fit

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Originally Posted by spertia
I've driven from California to Tennessee (or vice versa) three times. In general, I'd say that the drive actually goes by much more quickly than you might expect. One of the times, for a number of unexpected reasons, a friend and I ended up doing the entire cross-country drive without stopping (not recommended!). Took us about two days of straight driving, taking turns at the wheel.
Were you ever hampered by bad weather? The thought of getting stuck somewhere in Colorado/Utah does not appeal to me.
 

Hard2Fit

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Originally Posted by Arethusa
I did it.

I also drove a friend of mine to Iowa because she needed a ride to school at the start of this semester. It's not that bad, but I'd personally just fly out there and rent a car or use BART unless you really want to see stuff along the way.


I'll echo other responses.
Wow.
 

spertia

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Originally Posted by Hard2Fit
Were you ever hampered by bad weather?
The thought of getting stuck somewhere in Colorado/Utah does not appeal to me.


No, but I have never done the cross-country drive in winter. However, when I was in college, I drove back and forth between New York and Tennessee probably a dozen times, and there were a few instances at the beginning or end of winter break where I was truly scared that I was not going to make it through the snow.
 

Davidko19

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Went from Indianapolis to Los Angels in 32 hours I think, speeding the whole way. Woke up on day one at 3am and left town. Made 2-3 stops for a quick little siesta and rolled in to Albequerque at like 11 that night. Day two I got up at 9 ish and made it in to LA at like 8.

I had visions of seeing the grand canyon, stopping at the amarillo steak house and enjoying the road, but once youve been driving for 6 hours you just want to be done with it. Word of advise, use sun block. My left arm was fried from the sun, even with the windows up.
 

Roikins

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Yep, my friend and I did it back when I picked up my M3 from Spartanburg, NC. We took 10 days to drive along I10 stopping to visit friends along the way... Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, OKC, Roswell, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and then back home to SF. Of course, we could have done it in a lot less time, but we really wanted to spend 2 days in NOLA and 4 days in Vegas. It's a much easier drive when you have someone to keep you company in the car.
 

Pundit

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I have done Philly - San Diego each way and would recommend driving cross country to anyone who has not done it. You can really get a sense of how diverse this country is on many dimensions. I did a southern route one winter and would suggest you do the same and then just shoot up the 5 when you hit it.
 

yerfdog

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I've done it 3 times (two going west, one east). I did it in the summer/early fall, when it's probably a lot more pleasant than it would be to do it now.

While it can be kind of a drag, I enjoyed it a lot, because like Pundit said, it's fun to see the great diversity of the country, and really see how big it is. You get this even if you stay entirely on the freeways, although if you have time/stamina for some detours or older roads that can be fun.

If you actually want to do it for the experience of it rather than just the cheapest way to go a long distance, I would recommend doing no more than 10 hours of driving per day, so 4 days at least if you are going DC to SF.
 

RedLantern

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I drove from Seattle to Knoxville (east TN). Took mostly I-90 until I had to head south. There were parts of I-90 across Montana, Wyoming and SD that look like they close regularly during the winter due to snow. Good to keep in mind.
 

Bradford

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Did Arizona to Michigan at least 4-times per year during college. Also have done numerous other long car trips, AZ-CA, AZ-CO, MI-DC, MI-TN, etc...

As stated, if you want to enjoy it, plan to take a few extra days and be willing to get off the interstates and explore the back roads.

There is some beautiful scenery out there that you will never see from an airplane or an interstate.
 

unpainted huffheinz

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Originally Posted by RedLantern
I drove from Seattle to Knoxville (east TN). Took mostly I-90 until I had to head south. There were parts of I-90 across Montana, Wyoming and SD that look like they close regularly during the winter due to snow. Good to keep in mind.

The Interstates in Montana stay open even in really horrendous weather. The state highways going in and out of the Park close for the season. 94 may be quicker between Chicago and Billings as there is nothing but barbed wire and sagebrush between Fargo and Miles City - it used the be the fastest stretch of road outside of Germany.
 

globetrotter

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4 or 5 times, but the most western bit I've always done to/from LA or Vancover, never SF. I love long road trips. I'd say, do it.
 

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