Planning a San Diego to Baltimore Road Trip

A couple of stops I would recommend along the way would be:

San Antonio, TX (Alamo & Riverwalk)

New Orleans - French Quarter

That is I-10 all the way. Not the shortest route but less traffic and speed limits are 70-75 most of the way.

Unless you are planning to kill yourself driving - you will need 5 days of driving. IMHO

Delorme Street Atlas shows that taking I40 it will take you 6 days of driving, 8 hours a day. I've found Street Atlas more realistic about total driving times over longer trips, because it's not so aggressive about average speeds.

That said, You should take a look at the cities and areas I40 passes through on the way east.

From Oklahoma City you can take the northern route, I44 up to I70 through Indianapolis and Columbus. Or continue I40 through Little Rock, Memphis, and Nashville. for my money, this is the more scenic route and there are many more attractions along this way.

You can also come along I10 through Arizona, NM, and Texas up to I4). Lots of possibilities.

If you're going to take any route along the old Route 66, then it'll be hard not to stop along the many sights to be found on the "Mother Road." Also, if you can use it, don't forget to download and use the "Offbeat Tourist Attractions" POI file from here--lots of fun stuff to see in that one!

Best wishes to you for a fun, safe, memorable trip.

If you do a search on Route 66 you will also find a site that has POIs for the Garmin.

I would go through Sedona and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Than I would go through the 4 corners area, and if you have time to Monument Valley. I would go through Durango and than north over the million Dollar Highway and stay the night in Ouray. Than I would exit 240 in I70 and go south to Mt Evans where you can drive on a paved road to the top of a 14000 foot mountain. After that I can't help much. Lincoln's tomb is in Springfield, Illinois.

I can tell you one thing, the drive on I70 through Kansas is one boring drive, so if I had the time, I would go any direction but there.

my two cents worth. Have fun and have a safe trip.

We drove from the DC area out to the Fresno/Bakersfield area last September. Going west we went south on I-81 to I-40, then west swing north at Barstow. Heading back East, we decided to take I-70. My suggestion would be for I-40 as once you start the climb toward Kingman the temperatures moderate. The Palo Duro area is a great drive and the entire route is fairly interesting (anything is better than going across Kansas). As you have at least a week, enjoy yourself and pace the drive. It took us 4 1/2 days each way and we pushed it as far as the amount of time spent behind the wheel, but there were two of us to trade off driving duties.

I have driven I70 west as far as Salt Lake City and back several times. I have also driven I40 as far as Flagstaff and back several times.

I've found the I40 route much more interesting. Especially after OK City, since one can start exploring parts of Route 66.

I agree about Kansas and I70. It will seem like it takes forever to cross because of the lack of interesting scenery But, if time permits, try taking US 50 across Kansas. It spends a lot of time in farm country and provides a welcome change from the monotony of the Interstate.

Thanks for all your help suggestions! I've been working non-stop to figure out a fun and interesting route.

I'm getting my car all tuned up and ready for the long road trip.

I'm still open for any suggestions, so keep them coming! Thanks again!

What?!?! You haven't left yet? Don't you know summer vaction is almost over!

If you have the time, by all means follow Route 66. But buy a couple of books on how to stay on the road. There are fantastic sites along the way. Without a book and maps, it is nearly impossible to follow the route, however, since it has been replaced by interstates in some locations.

The cool things to see can be tricky to find. Bring your camera and be prepared to meet many, many, very friendly folk along the way. As you pass through Arizona, be sure to take the route from Kingman to Seligman, one of the longest continuous stretches of 66 left. Stay in Holbrook at the Teepee motel (I think that is the name... the rooms are concrete teepees and the parking lot is full of 50s and 60s cars.

Be sure to also 'stand on the corner in Winslow Arizona..."

There are many Rt 66 museums along the way as well. Most are state museums, but there is also a national museum (in OK).

On the Kansas side of Joplin Mo be sure to stop at the former gas station run by a couple of ladies... they have great burgers.

Have a fun time.

I would still go the million dollar highway route I previously mentioned, but if went Route 66 I would do these things.

Bombing Memorial and Bricktown in Oklahoma City.
The Round Barn in Arcadia http://www.arcadiaroundbarn.org/Joinahsoc.htm

Pops in Arcadia http://okc.about.com/b/2007/08/21/route-66-pops-opens-outsid...

Rock Cafe in Stroud http://www.oklahomaroute66.com/preservation/rockcafe.html

This shows all the historic places on Route 66 by town in Oklahoma. http://www.oklahomaroute66.com/theroad/towns.html

hope you post what you see on the trip.

I dunno, Nebraska is longer than Kansas and nothing to write home about either...

Paul

But I-70 doesn't go through Nebraska and if you are going to Baltimore, that's the Eastern end of I-70 with Fort Cove in UT being the western end. I can honestly say I've driven I-70 end to end and the monotony of Kansas makes it seem as wide as Texas going from Beaumont to El Paso on I-10.

It is the most boring drive I have ever done. I have been on it twice, but never again. It sometimes is the fastest way for me to go, and I won't do it. To those that like it, great, but not me.

It's kind of late now for you, but we used "Route66 Adventure Handbook" by Drew Knowles for our 66 adventure last year. Our third edition is a little out of date, but still useful. Amazon has it.
I enjoyed the little towns along I-40 in NM & AZ. Historic 66 still exists in those towns. They had plenty of warning so they preserved many signs & buildings. We visited at least 10 museums along the way. Holbrook and Winslow are excellent. In Amarillo, we stayed at "The Big Texan" It's next to I-40. If you can eat the 72oz steak, the meal is free. Wandering troubadors entertain every night at the restaurant. The ever popular Caddilac Ranch is on west side Amarillo. Ask locally for directions.
Erick OK has the Roger Miller museum. If it is not open, ask somebody in the bank to open the door. LOL. Stay away from the hippies in the general store, or not ..The old 66 between Oklahoma City and Tulsa is mostly decaying & dying because I-44 toll road cut these towns off long ago.
You are halfway between LA & CHI at Adrian TX
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/spokybob/IMG_3264adr...
The wigwam motel
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/spokybob/IMG_4035.jp...

A must stop on Route 66 in AZ is Delgadillo Memorabilia in Sleigman one of the best parts of Rte 66 west of Williams to Oatman.Angel Delgadillo, www.route66giftshop.com is credited for much of the preservation of the historic landmark. Also a good guide is http://www.66maps.com/

"I can honestly say I've driven I-70 end to end and the monotony of Kansas makes it seem as wide as Texas going from Beaumont to El Paso on I-10."

Well, I mean it's only about 750 miles across Texas. Just a nice little drive across Texas.