Taylort771

My girlfriend and I have to be in Denver July 11th for a wedding. I have to work until Thursday night that week. Our plan is to leave around midnight after I get off work and split the drive 10 hours or so each. Is this feasible? We are both young and don't really mind driving. I just wanted some other opinions, tips etc. We cannot afford to fly, hence the plan to drive. Whats the best route to take? Thanks!

emalloy

Interstate all the way will probably be the fastest. You might be picking up I-70 in St. Louis at a busy time so plan to take a break and eat before there if it lets you avoid that. Can you both sleep in a moving car? Do you normally go to bed when you get off work at midnight? If so have your GF drive for 4 hours or so while you sleep. Then stop get some exercise and eat something and you drive for 4 or 5 hours, then switch again. If either of you is getting sleepy, STOP. We've done some marathons in the past and DH often did 14 hrs with stops every 3 to 5 hrs, but I can't sleep in a car, so was always awake to keep him focused on the road. Boredom can be the thing that gets you in trouble.

Gretchen

I guess this is NEXT year!!
No problem at all, and it is an easy drive on i70. I would go through St. Louis on I70, and not take the beltway. And enjoy seeing the Arch.
If you both like, get a book on tape to listen to, although young folks seem to like the music better.

starrs

I've done it a couple of times and it's an easy drive. It's just a long time on the road. Be ready to pull over somewhere if the driver gets sleepy.

dwdvagamundo

Although your getting off work at midnight complicates the issue, my spouse and I have found that two hour shifts works best for us and makes the drive go very quickly. Even if one of you can't sleep in the car, you can still snooze or relax.

So have fun!

Gretchen

I will also say that through Missouri and Kansas there are a lot of inexpensive but very adequate (clean) motels along the interstate. That may not help you since you are leaving on Thursday night, but keep it in mind for the return.

Taylort771

Thanks for all of your responses!

WhereAreWe

Well, hold on. What kind of car are you driving? Gas mileage?

It's about 3000 miles round trip. With gas at $3.50/gallon and a car that averages 25 mpg, you'll spend $420 on gas. If you get 30 mpg it's $350 for gas.

If you fly Southwest you could get a flight for under $250 per person. They don't publish their July schedule yet....but looking at some other months I'm seeing Friday flights from ATL to DEN for $112 to 123, and return flights on Sunday for the same price. If you catch a sale it could be cheaper, but $112 each way for 2 people comes out to $448 total.

Now if you have an older car or something that doesn't get great gas mileage, paying $448 for airfare vs. $420 for gas isn't so bad. Of course you won't have a car once you get there but that's not a problem if you are staying in Denver. And if you have a car that gets great gas mileage or want to spend extra time out there to sightsee in the mountains, it would be smarter to drive yourself.

Just wanted to throw those numbers out there. Travelocity has the cheapest July flight at $406 per person which obviously wouldn't make sense for you guys, but once Southwest publishes their July schedule and fares you could see if their prices would work for you.

Gretchen

I am even thinking of driving to Dennver, even with fares as quoted. And I drive a SUV
There's the EXPENSIVE shuttle to get to wherever they are going. The while Denver has good public transit, it doesn't "go everywhere".
It is true that flying from a hub like Atlanta could be attractive--but mid-july isn't gonna be cheap.
AND they are young, I am guessing!!

WhereAreWe

Well the shuttle to downtown is $11.I don't consider that to be expensive. But I am assuming that going to an out of town wedding means there will be other people there that they know and could pick them up from the airport.

Also, for a short wedding trip they might very well be doing nothing but wedding activities - as it is they are planning on getting in late Friday night. Assume the wedding is Saturday so all day is spent there. They don't mention when they are leaving but if it's on Sunday to get back to work, there really isn't much time to worry about 'going everywhere' in Denver. IF they have more time and want to leave town, then factor that into the decision.

I don't know that a blanket statement like 'mid-July from Atlanta isn't gonna be cheap' can be made without waiting and seeing what Southwest has to offer. I'd rather give the OP some ideas to consider and let them see what the fares are then just dismiss that idea without even bothering to check. Seeing as this trip is in 10 months, they don't have to make any decision for awhile.

At the very least OP should check Southwest fares when they come out if the only issue with flying is cost.

Gretchen

As argumentative as I sounded, I REALLY didn't mean it to be--should have actually said it. ;o)
Having had a wedding in Denver, I also know some of the pressures it brings for pick up and deliveries!! <wry smile here>

Taylort771

One of the reasons we decided to drive was because we have never driven cross country before and want the experience. We also do not know when we are returning! Thanks guys!

starrs

It's a really boring drive.
Really. Boring.

Gretchen

Starrs is correct, but it WILL give you the experience of knowing how large our country is. You will also be going about the time the sunflower fields are in bloom and that truly is a sight as the flower heads turn always to the sun.
It IS the way I learned about audiobooks.

We drove cross country when our children were teenagers for 6 week trip in the west--and we really did want them to know the expanse of the middle part of our country.

janisj

That is a YEAR away . . . You may have a different shift by then, or a different job, or a whole slew of other things could happen. I wouldn't worry too much about the drive this far out.