lcuy

My daughter is moving to Seattle in about two weeks. Her DH is already there at his new job, and the employer is paying for a full move package, including shipping dogs and cars. She doesn't feel comfortable with shipping the dogs (heat might be an issue) and would also like to take some of her plants. They will receive reimbursement for 3 days worth of expenses.

She and her sister have decided to make a five or six day road trip of this, and would like ideas for a good route from Austin. They plan to stay in dog friendly motels or even camp out a few nights.

Any ideas?

NorthwestMale

There are obviously tons of variables involved, and the whole trip may be <I>arranged</i> based on the whim of either sister involved (meaning: <b>one</b> person has her heart set on seeing <b>one</b> place along the way... <I>and that determines the route</i


Be aware that it is more than 35 hours of pure driving on the (supposedly) fastest route... and that would entail 7 hours of <I>pure driving</i> on each of FIVE consecutive days.


So the implication is that they shouldn't vary too far from going <b>direct</b> (for having to add way too much more driving, if taking a round-about path).

If it were me, selecting a path right now... (for travel in summer-ish months), from Austin to Seattle...

I would feel confident that the first leg should take me to <I>central Colorado</i>, from where I would have to make a <b>choice</b> to go west and up through <I>Salt Lake City</i> or north and over through/near Jackson, Wyoming and Yellowstone.

And MY money would be on the <b>Wyoming path</b> where I would likely pass from Denver to Laramie to Rock Springs and then to Jackson, WY before moving on through <b>Yellowstone Park</b>.

From there, while it is faster to go from, say, <I>West Yellowstone</i> to I-90 and then through <I>Missoula and Spokane</i> on the way to Seattle, I think the <I>Idaho/Oregon path on I-84</i> is more appealing.


<b>Unfortunately</b>, by/toward the end of the trip, <b>time</b> won't be plentiful, <b>but IF</b> neither sister has ever been along the path, the <b>I-84 drive</b> from <b>Pendleton, OR to Portland, OR</b> is <U>very scenic</u> (before they would then approach Seattle from due south, with <I>Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens</i> (and Mount Adams) ideally visible along the way).


(speaking of <I>sisters</i>... mine just drove through the <I>Columbia Gorge</i> yesterday, on my advice, and she liked it a lot)


At any rate, <b>you yourself will have to come and visit the area</b>... with lots of nearby scenery awaiting your arrival.

starrs

If they want a fairly direct route -
Austin to the LaQuinta in Amarillo TX = 7.5 hours (just drive this route)
Amarillo to Durango, CO = 7.5 hours (it's a really pretty drive and I'd spend a couple of nights in the area and see Mesa Verde NP and Durango)
Durango to Salt Lake City - about 6.5 hours
SLC to Boise - just under 5 hours
Boise to Seattle - 7.5 hours

That's just to give an idea of times and drive. With 2 nights in Durango, that would be a 5 night/ 6 day drive

That could be a starting point. They could pick other areas of more interest. Santa Fe? Monument Valley? Arches NP? Yellowstone? It depends on what they want to see and how much more driving they want to add.

The above route is a fairly straight shot and is 2224 miles and about 34 hours of driving. I've driven most of that route.

starrs

LaQuinta hotels are my first choice when traveling with pups. No additional pet fees and I like the hotels.

www.lq.com

NorthwestMale

I wonder if one of the dogs could eat the 50-oz steak in Amarillo in one sitting...