debideke

traveling with a small uhaul across country would like to know a scenic route to take.. Kansas City? St Louis? other? Like parks, horses, not so much interstate.. travelling with medium size dog and a cat and friend.

Gretchen

Well, i70 isn't exactly scenic but it gets you across Kansas and Missouri. One thing about the motels in Kansas is that they do allow animals, which you'll maybe need to check ahead of time.
From St. Louis you can head a little south to Nashville and I 40. There are some nice little towns between Nashville and Knoxville.
Head on to Asheville, and then take I26 south to Charleston. I know you said no to interstates but you can access towns from it.
If you want, stop at Smokey Mountain National Park just outside Knoxville.
You don't say how long you have to make this trip. You are going to be somewhat limited in sightseeing with your trailer.

starrs

You're going to really want those interstates when driving along the plains. It really is boring driving.

Gretchen's suggestion of Asheville and the Smokies is a good one if you want scenic. I've driven the Atlanta-Denver part of the route a lot of times and stopping in St. Louis is a good option. Enjoy some time along the river and go up in the Gateway Arch. On one group trip we overnighted in Hays, KS and went out and climbed some sandstone towers.

Another routing that may be more interesting would be via Birmingham to Memphis (and sight-seeing there), through Arkansas (some scenic state parks there), stopping at the Clinton Library in Little Rock (if that's of interest). I usually overnight in Amarillo, TX and we took a very scenic cut-through on a trip to Pueblo. We wanted to find a segment of Route 66 and I routed us through one of the prettiest drives I've ever been on in that corner of NM and CO. If you are interested, let me know and I'll give you the route number. You'd then be driving north towards Denver and that route is very scenic. You could detour west for a while and go to Great Sand Dunes NP and there's so much to see on the way up to Denver.

If you don't mind a longer route, you could go via New Orleans and Austin TX and up. Depends on how much time you want to spend on this trip.

suewoo

As one who has driven across country pulling a trailer, I can tell you you'll want to stop at places that have parking spaces that you can park without backing up. Trust me. And pulling it on scenic roads in the mountains may be slow.

starrs

One reason Cracker Barrels are so popular

suewoo

Who you tellin, LOL : D.

Gretchen

Definitely. I pulled a BIG trailer to denver years ago. The motels in columbia Missouri are good for being able to park along the back perimeter (and allow dogs). When you go to a MacDonald's be sure you can make the turn!!
I wish the OP would say how long and how much sightseeing they want to do.

carolyn

If you come through St. Louis, take I-64 to Louisville and on to Lexington to stop at the KY Horse Park and to see (or at least drive by) the prettiest horse farms in the world. Not that I'm a prejudiced Kentuckian, of course. You can get off the interstate and see a replica of Fort Harrod at Harrodsburg and then take the scenic highway to Lexington, stopping at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village for a good meal and some sightseeing.

Gretchen

I like Carolyn's idea.
Then just drop south to Knoxville, GSMNP, Asheville, and Charleston.
There may be some horse areas around Aiken, SC also, off I26.

NorthwestMale

Why don't you blog your journey along the way, from the perspective of the cat??

Keith

There is a lot to see in Kansas if you get off I-70. Take US 24 from Topeka on, or Drop down to Gardner (South of KC) and take US 56 to K4 and back up to I-70 at Salina.

Even along I-70, there are a lot of neat things just a little off of the freeway.

Gretchen

What can we expect along those roads?

Keith

Farms, interesting little communities, some attractions. The roads themselves are 2 lane, but wide and mostly straight with wide shoulders. Speed limit 65.

The US 56 route takes you along the Santa Fe Trail and there are places where you can see traces of the ruts. Balwin City with historic Baker University is interesting. Burlingame has a very wide, brick main street, a neat historical museum and the Santa Fe Cafe.

Council Grove has the oldest continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississipi (founded by Danile Boone's grandson) and many other historic attractions. I particularly like the Trail Days Cafe & Museum.

US 24 would take you through Wamego with its OZ Museum; St Mary's with the old Pottawatomie Tribal Pay Station; Manhattan with museums, gardens & zoos; Cawker City with the World's Biggest Ball of Twine (actually worth a short visit); and other towns.

Almost every little town has something of interest. Nicodemus National Historic Site may be the most unusual. Nicodemus was established in July, 1877 and was the largest community established by freed slaves following the Civil War. http://kansastravel.org/nicodemus.htm