Hoping some of you experienced travelers can help me. We will be driving home from Las Vegas to Pittsburgh in early September. We are traveling with friends (they are driving) and we would like some input on sights to see and places to stop. I think we have about 5 days on the road so nothing all day but good spots to stop. Thanks!

Well, I'll start it off with

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Vail, Colorado (but I'd opt for a short drive to Aspen, CO)

Denver, Co

(let others take over from there)

You will be surprised at how many things there are to see and interesting places to eat as you cross Kansas. For example, the Castle Rock Badlands or the Grassroots Art Center & Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas.

One of my favorite restaurants is just off I-70 in a town you have probably never heard of - The Bunker Hill Cafe in Bunker Hill.

Check this web site with photos and recomendations of places across the state. There are whole sections devoted to things like unique locally owned restaurants, grassroots artists, zoos and waterfalls. http://www.kansastravel.org/

What kind of things are you looking for?

Make a short detour off 70 to Moad, UT to the red rock area. If you want extend the diversion, follow 181 to 46, then 145, 62 to 550 back to 70 via Ouray, Montrose and Delta. There are historic fort along or near 70 across KS and there is the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. At Junction Cit you could make another diversion, south on 77 and then to 150/50 and the Tallgrass Prairie Nat. preserve and take 35 bakc to Topeka and 70. After St. Louis can can turn north on 85 to Springfield, IL and the many Lincoln historical sites. TAke 72/74 across to Indianapolis and the famed Speedway and on to Dayton and the best Air Musuem outside Washington, DC, the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB.
From there to Pittsburg it's been too many years for me to recall anything special aside from the glass works in Wheeling, WV.

You are really close to the Grand Canyon--North Rim--it's worth taking the extra time and going there. It's even better if you were to return to Pittsburgh via I-40(E)to OkCity there connect to I-44N to St Louis connect to I-70(E) to Penn'a. (From Vegas take 93 south to I-40)On I-40 take Az 64(N) out of Williams Az --it becomes Fed highway 180 to the South Rim. Well worth the trip and change. Great countryside and better traveling weather return to Pa.

Prepare for a great trip – regardless of your route. You should have no problem getting available motel rooms as you go cross country, no reason to reserve unless you plan to stay at a National Park. Your plans are very doable. (No, you’re not crazy.)

Of course you should persuade your husband to take a month off so he can see this great country. But seeing that’s not possible any route will be exciting (with some vast plains, which also have beauty, though different from what you’re accustomed to).

I have computed, on Streets & Trips the mileage and time* from:

A San Diego to DC (via I-15; I-40; I-44; I-70) = 2684 miles (4 days, 7 hours)
B San Diego to DC (via I-15; I-70) = 2766 miles (5 days)

Routes A & B do not include Grand Canyon.

C San Diego to Grand Canyon to DC (via I-15; I-40; I-44; I-70) = 2877 miles (5 d, 4 h)
D San Diego to Grand Canyon to DC (via I-15; I-40; I-81) = 2905 miles (5 d, 5 h)

Routes C & D include Grand Canyon. Route D is more scenic as it goes thru the mountains of TN and VA.

E San Diego to Grand Canyon to Mesa Verde National Park; Durango, CO; Arches NP; Colorado Springs, Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods & Olympic Training Center (via, not all routes shown, I-15; US-180; US-160; US-491; I-70; I-64; I81) = 3237 miles (9 days, 2 hours)

This route is about 500 miles longer than the shortest route and takes 4 days 3 hours longer than the fastest route. It includes 4 national parks plus other attractions and is about as scenic as you’ll find. We have not taken the portion of I-70 approaching Denver and understand it is very scenic.

Suggest you visit www.drivecrosscountry.net/RouteG1 for some info on the places. You might also check other places on that page as well as other pages at that site.

* times include a few hours as any national parks etc mentioned in the routes e.g. 4 hours at Grand Canyon.

My appologies - submitted the above in error -- intended for another request.