Need help Planning cross-country drive
 

At the end of May, my husband and I will be driving from Philadelphia to Seattle. We would like to know what route might be the most expeidient, but one that has some interestng stops along the way. Any advice, words of wisdom, etc will be appreciated. Thanks

ttt

Go to freetrip.com, enter Philadelphia and Seattle and then click the hotel price range you are interested in. This gives you routing, driving time to go, time you've driven, and hotels where you want to stayover.

Get an Atlas so you can hilite your route, and from that you can decide where you want to stop off. If, as you get further NW you are on I-90, then Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are doable.

Ooops, I forgot you said May. Glacier NP will probably still be snowed in.

Fastest and easiest way:

PATP to before Pittsburgh
I-70 to Indianapolis
I-74 to Davenport/Rock Island
I-80 to before Omaha
I-680 to I-29 to Sioux Falls
I-90 all the way to Seattle

You can visit Black Hills/Mt Rushmore near Rapid City, SD. Just off I-90. And then like ronkala says Yellowstone and Glacier NPs.

Hi, I for one would stick to one side of the US and scip the other for another visit.
I live on the west side of the US and flew to Sydney 4 years ago, it's a long long trip and had a hard time with jet lag both over and back.
There is SO much to see on the western side and running from one place to another is tiring and one place begins to look like another.
I'd go for quailty rather then quanity.
Hope you have fun what ever you decide.

I think "directions" posted his reply to the wrong thread.

My preferred route is I-90 as much as possible, but then I enjoy Chicago (even driving there.) Don't be tempted by on-line map services telling you to take I-94 across Minnesota and N. Dakota. I-90 is the more interesting and scenic route (IMO.)

Some "don't miss" bits - Mitchell SD for the Corn Palace; the Missouri River overlook near Chamberlain SD (stopped some British friends dead in their tracks - amazing view); Badlands NP (also SD - IMO SD is the best part of the drive); possible detour over the Nebraska line to Carhenge - www.carhenge.com; then the Black Hills - Mt Rushmore, Deadwood/Lead, etc. Don't miss Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's graves in Deadwood.

Sheridan WY is a pleasant town for stopovers, and do NOT miss the Little Bighorn battlefield memorial (MT). You can detour down to Yellowstone NP from Bozeman, but check weather conditions in late May - might be colder than you expect.

Back on I-90, have a look at the big hole in the ground at Butte, and if time permits, detour up to Helena, one of the most interesting cities in the west. Missoula is also a pleasant town in beautiful country.

Also if time allows, detour up to Grand Coulee Dam once past Spokane, and follow Washington SR 20 over the Cascades through N. Cascades NP to its junction with I-5.

Happy planning.

Thanks so much for all your replies! I am trying to figure it all out now....