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Curtisgeiger · 06-26-2014, 07:42 PM

Well we are getting ready for our first cross country expedition.

We are planning to depart on 1 August from Fort Bragg NC.

Any suggestions on general route?

I am looking for an easy highway drive -- versus the scenic route.

Want to get to OR with the family safely.

Curt

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LVUS101 · 06-26-2014, 10:40 PM

My wife and I just drove from Las Vegas to Fort Bragg last week and we used I-40 East to I-20 East and 95 North to Fayetteville. Took us 4.5 days but we drove a Dodge Caravan. Roads were rough going thru several states as we got closer to downtown areas.

Jim & Natalie
Las Vegas

oneal · 06-27-2014, 02:57 AM

I am no help on your route planning but wish you a safe journey.

Curtisgeiger · 06-27-2014, 05:43 AM

Thanks Jim

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brobox · 06-27-2014, 06:01 AM

Sorry, I can't help either Curt, I would be asking for the Scenic-Hwys and by ways

I do everything I can to avoid the Interstates and the truck traffic. I also don't have leave time to contend with....Hope you all have a great trip.

TerryO · 06-27-2014, 06:19 AM

Really if you're using interstates I-80 is your only direct choice for crossing the Rockies. I don't know about Iowa or Oregon but Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah are good.

nctox · 06-27-2014, 06:31 AM

Curt,
We just came back from Yellowstone to Asheville and used I-80 for a good portion of the way. It looks like you might want to look at I-84 from Salt Lake City westward. I suggest buying the Mountain Directory West that shows steep grades in the western states. (mountaindirectory.com)
Have a safe trip.
Tim,,,

Melvo · 06-27-2014, 08:38 AM

Retired USAF, from OR seems we were always traveling cross country. Think your bet is through Knooxville, then to St Louis, pick up I 70 to Denver, up to Cheyenne take I 80 to Ogden then I 84 to Boise - then maybe 20 over to Brookings. You will see lots of nice county no way to avoid it. Near 4k miles my guess, I'd plan most of a week but then I'm an old guy and when my wife has to drive it's really slow going.

Marcosdad · 06-27-2014, 10:13 AM

just drove I 80 through Iowa and it was very good.

Curtisgeiger · 06-27-2014, 10:38 AM

Thanks team.

Will target I80 for the bulk of the westbound portion -- and the maybe something a little more off the main highways for the trip back to NC.

Curt

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brobox · 06-27-2014, 12:03 PM

Curt, I can add, we were on I-80 for a rush trip home from the west coast a couple of years ago. I-80 was in nice shape, just allow for crosswinds that are common in WY and NE. They closed I-80 in WY and we had to hold up for a day because of the crosswinds. They predicted the same winds the next day, so we left at 3AM to get across WY before they started again.

Curtisgeiger · 06-27-2014, 12:34 PM

Thanks Chuck.

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Saltydog44 · 06-30-2014, 08:00 PM

We're going from Lenoir (NC) out there as well. We leave July 7 to Precision and then via Iowa to pick up another couple. From there to SD, WY, ND, Canada (Banff and Jasper), Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Idaho and then the Oregon Coast. From there to Albuquerque for the Balloon Festival and then to Austin for kids. Our route uses I-80 as noted in other posts, but we'll be on a lot of non interstates as well.

PM me if you want more detail, but since we haven't done it before we have no idea what we might run into.

Curtisgeiger · 07-01-2014, 05:42 AM

So what are the safest options to cross over the Rocky Mountains and to arrive in southern Oregon without going too far south or north?

Just I-80?

Curt

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