The Border-Skimmer: If scooping down south is more your style, I-81 to I-40, 30, 20, 10 is the way t

Are you making a cross-country move from New York to Los Angeles (or vice-versa, or anywhere along the way)? If you're braving the trip by road, here are three good routes and some sights you'll see along the way. One of them just might be a perfect fit for your cross country moving style:
The Direct: If your intent is to get from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible, I-70 to I-40 is your best bet. You're far enough south to dodge the Rocky Mountains (and the altitude and possible snow) and it's interstate all the way. You won't hit a lot of big cities, but some highlights along the way include St. Louis and a quick side trip to the Grand Canyon. pet airline travel fare The Stats: 2,777 miles in 45 hours
The Northern Route: For the northern states sightseer, taking I-80 to I-90 to I-15 will slow things down significantly but take you through Chicago, past Mount Rushmore, to Yellowstone National Park, then southward through Vegas before hitting Los Angeles. The Stats: 3,241 miles in 54 hours
The Border-Skimmer: If scooping down south is more your style, I-81 to I-40, 30, 20, 10 is the way to go (especially for art and music lovers!). pet airline travel fare You'll get to hit Nashville and Memphis along the way, see all the great art museums of Dallas/Fort Worth, and even pass by Donald Judd's remote Chinati Foundation before skimming the Mexican border and heading on westward to LA. The Stats: 2,987 miles in 48 hours
Regina is an architect who lives with her husband and children in Lawrence, KS. As a LEED Accredited Professional and longtime contributor to Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, her focus is on healthy, sustainable living through design.
We moved from Boston to San Diego and back again 4 years later. pet airline travel fare Both times we took the northern route. Mostly to avoid driving through TX (sorry, guys!) but also so we could stop in Chicago and see friends!
I was going to say the same thing about Texas: it's just too big. You start early in the morning there and when the sun goes down, you are still there. Not a pretty area either. I've done it more times than I can count and just find it boring, Dallas included. Austin is great though.
Just did the LA to upstate NY move 3 weeks ago and took I40 then went up on I81. It was def one of the coolest pet airline travel fare and funnest adventures I've ever done. Had cat and college bound freshman along and drove a 16 ft Budget truck. pet airline travel fare Interestingly Budget was literally pet airline travel fare $1000 cheaper than UHaul and it only had 4000 miles on it. I will remember our adventure forever. The cat alone and his adjustment process was absolutely the funniest!! and my college bound guy was awesome, like a total team player!!! They don't care if a 19 yo drives. Not like how they freak when you rent a car and the driver is under 25. LOVED my X country adventure!!
I've moved several times across the country. While you have a car full of stuff, pets, kids, etc. you will not want to/be able to stop and sight see. It just doesn't happen. Find the quickest route, plan for hotels that will let you stay with pets and just drive as far as you can every day.
I've done Memphis to LA and then LA to CT, both times I've done a modified border skimmer pet airline travel fare route, because I have family in Memphis and it makes a great pit stop. Coming through the AZ/NM desert can be a little difficult with narrow, winding roads. I modified this route by going through OK City to Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque (I did Santa Fe on the return trip which I liked much better), which eliminates the torture of driving through all of Texas. No matter which route you take, take your time and enjoy the sites, I would drive about 500 miles a day (about 8 hours) which would allow time for sightseeing each morning before hitting the road and plenty of stops along the way. Stopping for a day or two to visit family or friends also makes for an easier trip. Don't rush it there is so much to be seen.
Moved from Chicago to LA several years back and took the northern route. South Dakota alone was worth it! The Badlands, the prairie, Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, all beautiful. Wyoming got a little boring but then there was Yellowstone at the end of it. A few years later I made the move back to Chicago and took the southern route and it just did not compare.
I knew someone pet airline travel fare who moved from Boston to a little town outside of Spokane. His change of address said something like "Take I 90 from Boston to (Tiny Town in Washington), turn right at the lights by the hardware store. We are the first house on the left."
re: South Dakota. I was amazed at how lovely South Dakota is. I was expecting flat farmland, instead there were fields of sunflowers, wonderful rock formations, rolling hills, even a herd of actual Bison. Wonderful.
While I was in high school, my family pet airline travel fare moved from Colorado to Tennessee - my mother and I, along with my baby brother and two dogs who hated being in their kennels, in our van, pulling a UHaul trailer, and my dad and other brother in the UHaul truck towing his car. We went through Oklahoma City on our way to Arkansas pet airline travel fare (our "lay-over" that night). Worst. Decision. EVER.
I did the central route when I moved to California, with stops in St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, and San Luis Obispo. When I moved back a couple of year later, pet airline travel fare I did the northern route, stopping in Sacramento, Reno, Ely, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore.
I'd recommend the northern route. I remember being surprised at how gorgeous Wyoming was -- I was expecting flat sepia nothingness. And the Badlands of South Dakota are truly amazing. If you go the central or southern route, you do get Arizona, which is beautiful, but the best way to appreciate pet airline travel fare Arizona's scenic pet airline travel fare diversity is to travel north or south, not east or west.
Then, once you get to Los Angeles, to become familiar with our regional lexicon you can stop referring to the freeways as "I-(number)" and just call them "The (number)." For example, "The 405" or "The 101" or "The 5" but never, never call Pacific Coast Highway pet airline travel fare "The PCH." Contrary to the SNL skit, nobody in California says "The PCH" we merely say "PCH."
In 2000, I moved from Austin to Seattle. I had to move things from my mother's house in SW Louisiana, and I ended up taking a border/southern route. I was also trying to avoid driving through the Rockies (conveniently forgetting about the mountains between pet airline travel fare CA OR.) The route was incredibly pet airline travel fare simple though! I took I-10 to LA and then I-5 to Seattle. Driving across Texas took about 2 days (since I was driving by myself.)
When I was just five years old my family pet airline travel fare moved (back) across the country from Fresno, Ca to rural Maryland. Since I was a child I don't know the route, but I will always know that driving cross country is always better when it involved a vintage school bus and an awesome dog.
When I moved from Pittsburgh to Tucson my friend and I took the I-70/I-40 route trying to outrun a snow storm most of the way. The highlights: the St. Louis arch at night, the stark beauty of the Oklahoma landscape in winter, a great dinner in Oklahoma City, a visit to the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo where we took photos to use on Christmas cards (someone had helpfully spray painted "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus" on one of the cars). And if you have to have car trouble, pet airline travel fare I highly recommend dealing with it in friendly Tutumcari, pet airline travel fare New Mexico, on old Route 66. Nice people, reasonable prices.
I just drove Austin - Sacramento by way of San Diego and I enjoyed the Southern route, including west Texas. We stopped at Balhormea state park to go swimming and if we'd had more time would have stopped at Marfa too. The desert in Arizona and California pet airline travel fare was pretty amazing and no intense mountains like on 70. I've driven Chicago-Seattle a few times and I think eastern Washington might be one of the most boring parts of the US. And Illinois.
Hi! I'll be moving from SD to Philly and need some advice. I'm thinking of driving a budget truck or renting a minivan. I guess it depends on how much the move will cost. Do you remember the total cost of your move (truck rental gas only)? Any advice?
We're moving from the SF Bay Area, California to Boston, MA. I didn't consider driving at all, until I read some of the comments here. Seems like an amazing drive! But, I'll have three children and one dog in tow. Any suggestions on the drive from Cali to Boston? Pit stops? Recommended kid pet friendly hotels? Which area to stay away from during during November/December. We need to be in Boston by December 1st. We want to leave California after Thanksgiving. I know... rough timing.
We are moving from New Jersey to Northern New Mexico--and we're leaving on December 21st. I know, I know...but we need to go asap, and that's the soonest date we can leave. From what I've read here and on other sites, the I-70 and I-40 are the best in terms of weather, timing, etc. Any and all suggestions, tips, would be appreciated. I grew up with many roadtrips from Northern CA to Northern NM, but have never gone there from the East Coast, and my husband has never been to NM. We have my family there, and jobs, an apt, etc waiting for us. Just trying to figure out the best (safest) way to get from A to B.
Hello I need help. I am moving to st.louis, mo from sacramento, ca in mid December. I would like to know what would be the best route to take driving. I will be driving a 17 ft uhaul with my car being towed on the back. I am anticipating snow, I was told taking the northern route is the way, without adding additional miles to my trip. Any advice would help, thank you