Trip planning

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by pobox1u4p, Dec 5, 2019.

  1. pobox1u4p

    pobox1u4p Bobtail Member

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    Dec 5, 2019
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    My apologies up front but I need to tap into your knowledge. I need to know the best route, from D.C. to Dallas, that my inexperienced son can take. He will be purchasing a good car from his aunt at great price and wants to drive it home the day after Christmas. I am concerned about the weather and his inexperience driving on cold wet roads. What route should he take? What two places should he stop at to rest up (i.e. for one night at each place)?
     
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  3. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    With a car it really is hard to bead Google Maps GPS. If you are worried about him driving on frozen roads, just simply stop. Very, very few storms last more than a day and that's usually quickly cleaned up. Taking 3 days and getting there alive is better than taking 2 and not getting there.
    As for when to stop, well it looks to be a 20 hour drive, so drive 10-12 hours the first day then stop.
     
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  4. TruckerJimbo

    TruckerJimbo Medium Load Member

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    The most direct route would be I-66 West to I-81 South into Tennessee. Then West on I-40 all the way to Little Rock, AR and I-30 to Dallas from there. If 2 overnights are taken, maybe around Knoxville, TN and Somewhere around Little Rock, AR would be good. That route is about 1,330 miles.
    If weather is a factor, a more southerly route can be I-95 South to I-20 in South Carolina and I-20 all the way to Dallas. Overnights might be around Augusta, GA and maybe Jackson, MS. This route is 1,475 miles.
     
  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    That might be a bit of a stretch, two days. Its actually three to four days by car at least from Dallas.

    I have done that road trip myself because of Family in Maryland from Little Rock, it's straight down I-40, I-81 past Knoxville to roughly I66 straight to DC via Manasas. (I would cross at Harpers Ferry in the woods)

    Gasoline will be around 250 to 300 one way. Hotels about three days worth from Dallas.

    Dallas to somewhere past Little Rock before Memphis itself then push to Knoxville then from there DC. Its about 500 mile blocks, 10 hours. The worst of it will be on 30 NE of Dallas into Arkansas (Trucking etc is really big for the Country, herds of them) and past Memphis towards Nashville. And again above Roanoke and Fancy Gap. (I-77) Trucks trucks trucks.

    You will need live websites for each state to keep a minute to minute eye on the route. Example Arkansas, Idrive.com which combines weather (Flooding closes for example) accidents in particular. Can take 9 to 12 hours or more to clear out a good truck wreck which goes down a few times a week.

    Texas and virginia will have their own. I-81 is a delicate road, easily closed when some trucker screws it up and wrecks it proper. If you were a wreck north of Luray you run across Luray Gap to US 15 and run north that way as a alternate.

    Its quite a trip. expect 3 to 4 days to do it because of inexperience, lack of stamina etc.

    DO not whatever you do try it straight through, you wont make it. There is just too much going on.

    Storm Prediction Center shows a bit of rain for us, but otherwise nothing of note. We are actually in winter and if you are going to do this trip do it now. This warm spike is going to go away fairly soon leaving the mountains between here and Virginia icy and frosty again.
     
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  6. Milr72

    Milr72 Medium Load Member

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    x1Heavy Go take some more meds! You're losing it!
     
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  7. HillbillyDeluxeTruck

    HillbillyDeluxeTruck Road Train Member

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    3-4 days in a car to do 1300mi? Gtfo. Is he only gonna drive 50mph for 6hrs a day? I figured the legend would be able to do that run in 15hrs flat
     
  8. jammer910Z

    jammer910Z Road Train Member

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    Bingo.
    There's your route, Dad.

    Always heading South and West.
    Always in a direct line.
    The odds of bad weather over a 2 day stretch are minimal.
    Ice in Arkansas will be the biggest threat... but doubtful.

    Just tell him to drive the speed limit. Speeding to save an hour or two on the entire trip isn't worth the chances that it entails.
    Most accidents come from the Zippies.
     
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  9. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Or i95,i85, i20.
     
  10. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    This would be the best route to avoid the Mountains in Virginia and Tenn. Some of the worse weather-related accidents I have seen on the east coast were between the I-40 I-81 split on to Roanoke on I-81.
     
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  11. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    The route I would drive D.C. to Dallas would be I-66 West to I-81 South to I-40 West to I-30 into Dallas.
     
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