Route from AL to MT

I got busted with a log violation many many moons ago at the EB coop. He cut me a break and told me to take a 8hr nap. Lol

 

Looks like an old superior carriers truck.

 

I’d definitely take the Memphis route. The drive through the Ozarks on US 63 is really pretty.

It looks to be roughly 26 hours driving to Billings (don’t know where in Montana you’re going). I’m also not sure how far you want to drive in a day, these days I rarely drive more than ten hours even in my own car. But 12 hours would get you to Kansas City. About 45 minutes from KC there’s a Sapp Bros truck stop at Harrisonville, where you get to I-49, that has pretty good food. There’s a Love’s at the next exit if you prefer their showers, and a Flying J another exit or two at Peculier if that’s what you like.

If you want/need to follow the HOS rules, Springfield has all the usual truckstop chains.

 

If you’re bobtailing I would take the scenic route and enjoy the trip.

 

St. Louis is terrible for traffic and the cops between there and wentzville are psychotically aggressive due to all the drug trafficking. Only time to go through St. Louis is in the middle of the night but out of state plates brings the fury of the cops. I hate that area. All of Misery to be honest. Of course a bobtail truck won't raise as much ire.

I'd go the Memphis route but I wouldn't stop there or in KC for any amount of time. Everywhere else is a cakewalk. Don't speed in Iowa either. They'll pull you over for 1-2 mph over in my experience.

 

I avoid that J. Not a nice place, Peculiar though that may seem.
The Love's is OK, as is the Sapp. If it is later in the day the Sapp is a better choice. The Love's is smaller and fills up quickly.

There is nothing north of there for a long while, especially late in the day. Unless you are a Swift driver and have access to the Edwardsville terminal.

 

Years ago we ran that all the time and Memphis was the only way we went going to Calgary. I think we took off North out of Billings to go west cross country to the Interstate (15?). I got dinged by that scale downtown. That was a surprise. I may have been making a drop in town.

 

still think it is