<p>NoVADad99’s description is accurate, just the reverse of my east/west trip. The only negative I had about 40 was Gallup NM. I like to stop at around 5PM, have dinner and a beer. Unbeknownst to me, on Sundays, most of Gallup is dry (alcohol wise). A clerk at a hotel directed me to an Applebee’s where I could get a beer and have a “fine dining” experience. As to scenery in Gallup, I think it’s where old trailer homes go to die. </p>
<p>S and D drove from LA to SF, Tahoe, Nebraska, Chicago and finally their desination DC in the summer. They chose their route as they went, had their GPS, had AAA Plus (with 100 mile towing), and lots of books on tape that S wanted to listen to on the drive. They would go on hotwire each night to book a room in the area where they decided to stop. It worked fine for them. They spent a few extra days in Chicago, but were annoyed at each other by then and had a small spat. It all worked out for them other than that spat. </p>
<p>The vehicle they drove was nearly 20 years old but had been given a good check up by several mechanics and H and I changed the oil and had the tires all checked and properly inflated before the trip.</p>
<p>
Never did I90 but would like to some day. I80 is historically interesting (Cheyenne, Laramie, Golden Spike) and you go right by the Great Salt Lake. Nevada was actually very boring, to my surprise (except the very western edge). But in terms of sheer landscape splendor, I liked I70. Between the Rockies and eastern Utah, it’s one gorgeous landscape after another with great scenic viewpoints. And you go through Las Vegas.</p>
<p>My bad, I forgot that 80 splits in western Nebraska into 80, 76. After split I was on 76 into Denver. I’ve never been on 80 past this 80/76 split.</p>
<p>In January white is likely to be the entire scene on the northern routes- 90, 80…</p>
<p>It really doesn’t matter, in January, 90, 80 70, 40 all have potential to be white at times.</p>
<p>I did a cross country drive trip from NH to CA…and back. But we took six weeks for the trip. And it was summer. We travelled out on the northern route…wanted to see Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Yellowstone, etc. I will say, we got to Crater Lake in July and it was snowing!</p>
<p>We drove down the coast in CA to Long Beach and drive back the southern route. </p>
<p>It was a great trip…but six weeks was even pushing it.</p>
<p>In the winter, you couldn’t pay me to make this drive. Ship the car…and take some trips in the late spring, summer or early fall. </p>
<p>We always said we were going to do the cross country trip with our kids…in the summer. But I wanted to fly to Denver and drive around from there. That center of the country has some long stretches of boring driving in them!</p>
<p>I’d take a more southern route for sure. The shortest distance between these points in January is not a straight line!</p>