From Moline, IL, to Branson, MO

Thank you all! It was a beautiful drive!

There are no true mountains anywhere near any direct route you would take. There are the Ozarks Mt. but they are really just big hills with no significant altitude changes, nothing like the passes in the Rockies or even the Appalachians. There are some grades but unless you are on the verge of being overloaded shouldn't have any trouble.

It doesn't have mountains parse for those of you that live out west!

BUT the road I took into Branson from Illinois was a several lane wide road but it went straight up and from the bottom straight up again and again.

If you are not rolling down fast enough on the first one you'll stall on the next climb and so on and so on. Because there is no time inbetween to build back up speed.

And I wish I still had a copy of the route I took so I could warn you NOT to take the exit just past the Tourist Info plaza that THEY told me to take! That was 2 lane, hair pin turns all the way in with no sides off the road just straight up rock. Thought I was gonna die. MH towing and I was longer than some of the turns.:R

I've driven those highways many times. Once you hit US 54 you will have mostly 4 lanes, although there may be sections of 2 lane. MO 5 is now mostly 3 lane with the third lane alternating passing lanes between north and southbound traffic. There are no mountain passes in Missouri. Hills and curves, yes, but no passes. You shouldn't have any problems going to Branson.

When you head south on 65 you will know you are in Missouri but there doesn't seem to be any choice. Just don't decide to go further south on 65 because my map shows that route to be `scenic' which means lots of hills and turns.

Thanks for all your help! I could not find much information online, and knew you you all would be able to help me out!

Missouri is not included in the Mountain Directory books. The name "Ozark Mountains" just sounded a little ominous!

What DW Scottiemom said about the Mountain Pass directories. However I am not aware of any mountains in the central US. You are good to go.

We use these:

Mountain Pass directory

One is published for the eastern U.S. and one for the western. They are worth their weight in gold. It allows you to see alternate routes if you choose.

We have both and use them when we are headed over mountains.

Dale

When I do Google Maps it shows US54, MO5, I-44 then US65. You should be fine as far as hills go. You can see the road on Google Maps if you choose earth view and click on the road and select street view. You could go more miles and stay on US highways rather than state roads. I would definitely avoid county roads.