California to Annapolis

I would use 70.

iquilt888 wrote:
Busskipper,
I looked at a map trying to plan out the route you suggested. I'm wondering does the route take you over the Wasatch outside of Salt Lake City? Then is the Continental divide outside of Denver one of those straight up routes?

As you have probably already guessed I'm not a fan of steep grades.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Missed the question -- but just caught it -- To the best of my recollection you will not have straight up or down drives (but understand I go out of my way to drive the Coach on roads others would not, I love the mountains) IMHO the Interstate Highway system is Safe and Easy to drive as far as the roads and grades are concerned, now traffic and road conditions is another story. So come in on 80 take 15 south to 6/89 over to catch 191 south to 70, there is a little piece of the drive that as I remember it had a short run through the mountain passes. This is a truck route and they are rolling, so my advice is to be sure you have your rear view mirrors adjusted and stay out of the way, the traffic is a much bigger concern than the mountains.

Now if you made it this far I'll give a really special side trip -- this is one of my favorite drives in UTAH, Simple just follow the signs to Moab -- might just catch Canyon-land NP and Arches NP but then head into Moab. Just before you reach the town take Rt 128 along the Colorado River back to 70 -- when I take this drive I fell like I 'm in the Grand Canyon See Pic's

Hope this helps to fill in the blanks,

BOL,

Busskipper

Busskipper,
I looked at a map trying to plan out the route you suggested. I'm wondering does the route take you over the Wasatch outside of Salt Lake City? Then is the Continental divide outside of Denver one of those straight up routes?

As you have probably already guessed I'm not a fan of steep grades.

Thanks for all the help so far.

iquilt888 wrote:
busskipper,

Thanks so much for the response with the awesome idea on how to go cross country.

Definitely going to print this off so I can sit down with a map and check it out.

Thanks again.

Oh, my son, one of those nasty otr truckers, suggested I get a toll pass. Not exactly sure what it is truly called so pass is going to have to do. Have you, in your travels, heard of them? He evidently has gotten them at least for Ohio.

Out here they are called Easy Pass -- the main thing they make easy is for the state to get money for something the road tax should have paid for years ago. (This is coming from someone who spent his life building State and Interstate Highways in Maryland) If you follow my route you will not need to pay any tolls, if you need to find out more I have heard that the best place to purchase is PA, as they do not have a monthly charge, as the state of Maryland has now. PA Easy Pass I have nothing but respect for OTRTruckers, I have just found that the roads are more enjoyable if there are fewer of them on the roads I travel. I also think they appreciate not having me in their way.

Best of luck in the plans coming out and even more on the leisurely trip back.

Busskipper

We did a round trip in our current motor home between Annapolis & Sacramento. We took 80W and 40E. We enjoyed the scenery on both. Took us 3 nights to go West and 2 nights to come back. We did this in November 2009. Lucky no weather or traffic issues. Safe travels!

busskipper,

Thanks so much for the response with the awesome idea on how to go cross country.

Definitely going to print this off so I can sit down with a map and check it out.

Thanks again.

Oh, my son, one of those nasty otr truckers, suggested I get a toll pass. Not exactly sure what it is truly called so pass is going to have to do. Have you, in your travels, heard of them? He evidently has gotten them at least for Ohio.

iquilt888 wrote:
I'm planning on heading to Annapolis next Spring. Even though it is a long ways off I'm beginning to try to figure out the best way to get there.

The trip east will have to be extra quick, no time for lolly gagging about. The trip back west is a horse of a different color. I plan on taking it easy and taking in the sights.

Does any one know which is the better route Interstate 80, 70, or 40? I will be leaving from northern CA. I'll be driving a 32', Class A motor home.

Thanks so much for any advice you have to offer.

Spring is a great time to make the trip, weather, as always will need to be taken into consideration -- Road construction is another issue and last I always look into the tolls that I might encounter along the route. IMHO 80 has a number of issues, TRUCKS are number one -- number two is the general condition of the roads, truck ruts and older concrete joints, these are so bad we avoid 80 at all costs -- when you get back east tolls become a factor, but the roads are a little better.

This would be my preferred route, based on 30 years of travel back and forth. From Redding to Salt Lake will be the first leg, once you leave California the trip is not that exciting. Not totally understanding your time line, if this were me, even in a hurry, I would check the weather and try to make the run down 191 to I-70 and at least have a little something to look at till you land in Denver. From here we would head out 70 to Byers, CO and catch 36 to Hannibal, a little bit of the Road in Colorado is not perfect, but there is little traffic and not a boring Interstate, through Kansas and Missouri the road is Excellent, just not an interstate, with a lot less truck traffic. From Hannibal we head to Champagne, IL, then through Indianapolis to Columbus. Next through Morgantown WV on the way to Annapolis(70-79-68-70-97) I always take this route, as, IMHO, 70 through PA is a pain, Heavy truck traffic - tight curvy road (Great in a sports car) and tolls.

Now that's how I'd do it, I have driven all of the routes you mentioned and this is my favorite route to and from the Rockies.

If you want to get real replies on the trip back I would start a new thread that addresses the time and you will travel and the amount of time you will have. Unless you are military (I think USNA has a Military CG across the River) the best and only CG is the KOA in Millersville, once you arrive in Annapolis.

Hope this is of some help.

BOL,

80