Driving cross country - I have 3 route options

[tjet]

Looking for advice or tips for a 3000 mile road trip next week. I'm driving solo from New York to Los Angeles. I'm looking for some input on which route I should take after I get thru Iowa. The blue line is I-80. I did a few years ago in my Syncro. The Cabellas headquarters is on that route

The green line I-70. I did that last year in my jetta driving to NY. Its a nice drive through high country

The red line to ABQ is a way I've never gone before. Hmm.

BTW, it will be in a '71 corvette stuffed full of vw parts. So, no sleeping in it sadly .

[danfromsyr]

are you looking for fastest?
most scenic?
interesting stops? or non-stop?

[tjet]

Well, since the car has no wipers (or any decent heat), maybe the warmest route would be best (& no rain). It also has no radio, horn, or highbeams. It does have a 370 hp though Im hoping I can make it in 4 days (get there by Friday)

I do need to fix the headlights this weeked....

Here's an old pic when I had it shipped out to NY almost 20 years ago...

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/my-71-be...1399665754

I think I can fit my syncro trans on the passenger seat floor & an EJ22 subaru on the seat (buckled in of course)

[Steve M.]

Depends on the weather.
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All else being equal, Robert Frost might recommend the road not yet taken:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken

No matter your choice, you will perhaps always wonder about the others. But it will make all the difference ...
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[Gizmoman]

The "Road less Taken" would be my choice but it may also depend on your dependability rating of the van, and your ability to fix whatever needs fixin'. The red line may place you in BFE often.
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[mikemtnbike]

Southern route also includes Flagstaff, which is a great town, and avoids Vegas, which is always good IMO. Southern.
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[riceye]

[Gizmoman]

[MarkWard]

I vote for Route 66.
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[Steve M.]

[Jake de Villiers]

[DanHoug]

be sure to RainX the windshield if no wipers!!

how about a northern route thru Ontario and drop back into the US in Minnesota? very scenic around Lake Superior. i love Ontario drivers... no texting, know how to use a passing lane, and there's fish and chip stands everywhere. cooler weather for an antique Vette and when you drop into MN, you can stop by DHaavers or my place for repairs!
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60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

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[E1]

Tough to choose between the three, I could go any direction depending on mood, time since last visit, etc.

Agree with Mark and Route 66, if you have the time. The Vette will fit right in, Bucket List stuff for the enthusiast.

Otherwise, two variations on 2:
1 / Mountain route:
-- I-70 to West Glenwood Springs exit, double back two blocks on north-side frontage road to Jilbertitos -- world-class taqueria (priorities!)
-- CO-82 to Carbondale, CO-133 to Delta, then south through Montrose (Black Canyon!), Ridgway (side-trip to Dallas Divide!), Ouray, Silverton (great mining town!), to Durango
-- West to Cortez, McElmo Canyon to Mexican Hat via side-trip to Hovenweep if like Native ruins
-- Southwest through Monument Valley, on to Flagstaff (agree it's a great town!), then west on I-40. Oak Creek Canyon loop-around a very valid option.

2 / Canyons route -- 1-70 to UT-24 exit to Hanksville (just west of Green River)
-- Follow through Capitol Reef to Torrey, then south through Boulder, Escalante, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, through Hades (I mean, Vegas), I-15 to LA
-- The stretch of UT-12 from Torrey to Bryce is just about our favorite canyon road in the U.S.
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[djkeev]

[E1]

Thanks Dave, I missed the "four days" post.

Changes everything. Dependably-driest route on average would be #3 (red). #1 good if coast behaves.

My suggested routes could be done in your last two days but too much for fun.

If must be four days, I'd go Big Red.
Edit: IF you mean "four days NY to LA." If meaning Iowa to LA, all are doable. US-6 in Nevada could have you enjoying that Big Ol' Block.

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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[MarkWard]

4 long ass days. Makes my ass hurt just thinking about it. Hope the vette has some decent Tuck and Roll. A stick for poor mans cruise control would be helpful too.
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[khughes]

[jimf909]

Yellow (a revision to blue or green) - Hwy 50 across Nevada: the lonliest highway. Spectacular two-lane with 20 mile views between mountain ranges. Recommended.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50_in_Nevada

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- Jim

[SyncroHead]

I vote for Route 4.

Take the Green route past Grand Junction and then in Utah turn south and go through Moab, Monument Valley, past the Grand Canyon and connect with the Red route in Flagstaff.

Great scenery and many places to stop and see things if you have the time.

I didn't look close enough to make my line actually follow the highway, but you get the idea.

Jim
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