Question about driving from Illinois to California

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

Realistically, is it possible to drive cormfortably (not like mad, sleeping at night) from Peoria, Illinois, to Irvine, California, in 3 days and enjoy a few sights along the way? It's a 1900 mile trip.

I am thinking of helping my folks move to Ca. by flying to Peoria and flying back from the OC without wasting too many days of work.

Can it be done? Fastest route? Things not to be missed along the way?

[Taverner]

1. How many sights? How many drivers?

You will go up and over the Donner Pass so if you want to see Donner lake (and where the people ate each other) it's hard to skip that :)

If you drive in shifts, and sleep while driving - it can be done very easily.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

2. Yes, my sister and dad/mom have done this a few times...

my mom is a DU'er - I will PM her a link to this thread.

Where in IL and where in CA?

[progmom]

3. I did it from Michigan to LA in 4 days, driving only during the day

and seeing some sights.

[Zomby Woof]

4. Make it a Route 66 trip

The old Route 66 is preserved in many places along its Chicago-to-L.A. route. Get a guidebook on this, see some of the weird roadside attractions, and classic diners of the day, restored or renewed. It mostly runs alongside or overlapping with interstates, so you would be near motels, gas, and food stops.

[huskerlaw]

5. I did Lincoln to Reno in

2 days. This is NOT advisable. Ugh. But three, I would think is doable, depending on how many sites you want to see, etc.

[arcane1]

6. not to be missed: UTAH!!!!!

If you can get anywhere near Moab, UT, Arches Natl Park, Canyonlands Natl park, etc, you would be doing yourself a favour to spend a day there

f*ck the "grand" canyon, or anywhere else really. SE Utah has the most amazing lanscapes ever seen on planet Earth, IMO

[mydawgmax]

9. I second this.

Drove Chicago to LA in 4 days, pretty full days of driving, but ended up in LA early in afternoon on day 4 and that was after playing in Los Vegas on night 3. The drive through Utah was some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscape - not to be missed.

[alcuno]

7. 3 nights or 2 nights?

I just drove from FL to Chicago (1200 miles, 2 nights) and it's a chore; 21 hours total. However, to drive to Cali is great scenery but you'll have very little time to stop and look at anything. I think I've driven it 6 times (Dad was an avid camper.) Take the northern route unless you have to see the Grand Canyon.

[Terran]

8. Three days is pushing it, IMO

I've driven from San Francisco to Missouri going by a southern route--through SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, and then up through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas. We took seven days but I think you could do it comfortably in four. We went that way to avoid snow. There is a LOT to see in Arizona; what I saw of the other states in between Cali and MO wasn't too interesting, but I'm sure there's stuff to look at.

[AngryAmish]

10. How fast do you want to go?

I am sure if you average 120 or so it can be done.

Route advice? I would head west. And a little south.

[evlbstrd]

11. KC to LA in three days.

Stayed at KOAs at night. Going west, went through Colorado, Utah, Nevada into Cali. Came back the southern route.

[Serial Mom]

12. Been there, done that ... it can be done in 3 days,

but can't stop at more than 1 site. - Cyndee_Lou_Who is our daughter who emailed me to tell you about our trips.

Both my hubby & I have done it at least 3 times each with our other daughter - from either Milwaukee to Los Angeles and once from Schaumburg IL to Riverside, CA. It took us basically 3-1/2 days most the trips driving from anywhere from 9 to 12 hours but probably going at least 11 per day average. Once it was done in 3 days.

We made only 3 site-seeing stops altogether - we stopped in Oklahoma City (dad & daughter once and mom & daughter once) to see the Memorial - very moving. The other side trip dad & daughter took was to see the meteor crater in Arizona (big ass hole is what they called it). They said it was OK, but didn't feel they would stop there again.

We took the "southern" route each time - the old Route 66 way - I think it was I-55 to St. Louis, then I-44 to Oklahoma, then I-40 to Flagstaff, and I-40 toward Riverside OR we went down to Phoenix and took the I-10 to Los Angeles (double check all the numbers)

Good luck - we never had a bit of bad weather - went in January once and November another time - April and August also.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

14. .

:hi: Mom!!

[Richardo]

13. Are you Clark Griswold?

[democracyindanger]

15. 600+ miles a day

At 60 mph--which is probably what you'll average, taking into account traffic, fuel stops, etc.--is 10 hours a day. Not including the time for sightseeing. If you're moving in a UHaul or something, your travelling speed will probably be lower.

So, on the road by 7 am, driving until at least 7 pm, three days straight...I dunno.

[trackfan]

16. Yes - moderately heavy driving, though

First day make it to central Nebraska on I-80. 2nd day to Evanston, WY, or Salt Lake City, UT if you can. Third day, I-15 to LA. Don't finish your trip on a Sunday, or you'll hit the terrible Vegas to LA traffic.