driving to Kansas from Massachusetts

[Bombero1956]

This is my first attempt at a long distance drive. I'll be traveling on I-70 in a 2 car convoy. What am I looking at as far as speed traps and service areas. I'm leaving on Friday morning and from what Mapquest says it's a 25 hour drive.

[Bombero1956]

1. wow this hardly a surprise

I post asking for advise on driving from Massachusetts to Kansas and get no responses. Yet a post about Lady Gaga riding around in an egg gets 45 and a question about eating ants gets 15. It couldn't be that nobody on the Lounge drives.

[cyberswede]

2. Have you tried...

...to post to the state forum for each state you'll be passing through? That might generate some responses.

Sorry I can't help. :(

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Maybe the loungers just don't know I-70.

I've only crossed the country on I-80, for example.
At some point you'll switch interstates to go north. Has that been planned?

I can tell you that I-90 in MA has few rest area options but lots of towns just off the pike.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

3. I can't offer specifics on stops or rest areas along that route, but

I have driven from NYC to Illinois (and back) twice and from Illinois to southern California (through Denver, Arches NP, Zion NP, Grand Canyon NP, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas) three times and I looooooove long distance drives.

Check out www.randmcnally.com and AAA for stops and the likes.

[cbdo2007]

4. Cool, that's a fun drive.

Don't know about any "speed traps" or "service areas" specifically but there will be plenty of cities along the way for you to stop for food or gas if you need to.

I'm sure Highway Patrol will be out and they'll be on the side of the road, in the median between East/West, or also sometimes they'll hang out on overpasses. The guy on the overpass will clock your speed, and a few patrol cars on the entrance ramp will chase down speeders.

Once you get past Pennsylvania the good views are gone and it's just flat, boring, highway driving. I've made the trip from Kansas City to New York/Washington D.C. a few times driving and enjoyed it cause I'm a "road trip" kind of guy and enjoy seeing the sights and the different parts of the country. Of course, coming FROM Kansas City to the East Coast has got to be more exciting than coming TO Kansas from the East Coast. What will you be doing in Kansas? Anything fun?

[LynneSin]

5. My advice to you is avoid carbs early in the day

I did a round trip to Virgina Beach and back last memorial day weekend. Trip took about 12 hours.

It wasn't until I was about an hour from home that I started feeling sleepy. The main thing I did was avoid processed foods and carbs especially early in the day. If you are going to drink anything caffeinated don't drink things with lots of sugar in it. Sugar will wire you quickly then crash on you.

If you do feel tired, nothing wrong with pulling over for 30 minutes and taking a power nap. Power Naps save lives!

Finally, if you have an Iphone or other cell phone that uses applications, MapQuest has a GPS app for $5.99 that has voice GPS. Good value there.

Good luck!

[Bombero1956]

7. thanks for the advise

I am driving out for my nephew's return from Iraq. He has been out there for a year and it was his first deployment. He is a member of the US Army 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) stationed at Fort Riley. I have driven from New England to Virginia in the past but this is my first trip requiring more than a day of driving. I have a Tom Tom and my IPhone and a power inverter as well. So what exactly should I be eating before the trip?, eggs and bacon? I'm bringing bottled water and my Keurig machine.

[cbdo2007]

10. Congratulations on your nephew's return!

That's a great reason to come to Kansas!!

The drive on I-70 really is pretty easy. It's just normal flat highway.

Have a great trip!

[bluedigger]

8. That's a good slog.

Columbus and Indianapolis are kind of a drag to drive through, but other than that it's just a long haul on the interstate. Are you planning to drive straight through? The second half of your trip is going to be pretty monotonous...:boring:

[Blue_Tires]

9. I drove from Virginia Beach to Kansas about 11 years ago...

12 hours the first day, 8 the next...Made the drive alone

Bring some books on tape!

[Bombero1956]

11. I am planning on driving straight through

When I was in the fire service I would go 1-2 days without rest because sleeping wasn't allowed.

[struggle4progress]

15. I wouldn't do that if I were you. I drove from Pennsylvania to Texas nonstop once

Daylight driving is a lot easier than night driving, and your alertness will be low after 12 or 15 hours

[Bombero1956]

12. my nephew's last launch before coming home

He just posted this on FB. His last launch of one of the AH-64 attack helicopters before heading home. He has no idea that I'm coming out for his return so keep it a secret.

[Curmudgeoness]

13. I don't know how this works out, but it's worth a look.

This site lists speed traps. You can also look for red light cameras, etc.

http://www.motorists.org/speed-trap-listings/

If you were coming on I-80 and got tired in W PA, you could always rest here for a while.

[cbdo2007]

14. Or if you're on 70/76 in Southern PA, you could stop at the Flight 93 Memorial