best cross country route to tow?

[231jasonS]

Im taking a trip from northern California to Kentucky in Aug. Im taking I-40 to OK city then north from there via Witchata KS. I have several stops on the way so im going on I-40.



The return trip is straight through and I want some experienced voices on which route is the best considering grades and roads given the time of year.



I have a 3/4 SB pulling a 31' 5th wheel. My trans and turbo are upgraded.



Are the grades on I80 bad enough to consider returning on the southern route?

 

[JSienkowski]

I'm not familiar with I-80 west of Chicago, but I would AVOID Chicago if your route will take you near it, cost me $20. 00 in tolls last time I went to Wisconsin to visit my parents just to get thru Chicago

 

[JMetzger]

I would take I 135 out of Wichita then west on I 70 to Denver then I 25 north to I 80 then west. Last year we went to CT went out I 70 & back I 80. I felt that I 80 was a better road & the grades were more gradual. I 70 west of Denver has the Eisenhower grade & it is a pretty good pull. If you use Flying J there are more of them on 80 then 70.

 

[BarryG]

The grades on 80 are a better than 70. On 70 you have Gennesse, Eisenhower and Vail pass. All are solid 6% plus and last for miles. 80 while not quite as pretty the grades are less and if a weekend the traffic will also be less on 80.

 

[klenger]

The grades on 80 are a better than 70. On 70 you have Gennesse, Eisenhower and Vail pass. All are solid 6% plus and last for miles.

That's the best part of the trip. I could spend a month traveling the stretch from Georgetown to Grand Junction.

 

[EricBu12]

I-80 is much better than 70. .



Do as above on 35 to 70 to 25...



On that stretch out of Denver on I-25, go north aways to highway 287 west... this is a cutoff to avoid a grade and steep decent from cheyene... cuts off about an hour... . then go 80 all the way...



Here in Salt lake city, we redid the highways for the Olympics... so come on into town on 80, the grade is several miles of 6% but just lockout and tap once in a while... Watch for a 50 mph curve... that means 50!... Nearing I-15, Head toward and take highway 201 west... this is a direct route to I-80 without having to head north on I-15 toward downtown.



The only other grade to deal with is Donner... Not so bad a climb from reno but is up and down some...



Have fun!

 

[cwsoules]

I would use I-80. If you can go south of Chicago do it.

 

[CCBrady]

The only part of the route that the other folks have said to use that I will not ever use again, is I-25 out of Denver. Or at least until Colorado fixes it. It was so bad, that it was giving me a head ache, I had to use the service road until I was well north of Denver before I could get back on I-25. I don't remember how fair it was, but it was a good ways up the road. Good luck on your trip and have fun.

Chris

 

[ndurbin]

Good choice at turning north at OKC. Gets a bit rough east of there all the way to Memphis (unless soemthing has changed in the last couple years).



Tank up before you leave Oklahoma thats probably the cheapest fuel you'll see the whole trip.



35 north is good solid road. Althought it's a toll road thru KS. But you get the ticket at the south end and don't pay until you get off or leave KS. Lot better than stopping every 20ish miles and paying a toll.



Are you going to take 135 north to 70 thru Wichita or catch 70 in Topeka staying on 35? 135 goes directly thru the center of Wichita and isn't to bad when not during peak driving times when towing. If ya hit during rush hour 235 bypass around the city would be a better idea. 35 b/w Wichita and Topeka can get alil hilly nothing real long just alotta short hills (don't know the grades but I bet their not 6-7%).

 

[231jasonS]

Ndurbin, Ill be visiting my father, who recently moved to a suburb of Wichita. I need a R/V park to stay at for a few days. The city to the east, begins with an "A" I think. If you have any reccomendations on parks let me know. I guess the community dad lives at is not RV friendly.



After leaving Wichita Ill be headed for Kentucky to stay at the In-laws. Then to Indiana, then back to the No. California



The return trip is where I cant decide to go back the same way (I40) or try I80. A different route would be more intersting, but I think avoiding the mountians might be better for time and money.



(Allthough the mountains would be a good test of my new WSB turbo).

 

[ndurbin]

Andover or Augusta then... ... ... ... ..... don't know of any RV parks on that side of town really. I think theres acouple on 54 b/w Andover and Augsta (only like 15 miles b/w the two), but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[231jasonS]

Andover, thats it. Well if you hear anything good about any parks close by let me know. The AAA guide book shows 2 near Wichita:"all seasons", and "Blasi campground" both near I-235.

 

[ndurbin]

235s on the wrong side of town... ... ... ..... it goes around the west side of Wichita. More I think about it I'm pretty sure theres atleast one on 54 b/w Andover and Augusta.

 

[MABurns]

That's the best part of the trip. I could spend a month traveling the stretch from Georgetown to Grand Junction.

Absolutley correct on that. WOW, beautiful!!!



Based on all the advice I recieved here, I took I-70. I only had to down shift into 5th gear 3 or 4 times and could maintain 60 MPH up all but one grade. If I downshifted to fifth I stayed in fifth going down the other side. No problems (and NO exhaust brake either--yet)



I-15 south out of St George UT was equally beautiful... . in a 110 degree hot kind of way. Glad I was pulling with a CTD. Not the kinds of places you want to break down along the road!

 

[bmoeller]

I-335/35 in KS is a good road. Tolls aren't all that bad, compared to IL. Can go from east of Topeka to 335/35 south to OK for about $26 in a 18 wheeler.



I've only been on I-70 from Topeka to St. Louis, and Indy to I-77 (in OH) Pretty good roads for the most part. In Columbus, OH on 70, take the I-270 (south) bypass. Less traffic. Had no trouble going thru the road construction in around Dayton.



As said before, avoid I-80 around the Chicago- Gary, IN area. Every time I've been thru there, traffic was painfully slow.



I-80 from central NE east to IN, is pretty decent. Eastern NE and western Iowa is pretty hilly, but not bad. Don't have much trouble with the big truck.



I-35 from Des Moines, Ia to Kansas City is very rough road. Beats the snot out of you in places. Some areas are grooved pretty good as well.



I-70 in MO is a bit flatter than I-44.