By Mike and I had about a month to prepare for our big cross-country move. We knew it was coming, but we didn’t know when. Not having a firm date made the planning process complicated. We had to find a place to live. Reserve rooms at pet friendly hotels. Cancel bills. Change our address. Get the house finished so we could sell it. There was a lot to do.
After we confirmed we needed to be in Washington no later than Oct. 28 so I could start work, I started researching the best routes to take. Most of the resources I could find online focused on the kind of road trips that have a flexible time limit and allow you to do some sightseeing along the way.
Because we both work full-time jobs and have limited vacation days, we had to be a bit more strategic. We could only afford to take one week off work.
There were three main route options and the best one would depend on the weather in the western half of the country. I didn’t want to book our hotels too early just for a blizzard to blow through and close the interstate.
We decided to pack up the Uhaul on Saturday and then hit the road on Sunday. We hired two guys through Uhaul to load the truck and they did a great job stacking everything floor to ceiling. Every inch of that truck was stuffed, and we still ended up not being able to fit everything into the 26ft Uhaul, so we rented a 12ft trailer for the rest of it. Mike drove the big truck, I drove Mike’s pick-up truck towing the trailer, and my mom drove my Jeep. I had the two cats in the truck with me, and Mom had all three dogs in the Jeep with her.
We made fairly good time each day considering the varied terrain, challenging weather, and multiple potty stops for humans and pets alike.
I wanted to document our route for posterity, but also in case anyone else is in a hurry to drive from the east coast to the west coast without the luxury of leisure time.
Day 1 – Suffolk, VA to Dayton, OH
Drive time: approx. 12 hours
Hotel: TownePlace Suites Dayton North
Day 2 – Dayton, OH to Northwood, IA
Drive time: approx. 12 hours
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Northwood
Day 3: Northwood, IA to Rapid City, SC
Drive time: approx. 9 hours
Hotel: Residence Inn Rapid City
This was the one day I knew I wanted to make a detour. After we checked into the hotel it was about 4 in the afternoon. Mt. Rushmore was less than an hour away. Mike was exhausted from driving the Uhaul for three days, so he ended up staying at the hotel to rest and recuperate while my mom and I got back in the car to make the quick trip.
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share.
Was it worth it? Yes. It’s one of those things you just have to see. There was snow on the ground and it was beautifully crisp outside. Mt. Rushmore itself isn’t that inspiring…it’s four old white dudes in a mountainside. But it’s really impressive at the same time. And if you’re driving through Rapid City you might as well stop.
This was the leg of the trip where I started to get really excited. The Black Hills are beautiful and I was so eager to get back on the road the next morning.
Day 4: Rapid City, SD to Bozeman, MT
Drive time: 10 hours
Hotel: Residence Inn, Bozeman
It snowed the entire drive from Rapid City to Bozeman. It wasn’t sticking to the roadway so it hadn’t become that treacherous, but visibility was low and the weather certainly made things more nerve-wracking. I would avoid this route between November and March. I think we made it through during the last week or so when the weather wasn’t too sketchy. I can see it being a real challenge when winter really sets in.
Day 5: Bozeman, MT to Moses Lake, WA
Drive time: 10 hours
Hotel: Ramada Moses Lake
Day 6: Moses Lake, WA to Poulsbo, WA
Drive time: 4 hours
HOME!
If you’re not driving a Uhaul and towing a trailer, the total drive time should only be about 45 hours. We ended up taking 3 hours or so longer than anticipated because of how heavy our load was.
Washinton Wandering 