Suggested Route to Rally

[rapz]

My wife and I plan to ride up (two up) from South Texas to Spokane, any recommendations on scenic routes and how much time each takes based on my normal riding schedule of about 300 miles per day?

[kbasa]

I can map out a sort of rough itinerary, but how long it will take depends on you.

• Carlsbad Caverns, NM
• Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas - AC and rest stop
• Yosemite
• Hwy. 1 north of Los Angeles
• Avenue of the Giants, south of Eureka, CA
• Crater Lake, OR
• Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington Border

I'd put a couple of those items on the list. Where in South Texas are you? My dad's in Port Isabel.

[rapz]

I'm in Mission, TX. It's about 65 miles upriver (Rio Grande) from Port Isabel. Major Hwy is 281 going up to San Antonio. I'm thinking of going up to SA, west to El Paso, north to Denver, etc.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by rapz
I'm in Mission, TX. It's about 65 miles upriver (Rio Grande) from Port Isabel. Major Hwy is 281 going up to San Antonio. I'm thinking of going up to SA, west to El Paso, north to Denver, etc.

Ah. Probably cooler that way. Have you been to Utah? I still say that mile for mile, Utah has the best scenery in the whole country. The southern end of that state is absolutely spectacular.

[darrylri]

Don't forget the Rockies in Colorado! I just went over the Million Dollar Highway (US550) and through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Great scenery, incredible roads. I hear there' s more, too. ;-)

[Unregistered]

What's Hwy 550 like? I've only been on the main Interstate which goes from El Paso to Denver.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by Unregistered
What's Hwy 550 like? I've only been on the main Interstate which goes from El Paso to Denver.

The stretch between Durango and Ouray is one of the most scenic roads in the country.

[rapz]

I'm sold on Hwy 550.

[CustomSarge]

Killer picture, KBasa. Could have been Alaska! I'm going to have to really plan the run of SW MI <-> Spokane for National. Gotta see how much time I can take off & include these paths.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by CustomSarge
Killer picture, KBasa. Could have been Alaska! I'm going to have to really plan the run of SW MI <-> Spokane for National. Gotta see how much time I can take off & include these paths.

I can't take any credit for it, Google had it.

[BRADFORDBENN]

Hello gang:

I am in the process of planning the route and vacation time for the rally. This is what I came up with, anyone have any comments or improvements? I am working on the return path as well with the goal being to not just return on the same roads.

Routing
DAY 1
*Toll road* Merge onto I-80 [I-90] (South-West)
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-90 [Indiana East-West Toll Rd]
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-80 [I-90]
At I-80 Exit 21, turn off onto Ramp
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-294 [I-80]
*Toll road* Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto I-39 [I-90]
Stay on I-39 [I-90] (North)
At I-94 Exit 108, continue (North) on I-90 [I-94]
At I-94 Exit 70, turn off onto Ramp
Continue (North-West) on US-53
Continue (West) on US-2 [US-53]
Merge onto I-35 S [US-2] (South-West)
At I-35 S SR-23 Exit, turn off onto Ramp
Merge onto SR-23 [Grand Ave] (North-East)
Arrive AeroStich RiderWearhouse [8 S 18th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55806]
End of day

DAY 2
Depart AeroStich RiderWearhouse [8 S 18th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55806] on SR-23 [W Superior St] (North-East)
Merge onto I-35 S [US-61] (South-West)
Merge onto SR-210 [HWY-210] (West)
Turn LEFT (South) onto US-169 [SR-210]
Continue (West) on SR-210 [2nd St NW]
Continue (West) on CR-82 [E Vernon Ave]
Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-210 [W Lincoln Ave]
Merge onto I-94 [US-52] (North)
Entering North Dakota
Entering Montana

DAY 3
Stay on I-94
Entering Idaho
Entering Washington
At I-90 Exit 285, turn off onto Ramp
Bear RIGHT (West) onto E Sprague Ave
Turn RIGHT (North) onto N Havana St
Continue (North) on Spokane I Fairgrounds [N Havana St]
Arrive Rally 2004 [404 N Havana St, Spokane, WA 99202]


SUMMARY
Driving distance: 1993.0 miles
Trip duration: 2 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes
Driving time: 32 hours, 36 minutes
Click for larger image

The part I am most worried about is around Chicago.

[kbasa]

Originally posted by BradfordBenn
Hello gang:


The part I am most worried about is around Chicago.

BTDT.

It's probably worth getting up early enough to miss all the traffic. Tina rode with us from Boston to SF her rookie year of riding and Chicago was where I was adamant she ride right off my saddlebag.

dave

[dlearl476]

Originally posted by KBasa
I can map out a sort of rough itinerary, but how long it will take depends on you.

• Carlsbad Caverns, NM
• Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas - AC and rest stop
• Yosemite
• Hwy. 1 north of Los Angeles
• Avenue of the Giants, south of Eureka, CA
• Crater Lake, OR
• Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington Border

I'd put a couple of those items on the list. Where in South Texas are you? My dad's in Port Isabel.

Myself, I'd do that route on the way home. (That way you can't lose ALL your money in Vegas! )Can't speak to the southern portion of your trip, but once you get in my neck of the woods, I wouldn't miss:
Taos
64/84 to Pagosa Springs
160//666 to the four corners
191/40 to Heber City through Moab.
150 to Evanston, Wy (DON'T take the freeway, you'll miss one of the best roads in America)
89 North through Yellowstone (or side trip to Ketchum and Sun Valley including craters of the moon NP)
Past Yellowstone 89 North gets you to THE MOTHER ROAD- Hwy 12 and the Lolo Pass (Townsend is a cool place to stay)
From there resist the urge to blast up 195 to Spokane and take 3/8/97 through Bovill and St. Maries past Lake Cour d'Alene. (Save PLENTY of cornering power for those last few miles. Much like a populated 129 (The Dragon)
Then you've got a nice little freeway cruise into Spokane to catch your breath!

All this assumes you have plenty of time to get there. If you don't, I'd suggest you find it. Two more days and your trip will be ten times better. And if you want any more specifics, feel free to pm me. With very few exceptions, I've been on every road betweeen I-15 and I-25 and I-80 and I-40 at least once. IMHO, the 500 mile radius around the four corners has more good MC roads than anywhere in the country.

[Unregistered]

Bradford says:

Routing
DAY 1
*Toll road* Merge onto I-80 [I-90] (South-West)
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-90 [Indiana East-West Toll Rd]
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-80 [I-90]
At I-80 Exit 21, turn off onto Ramp
*Toll road* Continue (West) on I-294 [I-80]
*Toll road* Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto I-39 [I-90]
Stay on I-39 [I-90] (North)
At I-94 Exit 108, continue (North) on I-90 [I-94]
At I-94 Exit 70, turn off onto Ramp
Continue (North-West) on US-53
Continue (West) on US-2 [US-53]
Merge onto I-35 S [US-2] (South-West)
At I-35 S SR-23 Exit, turn off onto Ramp
Merge onto SR-23 [Grand Ave] (North-East)
Arrive AeroStich RiderWearhouse [8 S 18th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55806]
End of day

DAY 2
Depart AeroStich RiderWearhouse [8 S 18th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55806] on SR-23 [W Superior St] (North-East)
Merge onto I-35 S [US-61] (South-West)
Merge onto SR-210 [HWY-210] (West)
Turn LEFT (South) onto US-169 [SR-210]
Continue (West) on SR-210 [2nd St NW]
Continue (West) on CR-82 [E Vernon Ave]
Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-210 [W Lincoln Ave]
Merge onto I-94 [US-52] (North)
Entering North Dakota
Entering Montana

DAY 3
Stay on I-94
Entering Idaho
Entering Washington
At I-90 Exit 285, turn off onto Ramp
Bear RIGHT (West) onto E Sprague Ave
Turn RIGHT (North) onto N Havana St
Continue (North) on Spokane I Fairgrounds [N Havana St]
Arrive Rally 2004 [404 N Havana St, Spokane, WA 99202]



I say:

The only thing that concerns me is what rest areas will you be merging into. You just don't have enough details, how can you make such an unorganized trip??

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

Originally posted by KBasa
BTDT.

It's probably worth getting up early enough to miss all the traffic. Tina rode with us from Boston to SF her rookie year of riding and Chicago was where I was adamant she ride right off my saddlebag.

dave

I agree. My folks used to live in Rockford IL, west of Chicago and all I remember is that the traffic is a zoo between 6 AM-8 AM and around noon(lunch) and again at 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
These times are a general guidelines only but traffic is better outside these times.