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2244 mile drive complete from Chicago burbs to SoCal with stops in KC, CO and Las Vegas

Posted by RSMBob <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=RSMBob' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 20, 2026, 16:49:57

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty".

Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years.

One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I would like to have the time and money to do a leisurely driving tour of the US…

Posted by DT <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=DT' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 10:45:19, in reply to "2244 mile drive complete from Chicago burbs to SoCal with stops in KC, CO and Las Vegas"

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I'd love to do this. So many places I need to see in the US!*

Posted by DiamondDazzle <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=DiamondDazzle' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 12:53:12, in reply to "I would like to have the time and money to do a leisurely driving tour of the US…"

We are planning an annual version soon.

Posted by digs <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=digs' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:42:32, in reply to "I would like to have the time and money to do a leisurely driving tour of the US…"

Kids are 9 & 12.

We choose a direction and 4 destinations. Then family vote on any audibles along the way.

I’m jacked.

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

how long are you giving yourself for the trip?*

Posted by lcubed <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=lcubed' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 12:01:10, in reply to "We are planning an annual version soon. "

Previous Message

Kids are 9 & 12.

We choose a direction and 4 destinations. Then family vote on any audibles along the way.

I’m jacked.

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

Love that*

Posted by PapaDels <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=PapaDels' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:49:12, in reply to "We are planning an annual version soon. "

Previous Message

Kids are 9 & 12.

We choose a direction and 4 destinations. Then family vote on any audibles along the way.

I’m jacked.

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I have schweppervessence and wessonality.
Too sweet to be sour, too nice to be mean.

those are great ages; in a couple years, they’ll be Rusty and Audrey*

Posted by bbonb <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=bbonb' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:48:22, in reply to "We are planning an annual version soon. "

Previous Message

Kids are 9 & 12.

We choose a direction and 4 destinations. Then family vote on any audibles along the way.

I’m jacked.

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

We opened the discussion at 6&9

Posted by digs <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=digs' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:52:18, in reply to "those are great ages; in a couple years, they’ll be Rusty and Audrey*"

But it seemed too much for the youngest.

He is battle tested now and a more voracious reader.

It’s time.

Previous Message

Previous Message

Kids are 9 & 12.

We choose a direction and 4 destinations. Then family vote on any audibles along the way.

I’m jacked.

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I’d love to take a Summer and do all the western states in an Airstream*

Posted by bbonb <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=bbonb' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:25:43, in reply to "I would like to have the time and money to do a leisurely driving tour of the US…"

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I want to live in one. Maybe Craig Kilborn will let me use his sprinter van.*

Posted by Warrin'_Illini $<iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Warrin\'_Illini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'>$ on April 22, 2026, 13:36:26, in reply to "I’d love to take a Summer and do all the western states in an Airstream*"

Previous Message

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

You cannot lose games in the NFL and still win.

There's a place in Reseda that sells used Sprinter vans. I checked it out a few years ago.

Posted by complainant <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=complainant' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 17:21:38, in reply to "I want to live in one. Maybe Craig Kilborn will let me use his sprinter van.*"

Or maybe it was Van Nuys. That would be appropriate.

One of these years I want to recreate a couple of the family vacations of my youth.

Posted by EffinIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=EffinIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:59:49, in reply to "I’d love to take a Summer and do all the western states in an Airstream*"

Drive to Alaska & back.

Though to take that much time off I'll need to be retired, and my kids will be out of the house, not just on summer break like my sister and I were.

Previous Message

Previous Message

…while I’m still young enough to manage it. Definitely a swath in the middle of the country that would just be something to get through, but it seems like almost anywhere has something interesting to see or do for half a day.

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

did the drive from the burb to SF with Desert's family back in '96

Posted by Sammich <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Sammich' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 10:36:32, in reply to "2244 mile drive complete from Chicago burbs to SoCal with stops in KC, CO and Las Vegas"

so much Donna Lewis and Tracy Bonham on the radio

we stayed one night in Kearney, NE and one night in Wendover, UT

I want to break it up
I want to smash it up
I want to #### it up
I want to watch it come down

Have driven CHI to CO dozens of times. I find eastern Colorado to be, by far, the worst run of it.*

Posted by cpsteine <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=cpsteine' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 10:31:25, in reply to "2244 mile drive complete from Chicago burbs to SoCal with stops in KC, CO and Las Vegas"

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

It’s desolate and impoverished. I have no reason to see west of Manhattan KS to the mountains again*

Posted by PapaDels <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=PapaDels' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:48:48, in reply to "Have driven CHI to CO dozens of times. I find eastern Colorado to be, by far, the worst run of it.*"

Previous Message

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

I have schweppervessence and wessonality.
Too sweet to be sour, too nice to be mean.

Worse than Nebraska?

Posted by TarheelIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=TarheelIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:36:06, in reply to "Have driven CHI to CO dozens of times. I find eastern Colorado to be, by far, the worst run of it.*"

How many times can you cross the Platte River?

Recrudescence

Eastern Colorado is just more Nebraska.

Posted by KingTalkyTiki <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=KingTalkyTiki' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 13:23:28, in reply to "Worse than Nebraska?"

That whole Rocky Mountain thing is only like half the state, if that.

"You must own the honor of being the whitest, military vet, fat, multiple state property owner but most of all the one who hates their own country the most in our country."

From multiple trips on both I70 & I-80...

Posted by EffinIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=EffinIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:57:29, in reply to "Worse than Nebraska?"

Nebraska is better than Western Kansas & Eastern Colorado.

Previous Message

How many times can you cross the Platte River?

Making a similar drive in 6 weeks (The Ham to RMNP).

Posted by EffinIllini <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=EffinIllini' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 11:12:03, in reply to "Have driven CHI to CO dozens of times. I find eastern Colorado to be, by far, the worst run of it.*"

Been 10 years but from what I recall, at least on the way out, western Kansas was kind of relaxing, while Eastern Colorado was a bit of a grind. A lot of "Are we there yet?" Though it gets better (at least for me) once there's the occasion antelope & deer to spot and then the front range starts appearing in the distance

Previous Message

Previous Message

Made the drive before that last front hit hard. First time I drove 2000+ miles in 40 years, wish we had been able to take more time. Colorado Rockies and NE Utah were pretty incredible, eastern Colorado and western/central Kansas had "boring beauty". Loaded the car up with a lot of things from my parents' house of nearly 60 years. One of the highlights was spending a night each with my 2 best friends in KC and LV. We had a reunion scheduled last year in Vegas but I had to cancel because I was with my mom before she passed.

Now mom's car is my son's new ride. 10yo Ford Escape with only 30K miles.

Last time I did the trip through KC and on to CO Springs…

Posted by Randle McMurphy <iframe src='https://mb.boardhost.com/TheDeuce/info/user=Randle+McMurphy' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2026, 12:57:08, in reply to "Making a similar drive in 6 weeks (The Ham to RMNP)."

I recall traveling on I-70 and you could tell the instant you crossed into Colorado. Kansas had really nice smooth paved expressway. The Colorado section felt like a washboard. This was at least 5 years ago, hopefully they’ve repaved it since then.

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