Getting there isn't really the point.

December 12, 2007 1:16 PM

Driving from Philadelphia, PA to Springfield, MO for about the fifteenth time. I've taken the northern route (I70), the southern route (I64), and the southern route + backroads Missouri and Kentucky. The interstates are boring. I have three days to make the trip. What novel and entertaining routes can you suggest?

It's important to note that I enjoy driving. These three days of driving represent the relaxation portion of my vacation. The default I70 route is about 1100 miles; I'd be glad to drive an extra three or four hundred if the route is less tedious. I'm not looking for "better" route, just a novel one.

I'd prefer backroads, mountains/hills, expansive views, and most especially curves. Bad roads aren't a problem; my car and I can take dirt about as fast as most can take tarmac. I can ford about 14 inches of water. I have a full tank range of 300-350 miles (depending on whether or not I can hit 5th and cruise control).

I don't need a complete route. If you have a favorite piece of road between Philly and the Ozarks, post it. I'll piece a route together out of what I get.

posted by Netzapper to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

I have been doing research for a road trip and this site http://www.roadtripusa.com/index.html
has some interesting ideas that you may be able to piece together.
posted by lilacorlavender at 2:51 PM on December 12, 2007

You can head south from Kentucky to Nashville, get on 24 and come into Springfield from 60, which is a pretty nice drive. If you were really ambitious, keep going south and map a way through the back roads of Arkansas, which are really pretty in the northen area, especially as you enter the Ozarks from that direction.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:52 PM on December 12, 2007

Ooh, ooh. If you head out through Pittsburg into West Virginia, you could hit the Appalacians, go south to the Grreat Smokies and then hit the Ozarks and see all three hillbilly mountain areas of our fine nation. Eat barbecue the whole way.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:55 PM on December 12, 2007

The road that runs down the Smokies through Asheville, I think it's called the Blue Ridge Parkway, is gorgeous if inordinately slow. Might be snowy this time of year. From there you can drive through the Gennessee Valley in Tenn which is one of the most scenic places I've ever been.
posted by fshgrl at 6:50 PM on December 12, 2007

Ooh, ooh. If you head out through Pittsburg into West Virginia, you could hit the Appalacians, go south to the Grreat Smokies and then hit the Ozarks and see all three hillbilly mountain areas of our fine nation. Eat barbecue the whole way.

Good call. On the other hand, the PA turnpike is astonishingly dull. I-68 through the Maryland panhandle is a much more scenic way to get to West Virginia from the east coast. For extra bonus scenic goodness, you can pull off onto US-40 (a.k.a. Scenic Route 40, a.k.a. Alt. Route 40, a.k.a. the National Turnpike) which has more twists and turns and fewer cuts and bridges. But really, even the interstate is gorgeous.

And this way you're getting four mountain areas, since you get to add the Alleghenies to your list. No barbecue this far north, but the gas station at exit 68 off I-68 has startlingly good, cheap biscuits and gravy.

Last but not least, this route will take you by Sideling Hill, which is essential if you're into geology and kind of cool even if you're not.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:04 PM on December 12, 2007

...the gas station...

I guess I should have specified that there's a restaurant attached. 7-11 does not in fact dispense country gravy.
posted by nebulawindphone at 8:10 PM on December 12, 2007

If your route takes you through central Kentucky, be sure to take Old Frankfort Pike from Lexington to Frankfort. It's lined with horse farms on both sides the whole way and should be very pretty even in winter.
posted by komilnefopa at 8:43 PM on December 12, 2007

The Highland Scenic Highway through a portion of West Virginia is a fabulous drive that meets all your criteria, but beware of bad weather and road conditions in the winter. Best times of year are May and/or October.
posted by netbros at 9:05 PM on December 12, 2007