RI to MN roadtrip with 4 kids: so not the Griswolds
May 11, 2010 7:40 PM Subscribe
We're planning a drive from RI to MN with four kids and need some logistics suggestions (e.g., lodging ideas, construction warnings, etc.).
We're considering driving from Rhode Island to Minnesota this summer with the four kids (aged 2 to 11): airfares are simply TOO HIGH. We've flown with them before, but not driven over six hours, and I haven't made this drive in 15 years. What do we need to know?
The map shows Ohio (Akron? Toledo? Cleveland?) as the rough midpoint. Any suggestions on where to stay? And how do you avoid two rooms when you have a pile of kids?
Are there road construction horrors to avoid this summer? We're looking more toward grim, white-knuckled speed than leisurely exploration -- saving the quality time for fishing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes -- but if there's a real not-to-be-missed place and we have to stop, please mention it.
We know about bringing DVDs and handheld games and snacks and lots of ZipLoc bags [after an awful scene involving cheddar Goldfish crackers and whiteout rain in New Hampshire] and plenty of extra batteries and some surprises saved for the return drive.
Should we have the minivan (2003 Sienna) tuned up, or just rent something?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
We're considering driving from Rhode Island to Minnesota this summer with the four kids (aged 2 to 11): airfares are simply TOO HIGH. We've flown with them before, but not driven over six hours, and I haven't made this drive in 15 years. What do we need to know?
The map shows Ohio (Akron? Toledo? Cleveland?) as the rough midpoint. Any suggestions on where to stay? And how do you avoid two rooms when you have a pile of kids?
Are there road construction horrors to avoid this summer? We're looking more toward grim, white-knuckled speed than leisurely exploration -- saving the quality time for fishing in the Land of 10,000 Lakes -- but if there's a real not-to-be-missed place and we have to stop, please mention it.
We know about bringing DVDs and handheld games and snacks and lots of ZipLoc bags [after an awful scene involving cheddar Goldfish crackers and whiteout rain in New Hampshire] and plenty of extra batteries and some surprises saved for the return drive.
Should we have the minivan (2003 Sienna) tuned up, or just rent something?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Should we have the minivan (2003 Sienna) tuned up, or just rent something?
If the van's running okay, then there's no reason to have a "tune-up". These largely don't exist anymore, anyway, given that the engine management computer is essentially giving it a tune-up about twenty times a second. However, if it's near one of its service intervals, by all means, have that done before you leave. (You've been following the recommendations in your manual, right? It's usually every 30k.)
Anyway, if your tires are nearing the end of their lives, you might consider replacing them before your trip. Also, get an oil change. Those two things will make a far greater impact on safety and reliability than any $100 JiffyLube "tune-up".
posted by Netzapper at 8:43 PM on May 11, 2010
If the van's running okay, then there's no reason to have a "tune-up". These largely don't exist anymore, anyway, given that the engine management computer is essentially giving it a tune-up about twenty times a second. However, if it's near one of its service intervals, by all means, have that done before you leave. (You've been following the recommendations in your manual, right? It's usually every 30k.)
Anyway, if your tires are nearing the end of their lives, you might consider replacing them before your trip. Also, get an oil change. Those two things will make a far greater impact on safety and reliability than any $100 JiffyLube "tune-up".
posted by Netzapper at 8:43 PM on May 11, 2010
I'd avoid Chicagoland if possible - it's a great place to visit, but a bear to drive through in the summer because of the heavy traffic. Add to that road construction, and if you hit Chicago at the wrong time, you could be stuck for hours. I'd look at routes through the middle of the state, into Iowa, and north into MN.
When you do look up driving through Illinois, remember that they have both a department of transportation and a separate tollway authority. And unlike other states, they have more toll plazas.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:48 PM on May 11, 2010
When you do look up driving through Illinois, remember that they have both a department of transportation and a separate tollway authority. And unlike other states, they have more toll plazas.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:48 PM on May 11, 2010
Oof, I did a Minneapolis to Boston drive a few years ago with two adult friends, and it was almost unbearable. We didn't stop to sleep, we had two on, one off. Made it in just under 19 hours.
From what I can tell you're gonna be on 90 most of the way, unless you're going to southern MN, then you'll be on it the whole way.
Other posters have mentioned avoiding Chicago. Do this. Hopefully a Chicagoan will inform you as to the best way to avoid the city. 294 maybe?
I was gonna get all cocky and recommend a Grand Rapids to Milwaukee ferry, but it would run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $375, and you wouldn't save all that much time.
Then I was gonna follow it up with an even cockier recommendation of Amtrak, but they'd run your family close to $800 and would take like 30 hours with zero problems. And from what I hear, Amtrak is filled with problems.
All that being said, road-tripping with your family is one of the really cool things about America.
posted by Sphinx at 10:28 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
From what I can tell you're gonna be on 90 most of the way, unless you're going to southern MN, then you'll be on it the whole way.
Other posters have mentioned avoiding Chicago. Do this. Hopefully a Chicagoan will inform you as to the best way to avoid the city. 294 maybe?
I was gonna get all cocky and recommend a Grand Rapids to Milwaukee ferry, but it would run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $375, and you wouldn't save all that much time.
Then I was gonna follow it up with an even cockier recommendation of Amtrak, but they'd run your family close to $800 and would take like 30 hours with zero problems. And from what I hear, Amtrak is filled with problems.
All that being said, road-tripping with your family is one of the really cool things about America.
posted by Sphinx at 10:28 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
One way to determine where to stay is to use meetways.com to find the halfway point. If you're traveling from Providence to Minneapolis, for example, you're looking at an overnight in Monroeville OH. It's a short distance further to Toledo, where you can probably find a better selection (and deals) on hotels. Tripadvisor.com can help pinpoint accommodations.
Even though you're blazing a trail to your destination, don't pass up the opportunity to check out some of the USA's finest roadside attractions--use RoadsideAmerica.com to find attractions along the way and keep the kids on the lookout for some quirky sights.
posted by prinado at 10:57 PM on May 11, 2010
Even though you're blazing a trail to your destination, don't pass up the opportunity to check out some of the USA's finest roadside attractions--use RoadsideAmerica.com to find attractions along the way and keep the kids on the lookout for some quirky sights.
posted by prinado at 10:57 PM on May 11, 2010
In the Twin Cities, there's two big summer construction headaches in the urban core. 94 is being resurfaced west of downtown St Paul through the junction with MN-280. 35W south of downtown Minneapolis to and around MN-62 is a major, multi-year reconstruction project that can cause traffic tie ups at any time of day or week.
The parts of 694 I drive through the northern TC suburbs seem fairly quiet this year, those are probably your best bet if passing through east-to-west. 494 is traditionally busy, and is taking some of the traffic in the southwest that would otherwise go down MN-62 if it weren't under heavy construction.
posted by gimonca at 7:30 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
The parts of 694 I drive through the northern TC suburbs seem fairly quiet this year, those are probably your best bet if passing through east-to-west. 494 is traditionally busy, and is taking some of the traffic in the southwest that would otherwise go down MN-62 if it weren't under heavy construction.
posted by gimonca at 7:30 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's going to be hard to avoid Chicago, but I would make sure to get far enough into Ohio before sleeping for the first night that you'll be able to get through Chicago shortly after morning rush-hour, and while you're still fresh. I used to drive MSP-DTW on a fairly regular basis, and hitting Chicago at the wrong time of day can mean a few hours difference in the drive time, and about 20 points on the blood-pressure.
posted by DaveP at 8:33 AM on May 12, 2010
posted by DaveP at 8:33 AM on May 12, 2010
Response by poster: Sphinx, I've gone north through Canada (and dozed off while zooming through the pan-flat farmland of Ontario), overnight via Ohio with my brother (3000+ miles on a new rental car in three days: the staff was pretty confused), and slowly through Wisc. (waiting for the gas station at Tomah is torture). Someday I'd like to add an element of style to the trip, but this time we just want to bull through. :7)
We're headed for St. Paul so the 35 work in Minneapolis shouldn't hurt us -- and we'll be so giddy at the sight of Spaghetti Junction that I might drive up Summit as a sort of victory lap for making it (and to avoid that work on 94). As for Chicago, I did hope to hit it in the morning so as to minimize the pain.
Netzapper, thanks for the car ideas. A trusted friend runs a Toyota dealership so maybe I will ask him if there's anything I should do to our trusty chariot.
Thanks all -- keep 'em coming!
posted by wenestvedt at 9:40 AM on May 12, 2010
We're headed for St. Paul so the 35 work in Minneapolis shouldn't hurt us -- and we'll be so giddy at the sight of Spaghetti Junction that I might drive up Summit as a sort of victory lap for making it (and to avoid that work on 94). As for Chicago, I did hope to hit it in the morning so as to minimize the pain.
Netzapper, thanks for the car ideas. A trusted friend runs a Toyota dealership so maybe I will ask him if there's anything I should do to our trusty chariot.
Thanks all -- keep 'em coming!
posted by wenestvedt at 9:40 AM on May 12, 2010
The Norske Nook has nice pie. They've added a few cafes since I last stopped at one in Osseo, WI, long ago.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:37 PM on May 13, 2010
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:37 PM on May 13, 2010
Response by poster: I mudst admit, we caved! Someone helped us book tickets (at times & prices we couldn't find ourselves) and we're going to fly.
The youngest one just wouldn't have made it well. In a few years I'll take them somewhere farther away than New Hampshire (say, Pennsylvania? or historic Williamsburg?), but for now we're going to chicken out.
One thing I did discover was the degree to which the E-Z Pass system runs from New England through Illinois: if I had gotten the unit in my home state it would have worked on the whole trip. Pretty sweet.
I will mark this resolved, and thanks again to everyone who contributed. To future searchers who find this thread, I say go for it!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2010
The youngest one just wouldn't have made it well. In a few years I'll take them somewhere farther away than New Hampshire (say, Pennsylvania? or historic Williamsburg?), but for now we're going to chicken out.
One thing I did discover was the degree to which the E-Z Pass system runs from New England through Illinois: if I had gotten the unit in my home state it would have worked on the whole trip. Pretty sweet.
I will mark this resolved, and thanks again to everyone who contributed. To future searchers who find this thread, I say go for it!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Hope you have fun here. Where about in the State are you going? I may be able to offer local tips depending.
posted by edgeways at 8:30 PM on May 11, 2010