road trip advice - worth it to see Cubs??

I am relocating a car from Florida to my home in Canada and I am hoping to do the drive as fast as I legally can.

I have not done a big US road trip in a few years so I have a few questions that I am hoping to get some feedback on.

How are the rest stops for sleeping in your car, specifically Missouri, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Montana. It seems in years past there was always someone on the news getting busted using the rest stop as a bath house. Is this still common or have they calmed down. Are they generally reasonably crime free?

I have had mixed luck using Motel 6 in the past, assuming this is still the case?

Any absolute must eat places on the following interstates:

I-75 in Georgia
I-24 in Tennessee
I-70 in Missouri
I-90 South Dakota

Any advice to keeping awake short of picking up a meth head hitch hiker?

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice


You're fine in Georgia and Tennessee. Most of the rest stops are pretty nice and clean and patrolled. Though any place could be dicey at night.

Don't be in such a hurry. Enjoy the trip. I'd love to go through the Dakotas.

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

I recommend the Days Inns. Especially in the South. Never had a problem with them being comfortable or clean, and they're fairly cheap and usually not full.

Otherwise, good luck. Take a few pictures, even if you're going 80+ mph. (makes them more artsy)

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

Do not stay at the Days Inn by the Nashville airport.

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

When you stop at Stucky's, you want to order the pecan log with extra gravy.

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

Are you passing I-57 at all? Just a short jog from 24 on 57 in Sikeston, Mo., is the original Lambert's Cafe. Very, very good all-you-can-eat place. It was No. 1 on an old Travel Channel show about the best places in the U.S. to pig out.

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

I live at the Tennessee-Kentucky line (Clarksville, Tenn.) on I-24.

You're more than welcome to stay here if we're home.

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

Damnit, why didn't you live there when I was traveling back and forth from Florida for three years?

 

Re: No Burt or Jerry to help, road trip advice

There's a huge truck stop halfway across Missouri on I-70 at Kingdom City. It's not a rest area, but has some relatively cheap hotels, and as far as I know is relatively safe. I used to live in the area and never heard about any crime from anyone staying at that exit.

 

I am trying to squeeze in a sportsing event on this trip and it looks like a Cubs game on Friday afternoon might work. Can any Chicago folks tell me a bit about tickets?

It is a late season game against Arizona. Am I better buying tickets on-line or buying from scalpers outside Wrigley? I can get a seat on-line behind the visitor's bench for $80, probably not the best value but is the price worth the convenience. My time is a little more precious than money in this case.

Thanks for the other replies on this thread as well, very much appreciated.

 

South Dakota? I give you the The Corn Palace

http://www.cornpalace.com/index.php