road trip advice - worth it to see Cubs??

[Iron_chet]

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?

 

[Ace]

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.

 

[luckyducky]

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)

 

[Moderator1]

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

You've had better luck than I've had in Days Inn's. I'd rather die than stay in another one of those!

 

[YGBFKM]

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

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

 

[Buck]

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.

 

[YGBFKM]

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.

 

[User 1019]

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.

 

[YGBFKM]

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.

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

 

[spup1122]

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.

 

[Iron_chet]

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.

 

[Machine Head]

South Dakota? I give you the The Corn Palace

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

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

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.

It's the Cubs, so ... no.

But if you go anyway, Armchair_QB wants you to kick both Kevin Gregg and Aaron Heilman squarely in the balls.

 

[micropolitan guy]

I'd second the Corn Palace, and also Wall Drug, in SoDak. They are both touristy, but interesting nonetheless. The South Dakota Badlands aren't as impressive as those in North Dakota, but are interesting nonetheless.

You're not far from Mt. Rushmore on I-90, and the summer tourist season is over. The Hills are nice in the fall. There's an 1880s train in Hill City that makes for a nice diversion.

 

[Machine Head]

It's too bad Iron_chet isn't transporting a bike and it was August. We could send him to Sturgis.

Chet, live blogging would be expected

 

[Armchair_QB]

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.

It's the Cubs, so ... no.

But if you go anyway, Armchair_QB wants you to kick both Kevin Gregg and Aaron Heilman squarely in the balls.

Actually, if you get the chance, punch Aaron Miles in the face for me.

 

[Bob Cook]

At the Hapeville, Ga., exit, just north of the exit for the airport, you can go to the Dwarf House, the original Chick-fil-a. As for hotels, I'd recommend Country Inn and Suites -- my family used them on a Florida road trip, and they were clean and reasonable.

As for the Cubs, if you go don't drive into Wrigleyville. Park downtown and take the red line back and forth from the park. In the south loop (near the Roosevelt and Harrison stops) you can find $15 parking with easy in and out.

 

[User 1019]

Yes, seeing the Cubs is worth it. In South Dakota, see the Corn Palace (it's lame, but pretty cool from the outside), Badlands and Rushmore. You can do them all in one day if you hustle.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

I got nothing to add on the trip itinerary other than saying Wrigley is a must.

 

[YGBFKM]

Especially if you like to sit in your seat and never watch the game from anywhere else in the stadium.