Life Interstate Road Trip Tournament, Round 1, Heat 24.

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 05:31 PM

Just a little offseason exercise. There are 80 different Interstate highways in the USA (including Puerto Rico). Which one would be best for a road trip?

I've set the rules as follows (in spoiler for those of you who've read them already]:

Spoiler!

Your next competitors are:

Option 1 - I-96 from Norton Shores, MI, to Detroit, MI
7 Day Trip
192 Miles, 27 miles per day on average
Passes through Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and Lansing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_96

Option 2 - I-71 from Louisville, KY, to Cleveland, OH
7 Day Trip
346 miles, 49 miles per day on average
Passes through Cincinnati and Columbus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_71

Option 3 - I-75 from Miami Lakes, FL, to Sault Ste. Marie, MI
13 Day Trip
1,786 Miles, 137 miles per day on average
Passes through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Gainesville, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and near Mackinac Island.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_75

Option 4 - I-17 from Phoenix, AZ, to Flagstaff, AZ
7 Day Trip
146 miles, 21 miles per day on average
Passes near Sedona

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_17

Hydrae · 05-03-2020, 05:50 PM

Lived in Flagstaff for 5 years. Been up and down that hill in 17 numerous times. Don't really need to revisit that, thanks.

75 on the other hand covers a lot of territory that would be new to me.

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Lived in Flagstaff for 5 years. Been up and down that hill in 17 numerous times. Don't really need to revisit that, thanks.

75 on the other hand covers a lot of territory that would be new to me.

But but but ... Sedona!

Actually, we were pretty disappointed with the town of Sedona. It was nothing but a big souvenir stand. But the resort/spa we stayed in was great.

**Easy 6** · 05-03-2020, 05:50 PM

Take me through Arizona, the southwest is truly beautiful

Best trip I ever took was Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to LA, you’re in the middle of nowhere for much of it, and some of the places you get to see are pristine, unforgettable

Think old John Wayne movie shot on location, you almost expected to see a tribe of Indians come galloping down some pass after you

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Take me through Arizona, the southwest is truly beautiful

Best trip I ever took was Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to LA, you’re in the middle of nowhere for much of it, and some of the places you get to see are pristine, unforgettable

Think old John Wayne movie shot on location, you almost expected to see a tribe of Indians come galloping down some pass after you

I'd like to do the Southwest Chief sometime. Where'd you get on?

**Easy 6** · 05-03-2020, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'd like to do the Southwest Chief sometime. Where'd you get on?

Took a short hop train from Springfield Il to KC and transferred there... would do it again in a heartbeat, LOVE traveling by train

The seats are huge and comfortable for sleeping, you’ve got lounge cars to go take in the view, the bar car where you can go get a beer, fresh burger and watch some tv... and the smokers car turns into a big ol party at night

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Took a short hop train from Springfield Il to KC and transferred there... would do it again in a heartbeat, LOVE traveling by train

The seats are huge and comfortable for sleeping, you’ve got lounge cars to go take in the view, the bar car where you can go get a beer, fresh burger and watch some tv... and the smokers car turns into a big ol party at night

Yeah, I like amtrak. I did a big amtrak hobo journey about five years ago, but didn't make it to the southwest. I'd probably change up a few things next time (sleeper cars aren't as comfortable as I would've expected), but I'd do it again.

**Easy 6** · 05-03-2020, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, I like amtrak. I did a big amtrak hobo journey about five years ago, but didn't make it to the southwest. I'd probably change up a few things next time (sleeper cars aren't as comfortable as I would've expected), but I'd do it again.

I’ve wondered what the sleeper cars are like, sounds like not worth the money... I was surprised how big the regular seats were, and how far they leaned back

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 05:51 PM

There are some sneaky good options in this one.

I'll start out be eliminating I-71. I'm not that compelled by central Ohio and that Cincinnati chili stuff seems kind of weird.

I'm intrigued by I-96. I had a pleasant time driving part of that road a few years ago. Muskegon is right on Lake Michigan, so I'd probably spend a couple of days in Detroit, which I've never visited, and then drive straight through to find some nice hotel near the lake for the rest of the week. I'm not sure it's a finalist, though.

My two finalists would be I-17 and I-75.

I-17 is nice. I've driven it before, and the main draw would be Sedona. I spent several days in a Sedona resort a few years back, getting a chakra massage and eating the best cornbread I've ever had. I'd basically just go there for a week, driving there the first day and leaving the last day.

I-75 is interesting because you could spend a day at Disney World, go visit the Coke Museum in Atlanta, check out some Civil War stuff in Chattanooga, hit that great airplane museum in Dayton, park your car and spend a day on Mackinac Island, and then I've always wanted to visit Sault Ste. Marie since I know nothing about it. There's a lot of driving in northern Michigan, which I bet is pretty.

Tough call here. I really like I-75, but I think I'll go with that Sedona spa along I-17.

And I like geography, but I've never noticed that Michigan is directly north of Florida. I would've guessed that Michigan was much further west. The bulk of Florida is south of Ohio, even though I would have guessed that it was more in line with the northeast or New York.

Monty · 05-03-2020, 06:48 PM

I’d do the AZ trip. I wasn’t influenced at all by the previous posts glorifying the Sedona experience. I love that area and haven’t yet explored it to my satisfaction.

scho63 · 05-03-2020, 08:31 PM

Option 3 - I-75 from Miami Lakes, FL, to Sault Ste. Marie, MI
13 Day Trip
1,786 Miles, 137 miles per day on average
Passes through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Gainesville, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and near Mackinac Island.

This touches a hell of a lot of beautiful places and hard to compare a 1,786 mile trip to one of 150-200 miles.

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scho63

Option 3 - I-75 from Miami Lakes, FL, to Sault Ste. Marie, MI
13 Day Trip
1,786 Miles, 137 miles per day on average
Passes through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Gainesville, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and near Mackinac Island.

This touches a hell of a lot of beautiful places and hard to compare a 1,786 mile trip to one of 150-200 miles.

Yeah, to some extent the comparisons of the longer and shorter ones are more of a vote on road trips versus destination vacations. I wasn't sure about that at first, but I kind of like it as we go through the heats.

**mlyonsd** · 05-03-2020, 08:34 PM

These are great threads to read. Our 40th wedding anniversary is in October and I have to figure something out.

**Rain Man** · 05-03-2020, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

These are great threads to read. Our 40th wedding anniversary is in October and I have to figure something out.

My wife isn't a huge fan of traveling, but for some reason she likes a classic road trip. We've done a few big ones over the past several years. I wouldn't really want to do a road trip on my own (too much driving), but when I can share the driving it's great.

**mlyonsd** · 05-03-2020, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My wife isn't a huge fan of traveling, but for some reason she likes a classic road trip. We've done a few big ones over the past several years. I wouldn't really want to do a road trip on my own (too much driving), but when I can share the driving it's great.

My wife isn't much of a traveler either. I've mentioned this before but for our 30th I just told her we're going to fly to Albany Oct. 1 rent a car, and drive to Maine and back. It was the best trip we ever took. Saw all the color and I just chilled and stopped at every antique store, covered bridge she wanted to along the way. We took back highways and there was a little interstate as possible. But these threads are giving me ideas.

Fall is a special time and I want to pick the right one.

View Poll Results: Which Interstate would you choose for your road trip?
I-96 - 7 days, 192 miles through MI	3	14.29%
I-71 - 7 days, 346 miles through KY and OH	0	0%
I-75 - 13 days, 1,786 miles through FL, GA, TN, KY, OH, and MI	7	33.33%
I-17 - 7 days, 146 miles through AZ	8	38.10%
I'll stay home, thanks.	3	14.29%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll

05-03-2020, 05:31 PM	Topic Starter
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-632449 VARSITY	Interstate Road Trip Tournament, Round 1, Heat 24. Just a little offseason exercise. There are 80 different Interstate highways in the USA (including Puerto Rico). Which one would be best for a road trip? I've set the rules as follows (in spoiler for those of you who've read them already]: Spoiler! Go here for the rules. https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=330775 Here's a North Korean propaganda video if you're interested. Your next competitors are: Option 1 - I-96 from Norton Shores, MI, to Detroit, MI 7 Day Trip 192 Miles, 27 miles per day on average Passes through Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and Lansing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_96 Option 2 - I-71 from Louisville, KY, to Cleveland, OH 7 Day Trip 346 miles, 49 miles per day on average Passes through Cincinnati and Columbus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_71 Option 3 - I-75 from Miami Lakes, FL, to Sault Ste. Marie, MI 13 Day Trip 1,786 Miles, 137 miles per day on average Passes through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Gainesville, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and near Mackinac Island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_75 Option 4 - I-17 from Phoenix, AZ, to Flagstaff, AZ 7 Day Trip 146 miles, 21 miles per day on average Passes near Sedona https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_17
Posts: 145,431

05-03-2020, 05:50 PM	#2
Hydrae MVP Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Newport, Or Casino cash: $-1143000	Lived in Flagstaff for 5 years. Been up and down that hill in 17 numerous times. Don't really need to revisit that, thanks. 75 on the other hand covers a lot of territory that would be new to me.
Posts: 14,858

05-03-2020, 05:50 PM	#4
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $-132225	Take me through Arizona, the southwest is truly beautiful Best trip I ever took was Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to LA, you’re in the middle of nowhere for much of it, and some of the places you get to see are pristine, unforgettable Think old John Wayne movie shot on location, you almost expected to see a tribe of Indians come galloping down some pass after you
Posts: 98,444

05-03-2020, 05:51 PM	#9
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-632449 VARSITY	There are some sneaky good options in this one. I'll start out be eliminating I-71. I'm not that compelled by central Ohio and that Cincinnati chili stuff seems kind of weird. I'm intrigued by I-96. I had a pleasant time driving part of that road a few years ago. Muskegon is right on Lake Michigan, so I'd probably spend a couple of days in Detroit, which I've never visited, and then drive straight through to find some nice hotel near the lake for the rest of the week. I'm not sure it's a finalist, though. My two finalists would be I-17 and I-75. I-17 is nice. I've driven it before, and the main draw would be Sedona. I spent several days in a Sedona resort a few years back, getting a chakra massage and eating the best cornbread I've ever had. I'd basically just go there for a week, driving there the first day and leaving the last day. I-75 is interesting because you could spend a day at Disney World, go visit the Coke Museum in Atlanta, check out some Civil War stuff in Chattanooga, hit that great airplane museum in Dayton, park your car and spend a day on Mackinac Island, and then I've always wanted to visit Sault Ste. Marie since I know nothing about it. There's a lot of driving in northern Michigan, which I bet is pretty. Tough call here. I really like I-75, but I think I'll go with that Sedona spa along I-17. And I like geography, but I've never noticed that Michigan is directly north of Florida. I would've guessed that Michigan was much further west. The bulk of Florida is south of Ohio, even though I would have guessed that it was more in line with the northeast or New York. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,431

05-03-2020, 06:48 PM	#10
Monty Award Winning Tailgater Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-888430	I’d do the AZ trip. I wasn’t influenced at all by the previous posts glorifying the Sedona experience. I love that area and haven’t yet explored it to my satisfaction.
Posts: 4,045

05-03-2020, 08:31 PM	#11
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $-890000	Option 3 - I-75 from Miami Lakes, FL, to Sault Ste. Marie, MI 13 Day Trip 1,786 Miles, 137 miles per day on average Passes through Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Orlando, Gainesville, Macon, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and near Mackinac Island. This touches a hell of a lot of beautiful places and hard to compare a 1,786 mile trip to one of 150-200 miles. __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 55,065

05-03-2020, 08:34 PM	#13
mlyonsd Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spink, SD Casino cash: $-2176238	These are great threads to read. Our 40th wedding anniversary is in October and I have to figure something out.
Posts: 39,477