I'm picking up a vehicle in Portland, and I plan on driving it to Northern Virginia. I hate to dissappoint, but it isn't a diesel or a Mercedes this time.

Given the variety of people in this group, I'd like to hear suggestions about where to stop along the way. I've created a map of the tentative route & schedule here:

http://luddite.net/oldtad/portland/portland-herndon_files/portland-herndon.htm

The first stop is Walmart near Portland to get some oil, water and duct tape

Thanks,
Tad

I, too, am doing a cross-country (and back) road trip soon. 10,200 miles . We'll be avoiding Walmart like the plague though; they have yet to come in and take over our town but there's no sense in supporting them elsewhere either .

I like your map, I'll have to find some software to do that. Mapquest used to have a road trip planner but it seems they got rid of it.

If you stay a bit farther north at the beginning of the trip, you can stop by Yellowstone in Wyoming and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Those are the only two places of interest I can think of along your route (I assume you've gone to all the cool places on the east coast since you live there!). Hopefully you'll get more responses, I might be able to use the info too .

__________________
'81 300TD Wagon 355k (Miss Diesel)
'83 300SD 180k
'84 500SEL 190k (Parting it out)

Pick up a bottle of hot sauce with your oil, water and duct tape stop - then take it with you wherever you go. It will fix alot of the horrible road food found on interstate exits.

Yes, I would also swing north and tour Yellowstone. On the indicated route, there's a great brewpub in Boise, and fun rafting on the Payette River with Cascade Rafting. Then a bunch of miles. In Pennsylvania, you might check how close your route goes to Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wrights incredible design. Hopefully it's still open for tours...

__________________
1983 300D- silver blue, tan leather, 205,000.
1975 Datsun 280Z. Stock, ready to restore.
1983 San Juan 23. Dry docked.

So what kind of car ARE you picking up? Roadtrips are great! How long do you have to do it? I'm down with the comments on WalMart... only buy from them when I have to, but to each his own. As for routes, if you run into any trouble in IL, keep my name handy. I have a few tools you're welcome to use if you need them. Email me and I'll send you my name & number. I'm in Charleston, IL, an hour or so south of your stop in Danville, though.

Good luck!

Chris

__________________
1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I'm picking up an Isuzu Vehicross.

I will email you.

Maybe something like this for MB tech(ies) would be something for someone to setup:
http://www.4x4support.com/index.php

-Tad

There's a similar site for VW bus owners. Pretty cool; you can specify whether you're willing to offer driveway space for repairs, technical assistance, space for camping, etc... Pretty cool idea. I'm a tinkerer, so I'm not the best guy to call for advice. I can usually figure out a fix given time, but that's hardly ever the case on roadtrips. Still, sometimes it helps to have a sympathetic ear who happens to own lots of tools and an air compressor!

Chris

__________________
1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I just came home two days ago after three weeks and 9,500 miles on the road on a cross-country trip. It was something I will never forget and I am actually thinking of taking another one.

Just be prepared.. bring tools, lights, make sure your vehicle is ready and you will be fine.

I'm going to try. I pick up the vehicle on a Friday (After flying from the DC area), and expect to leave Sat am.

-Tad

Well, I made it. Thank you for offering (For those of you who offered garage/emergency support along the way, and for the advice in this forum).

I'm home, and so is the Vehicross.

You can read a bit more about it here:
http://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewtopic.php?t=1747

-Tad

Nazrat

Depending on your dates, the Indiana state fair in Indianapolis is the best I have seen in the nation. Fairgrounds in Indy.

Safe Journey

The runzas in Lincoln, NE are wonderful.

In West Des Moines you can check out the Rock Bottom Brewery. . .very good bier.

The Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott has a 4 lb hamburger. If you eat it they put your picture up on a wall. I'm not sure if you will get a T-shirt though.

In Danville, IL there is a Casey's gas station that will also have pizza. You would probably think, yeah, right, pizza from a gas station roll out the rolaids. They have really good hot italian sausage pizza, though. This company is an Iowa based company.

In Champain, IL (I believe exit 164 on I74) there is a burger joint called Culver's. Order a Butterburger and cheesecurds (this is a Wisconsin based chain)

Good luck and have fun. I recently drove a 300SD that I bought from Boise, ID to Danville, KY (2100 miles).

__________________
1983 300SD - OLLIE
1985 300D-HILDA (SOLD)
2002 VW Jetta TDI - Puddles
____________________
Diesel passt mir leid!

Well, actually I'm home. The big-ish events I described in that link.

We bought 30 Runzas to take home. If you ask them, they will give you frozen Runzas, at a discount.

Thanks all!

-Tad