Road trip to Denver via I-70. Suggestions to stay in Missouri and/or Kansas?

[CtrlAltDel]

In Kansas in particular, make sure to leave plenty of following distance, use your turn signal like they taught you in driver's school, and don't carry large amounts of cash. Random targeted drug enforcement is very active in Kansas.

I have seen zero firsthand evidence of that.

It's probably worth mentioning, though, that the practice is common enough that the Kansas courts have ruled on it a number of times, issuing a various injunctions and so on against the Highway Patrol.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In Kansas in particular, make sure to leave plenty of following distance, use your turn signal like they taught you in driver's school, and don't carry large amounts of cash. Random targeted drug enforcement is very active in Kansas.

I have seen zero firsthand evidence of that.

It's probably worth mentioning, though, that the practice is common enough that the Kansas courts have ruled on it a number of times, issuing a various injunctions and so on against the Highway Patrol.

It did happen to me in 2019, although it ended without incident as I think unwittingly I didn't give the cop anything to go off of to justify pushing for a more invasive investigation. After it was over he had already pulled someone else over before I was even able to leave the scene.

[Darkchylde]

I recently organized a two-week Seattle to Denver road trip, so I have a bit of experience with long drives. For your route, Columbia, MO is a great spot to stop overnight—it's safe and has plenty of hotel options. In Kansas, I'd recommend stopping in Hays, a charming town with some good hotels and dining options.

Some of the most beautiful views of my road trip were along the Oregon Coast. Cliffs with sharp edges, long beaches, and cute coastal towns like Cannon Beach were great places to stop, stretch my legs, and enjoy the fresh air from the Pacific.

The extra miles were well worth it because Crater Lake National Park was so beautiful. I was amazed when I looked into the clear blue waters of America's deepest lake. Driving around Rim Drive gave me many chances to enjoy the park's beautiful volcanic scenery.