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Author Topic: For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso  (Read 3491 times)

DandyDan

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For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso
« on: January 31, 2015, 07:42:16 PM »

Assuming that either myself or my mother can't convince my dad to fly between Omaha and El Paso, my dad is driving from here to El Paso.  What is the optimal route between the two cities?  Assume that the #1 priority is getting there and back as fast as reasonably possible.
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nexus73

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Re: For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2015, 09:08:52 PM »

I-80 to I-25 to I-10?

Rick
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usends

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Re: For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2015, 12:19:21 AM »

I-80 to I-25 to I-10?
That's probably the best way if he wants an all-freeway route, but it's not a very direct route.
Google says it's 1170 miles, 17 hours and 7 min.  Depending what time he hits Denver and the Springs, it could take quite a bit longer.
Mapquest says 1253 miles, 18 hrs. 49 min.  That's quite a discrepancy, but I suspect MQ is more accurate with respect to mileage.
AAA says 1170 miles, 16 hrs. 42 min.

My first thought was:
    I-80 west to York.
    US 81 south to Salina.
    I-135 south to McPherson.
    K-61 southwest through Hutch to Pratt.
    US 54 the rest of the way.
Google says this is 1053 miles, 16 hours and 35 min.
Mapquest says 1029 miles, 17 hrs. 4 min.
AAA says 1021 miles, 16 hours.

That's essentially the route that all three online services suggest, except between Salina and Minneola:
    From Salina, I-70 west to the Ellsworth exit.
    K-156 southwest to Great Bend.
    US 56 southwest to Dodge City.
    US 283 south to Minneola.
    US 54 the rest of the way.
According to Google, this is 1008 miles, 16 hours 20 min.
Mapquest says 1017 miles, 16 hrs. 53 min.
AAA says 1008 miles, 16 hours.

So, bottom line:
Google says the US 54 route is 170 miles shorter than the interstates, and saves about an hour.
Mapquest suggests the same US 54 route, but they claim it's 236 miles shorter, and saves about 2 hours.
AAA says it's 162 miles shorter, and saves about an hour.

So that's what I'd do.  But it might depend whether your dad is ok with 2-lane highways.
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DandyDan

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Re: For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2015, 03:02:21 AM »

I-80 to I-25 to I-10?

Rick
Actually, it would be I-80 to I-76 to I-25 to I-10, but that sounds as bad as the US 75/I-335/I-35/I-35W/I-20/I-10 route he originally said he would take.
I-80 to I-25 to I-10?
My first thought was:
    I-80 west to York.
    US 81 south to Salina.
    I-135 south to McPherson.
    K-61 southwest through Hutch to Pratt.
    US 54 the rest of the way.
Google says this is 1053 miles, 16 hours and 35 min.
Mapquest says 1029 miles, 17 hrs. 4 min.
AAA says 1021 miles, 16 hours.

That's essentially the route that all three online services suggest, except between Salina and Minneola:
    From Salina, I-70 west to the Ellsworth exit.
    K-156 southwest to Great Bend.
    US 56 southwest to Dodge City.
    US 283 south to Minneola.
    US 54 the rest of the way.
According to Google, this is 1008 miles, 16 hours 20 min.
Mapquest says 1017 miles, 16 hrs. 53 min.
AAA says 1008 miles, 16 hours.

So that's what I'd do.  But it might depend whether your dad is ok with 2-lane highways.
One of his notes I saw essentially has the first route you listed except for the fact it has Wichita listed.  I'd have to hope he or Mom can read a map and see K-61 is a shortcut to West US 54.  I did see that the K-156/US 56 combo goes SW from Ellsworth.  He might like seeing Dodge City, even if that is not the purpose of the trip.

As for him being OK with 2-lane roads, all I'll say is he'll take a county road if it means it's shorter by a few miles, such as any time he (or we) go up to my aunt's in SW Minnesota.  That's not the route I would take there, though.
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nexus73

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Re: For my dad: trip from Omaha to El Paso
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2015, 10:42:19 AM »

I was wondering what the real alternative to the "obvious" answer was!  In Oregon I know all the shortcuts but the Midwest?  Fuggedaboudit. 

Rick
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