I drove from Pennsylvania to Nevada (LV) in a 22 foot Ryder Rental filled with furniture back in the 70's. The thing had a governor on its carbuerator that would not allow it to go over 55MPH - the speed limit at the time.
I drove approximately 400 to 500 miles a day and stayed at preplanned Holiday Inns along the way. The trip of almost 2400 miles took five days and a half days.
I chose to drive across the US on Interstate 40 (also known as Route 66) because it was winter and both Interstates 70 and 80 were bound to have snow somewhere along the way. Unfortunately it was late January of 1978 when the famous
Blizzard of 78 was about to hit.
I escaped just in time before the snow started to fall in the East and after driving on day one south on Interstate 95 to Bristol, Tenn where I stayed at Holiday Inn #1 the snow began.
The next morning, day two, I drove the length of Tenn, Bristol to Memphis, to make my next stop at H.Inn #2 in Memphis Tenn. (Tenn. is one long ass state in a Ryder truck). Snowing hard all day, but I couldn't stop and break my schedule.
Day three took me from from Memphis through Little Rock to H.Inn #3 in Oklahoma City, again driving in heavy snow. OK City was like a skating rink but me being from hearty New England stock had driven in plenty of snow already in my life.
Day four from Okla. City through Amarillo (where I lost the snow and ran into beautiful sunshine) to Tucumcari, New Mexico and H.Inn#4. This leg was the shortest driving day except for the final day. Tucumcari is quaint and color full town (back then at least) on the way west.
Then Day 5 from Tucumcari into the mountains to Flagstaff, Arizona and H.Inn #5 and finally a short 250 miles or so miles from Flagsatff to Las Vegas. Crossed the Boulder Dam around 1PM and either gained or lost an hour leaving Arizona, can't remember which. From there to Boulder City, Henderson and Holiday Inn #6 on the strip in Vegas until I could rent an apartment the next day and get rid of the truck.
You have to cut north off Rt 40 in Kingman Arizona. I pre-planned every stop. Driving 450 to 500 miles daily in that truck took 12 hours each day with a brief lunch break at the midway point. What a grueling trip it was because of the vehicle and the weather.
I still cannot believe I remember the trip details over 30 years later.
wil.
hno:
