Driving West.

[XJsportG]

So here is the deal. I plan on attending the 30th Anniversary Celebration in Moab. I live in Virginia so this would be a heck of a drive for me (2,020 miles one way), and it would be in my Jeep, not trailer-ed.

I have my route planned out with gas stops http://goo.gl/maps/ztXUw

It's about 2,020 miles one way or 4,040 miles round trip. With 12-15mpg it is ~$850-950 in gas.

My current travel plans look something like this:

-Leave Richmond, VA on Oct 3rd(4th*).
-Travel Oct 3rd-6th
-Arrive in Moab late on Oct 6th or early Oct 7th
-Set up/explore/meet n greet on the 6th
-Wheel Oct 8th-12th and have a blast
-Leave Moab Oct 13th
-Travel Oct 13th-16th


*My initial thought is I give myself 4 days of travel time, this would be roughly 500 miles a day which seems to be reasonable to do in 7.5hrs. (Richmond, Va to Right past Lexington, KY is 505 miles and 7hr 37mins)

I could push to leave on the 4th but I feel like that would be to rushed and I have been told don't rush on put yourself on a time crunch top accomplish a crazy amount of miles in little time, you are asking for trouble.


Looking for any advice if you've done this trip before or something like. Maybe you plan to do it too this fall!

Critic, Support, or Bash me! I want it all, open to ideas and willing to listen.


I can't not fly and rent a vehicle since i will only be 20. Riding along is an option but I feel like if i'm going I might as well do it with my jeep.

 

[Cottontail]

There is no way I'm going to be able to make it out, I now realize, but when I thought I had a chance, the route I was going to take from Nashville was:

I 40 Nashville to OK City day one.
I-40 OK City to Gallup NM day two
I-40 into Arizona, and catch 191 into Moab day three

Returning I was going to go:

I-70 to Denver day one
I-70 Denver to Kansas City day two
I-70 to 64 to 57 to 24 home day three

Those were all 8 hour days also. I think you are right on planning 4 days. You could easily adapt that route, by taking 85 to 40 on your day one headed out, and then staying on 64 out of St. Louis on the last day of your return.

I set it up this way for two reasons: (1) because I wanted different scenery coming and going, (2) the northern route I thought would be a little quicker and less scenic, so it would help me get home with less distraction after a week of wheeling

I know that PacificEd and High2By are planning to drive out from middle Tennessee in an XJ. Haven't heard, but perhaps some caravans from points east to Moab are being formed.

 

[High2by]

We're planning on leaving out the 5th and arriving on the 7th but I'm a little more aggressive with the driving though. Plans right now are to tow the Jeep so I feel a little better running more miles a day than driving the Jeep plus with two of us, we can swap driving duties up some. I haven't figured the route exactly but Dirk's route is along the same lines as I have been thinking.

I'm going on the Lockheart Basin run because I want to see as much ground as possible, then run as many trails as I can before leaving out on the 12th heading home.

I'm also unsure about any caravan points heading that way, but I'd be game for one if they worked out.

 

[xjintx]

There are 3 of us leaving from Central Texas... Trailering so may be a bit slower? No detailed route yet but pretty much straight out stopping one night... maybe. We will leave Friday maybe as early as Thursday. You are welcome to meetup or heck take a more southern route and crash here for a bit and drive with us

If you have time I'd reccommend a stop over in Colorado for a moutain trail. I will be spending a day or two there on my way back but not sure about the other Texans

 

[XJsportG]

I'm still looking for someone to travel with, if I can get another driver(I trust haha) then we will split the driving and be there alot quick.

Unfortunately I can't leave earlier due to my class schedule or else I would spread this out and do some more stops along the way. The route I had planned which is linked in the OP is all the gas stations I plan to stop at and hopefully every 2-3 stops will be one do of travel and I'd just car/tent camp if possible.

I would definitely be down to caravan out if possible. It would be really cool.

Also, what is ya'lls opinion about driving the Jeep? I won't have access to a tow rig so it's really the only option. Anything to look our for or plan for?

 

[thechief86]

I had planned to go this year, but having to start over with a rusty jeep killed those plans. I'll need to work as much as possible just to stay afloat this year. I may be able to go in the spring, or maybe next fall. I'd like to come up with a trailer between now and then, though

 

[xjintx]

If your truck is solid absolutely no problem driving it. Not sure if it's a crawler though? I am trailering because the year before I went to Moab and blew my rear diff on the trails. The shops in town were to booked to be able to fix... I had no spare gears had blown an Aussie. Luckily I trailered so no issue getting back There will be a lot of trucks there for this run so I am sure there will be plenty of spare parts too.
If plan on traveling late at night and not on the main highway... bring a spare gas can with 5 gal or so. Some of those small towns lockup at night and Sundays so gas can be an issue off the beaten path.

 

[XJsportG]

I would say my Jeep is very solid at this point. Probably the best it has felt. It's no extreme rig, just 4.5" with 31s open f/r. It's done me well so far and I'll have trips coming up that will test it. Uwharrie in June and the Harlan, KY for Cherokee Crawl in July.

I would probably look at getting A/T's or something before I go though. Not sure of I wanna drive 4k with my MTR/k even though I love them haha.

 

[Shorty]

I'm open to possibly "ride-sharing" with you-- I'm definitely not in the position to fly out+rent or trailer my pig for the gathering, but I'm definitely looking into the best way to get there.

Feel free to hit me up "back channel" and I can give you details about myself that will either scare you away or leave you trusting me (I'd be surprised if I scare anyone off)

Shorty

 

[FlexdXJ]

I'm planning on heading up into Iowa and hitting 80 across through Nebraska into Denver then hit the highway along the Colorado river into Moab. Leaving here the 5th and planning to be there on the 8th. I'll be stopping in des Moines to sleep at a naxja members house then crashing at my buddy's place in Denver.

 

[Wayne Sihler]

I drove out from Va for the 25th event. left from the Valley on the 2nd,down (south) on I81 then west on I64. Stopped for first night in Evansville, Ind.
Day 2; I64 west around St.Louis>70W stopped in Abline Ks,for the night
Day 3: I 70 W> around Denver ,spent night in Silverthorne Co.
Day 4: I70 w to Grand Junction Co. short trip,,,built in extra day in case of trouble....
Day 5: to Moab by way of Cisco..I guess in the back way.
Most days were in the 600 mile range..... But plan to run into some bad weather...October and all .It will snow and can change plans....
XJ had 265,000 on it at the start...no problem the entire trip total 4500 miles
I had 3 weeks vacation to use ,,,so my time wasn,t tight and could enjoy the trip.....
I was on 33,s w/4:10.and lots of spare parts,,flat land XJ,s don,t like the Rockies......

 

[xjtrailrider]

I wish i could go!

I would think that the I64 route would be easier driving than the I40 route. I drove I40 to and from Nashville for 2 years and I went to Memphis some on the weekends to have fun(college days). You will be in TN for a full 8hrs of driving, that is one long state east to west!

I40 is good road but I think TN will wear you down mentally early in your trip, your not going to see many state line signs on the first day and a half.

Stick with I64 IMHO

 

[FlexdXJ]

I drove out from Va for the 25th event. left from the Valley on the 2nd,down (south) on I81 then west on I64. Stopped for first night in Evansville, Ind.
Day 2; I64 west around St.Louis>70W stopped in Abline Ks,for the night
Day 3: I 70 W> around Denver ,spent night in Silverthorne Co.
Day 4: I70 w to Grand Junction Co. short trip,,,built in extra day in case of trouble....
Day 5: to Moab by way of Cisco..I guess in the back way.
Most days were in the 600 mile range..... But plan to run into some bad weather...October and all .It will snow and can change plans....
XJ had 265,000 on it at the start...no problem the entire trip total 4500 miles
I had 3 weeks vacation to use ,,,so my time wasn,t tight and could enjoy the trip.....
I was on 33,s w/4:10.and lots of spare parts,,flat land XJ,s don,t like the Rockies......

I have half the mileage you have on my rig. That makes me feel better.

 

[OverlandZJ]

I'm planning on heading up into Iowa and hitting 80 across through Nebraska into Denver then hit the highway along the Colorado river into Moab. Leaving here the 5th and planning to be there on the 8th. I'll be stopping in des Moines to sleep at a naxja members house then crashing at my buddy's place in Denver.

Looks like we will be close to crossing paths.. I leave early am the 4th from here. Running 80 to just north of RMNP.

 

[Wayne Sihler]

I have half the mileage you have on my rig. That makes me feel better.

Rest of story...
Replaced the trans w/ a new unit a month before the trip,,,,just to be safe...
Other than gas only fluid used was a top off of the brake fluid and a shot of grease in the joints before leaving for home....
XJ now has 371,000,,,,and I would not be afraid to make the trip again....after some routine maint.

 

[MELKORsXJ]

Having extra drivers is key... And extra cash for "what if" situations... This was a couple things we did driving to California for KOH

 

[Lowrange2]

Welp, maybe I can make it to the 35th Anniversary Event!

 

[FlexdXJ]

Welp, maybe I can make it to the 35th Anniversary Event!

You can't even make it to the crawl!

 

[DaveS98]

Shit..
I wish I could make it.
Im like 10 minutes from Chatt-town.

Ive been dreaming of my jeep out on Moab.
It only has 93k on it..and its relatively un-molested. The time and $ involved with getting there and back is what kills me.

I may try to plan on the crawl though. Thats only a 4 hr trip.

 

[Lowrange2]

You can't even make it to the crawl!

I don't want to hear it. I've been packed to leave for the Crawl twice and something always comes up...

I've been a member here for 6 years and not made one single Crawl. The new OP here is not even 20 yet and headed to Moab. My priorities must be screwed up. Either that or my Dad's in the wrong line of business.