Salt Lake City to Memphis in September Thoughts

[hopz]

I was considering a trip from SLC to MEM in the third week in September. Weather patterns suggest things may be favorable. Google and other maps say 1600 mile but it all looks remarkably flat and rather uninteresting- (No offense intended to you midwesterners).

 

If this was not planned as a scenic tour, but as a somewhat slab run mixed in with any targets of opportunity what would your thoughts and suggestions be?

 

 

[Calvin (no socks)]

Avoid I-40.....DAMHIK

 

Some interesting stuff in Arkansas....

[hopz]

Yes, I was road captain on a group ride to Mena, Arkansas, from Houston once and it was a great time, except for the non-stop rain for three days.

 

Was wondering if I-70 was better than I-80? In other words is it better to drop down at Denver or wait till Kansas City? gotta get south somewhere and for some reason there are not many diagonal roads East of Denver and West of the Mississippi river.

[dhanson]

I just ran the I-80 out of SLC coming home, really fun high speed uphill/downhill sweepers starting out of SLC over the mountain, but some tar snakes limited it somewhat. Also wouldn't recommend going at 5pm on friday as I did, bunch of TGIF types with RVs, boats, sports cars ripping!

 

Really windy on the straight portion into Cheyenne, I made a right to Denver, also a zoo on saturday morning, toll loop to east solved most of the traffic.

 

Stayed in Elk city, Ok once, nice stop when going to Mena, Ar.

 

47 degrees out of Cheyenne for a long time!!!

[thencamebronson]

I have a sister in law in Memphis you'll probably want to avoid.

[DaveRT]

Go to the other end of the state and take in THE DRAGON. Your tires will be flat in the center with all that slab riding. The Dragon will round them off before your return trip.

[hopz]

Looks like I need to be more specific... I-80 or I-70?

[Damean]

I-70 is a good road, but it is so boring, it will have you wanting to commit suicide by time you hit Salina. Not much opportunity for side trips out in western Kansas. You'll make good time though. Can't say anything about 80 through Nebraska, never have traveled it.

[Whip]

I don't know any route that will be any fun after you get south or west of Colorado, but if ya need a place to stay along the way our home is available for BMWST members......even Marty.

 

 

Whip

[hopz]

Larry, if I got that far south I would have missed a turn, but thank you for the gracious invitation.

 

Same goes for you guys if you ever get to SLC...

 

The more I think about a Memphis run, the less I like it. I would love to go "home" for an Uncle's 80th birthday and for some BBQ- but the trip sounds like torture. Besides, I can cook BBQ here. You guys want to come over?

[edge51]

Now, now that is not a good attitude. You have great roads all the way to Denver and then a really good opportunity to explore the heartland. Take the two lanes angling SE across Kansas, stop to smell a wheat field or two. Spend some time in a small rural town's cafe listening to the locals. Enter NW Ark and ride some great roads through the Ozarks and then head south to Memphis. Go back the same general way but take different roads. Stay off the freeways -- so much to see, hear and smell. September is a perfect month for this trip, you will miss a lot if you skip it.

[Fugu]

what would your thoughts and suggestions be?

 

Fed Ex me some BBQ!

 

Oh, your trip...

 

No idea what's over there. Look out for crocodiles and swamp creatures and stuff.

[Albert]

I'll echo edge51's comment about the 2 lane roads. In lots of farming country (see flat straight roads) you will find numerous 2 lane roads that cross the fields with practically no traffic on them. If the crops are low enough (or not there at the time) you'll have an unimpeded view and you can make almost as good a time as the slab. Often the scenery is more interesting too. It's usually easy to find one that parallels an interstate in case you need to jump on and make some time. If it's night time I'd opt to staying on the 4 lanes.

 

I do sympathize, I'll be crossing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska in September (both ways).