Least Mountainous Route D.C. to Minneapolis

[JimKW]

It was not a stupid question. It was just a few stupid people responding.

By the way I never take the Pa Turnpike. I take 68 West out of Hancock then take 79 North out of Morgantown up to Washington Pa then back on 70W. Been taking that route for over 40 years now, even before it was route 68 I went that way on old Route 40. I hate the Pa turnpike.

 

[Mike07SE]

Daren,

Let me start off by saying, I lived in Harrisburg, PA for 19 years, Worked in Baltimore for 3, traveled around the east coast a whole bunch.

I now live in Minneapolis (Anoka / Elk River area), and have for the last 3 years. I have done the trip you speak of from Baltimore to Minnapolis, and from Harrisburg to Minneapolis, and from York, PA to Minneapolis. I've done one of these trips with large moving vans.

Once you get into central Ohio, it's perfectly flat until Wisconsin and SE Minnesota. If you want no hills, hit Des Moines and go north.

Your best bet out of DC is to take 70 to Frederick / Hagerstown and on to the PA turnpike. Driving through western MD and WV will suck if you don't want hills. The PA turnpike grades aren't huge, although some times long, but you can shoot across OH/IN/IL pretty quick. It will almost certainly be a 24 hour drive to Minneapolis.

A middle of the trip break is Elkhart / South bend area. There is a really nice Staybridge suites around Elkhart that's not expensive, and super nice......Free drinks in the evening / movie room / library / awesome rooms / free breakfast.


Welcome to MN, although if I could convince you to live somewhere else I would. Our winters suck balls.

I agree with him. If you can, either take 68 to cut north to the PA Turnpike (Breezewood area), or go through Baltimore and take 83 North up to Harrisburg and then west on the PATP. The grades are much less taxing (long and shallow) than 68 & 70 which can leave you feeling like you're on a roller coaster.

What you spend in tolls I'm sure will be more than made up in fuel savings from the 68/70 route. I used to drive 68/70 when I went to WVU, and to see P'burgh friends. Now I avoid it and just take the Turnpike.

Edit - Just read the rest of the of the posts, guess I was late to the party. Glad you made it ok.

 

[DarenS]

I did and my bad....apologies.

No worries. It's all in good clean fun.

Daren

 

[Code2]

Thanks Code2. I was just asking for any useful information as I never drove out that way. I just purchased my 4Runner 1.5 months ago and this was my first time towing anything so I was a little apprehensive about the drive but everything went well with no issues.

I guess I'll never ask a "stupid" question on these boards to get "stupid" responses back.

Anyway Happy 4th to you! arty:

Dont cave into the trolls ask if you dont know ask thats how you learn there are tons of great people here seems this thread brought out the complete opposite. Me personally i would have taken the dirt roads just cause i like to explorer but still would have asked.

Sorry if anyone has a issue with my comment well im not sorry but some of the comments were just uncalled for IMO

 

[Code2]

Awwww I think I am going to lose sleep tonight not.

So why doesn't the man be a man and come out with open face rather then hiding behind rep.

To the hiding man child so who is the whiny hiding turd now? Lets us know when you grow a pair

 

[KidVermicious]

The butthurt is thick in here.

Thanks Code2. I was just asking for any useful information as I never drove out that way. I just purchased my 4Runner 1.5 months ago and this was my first time towing anything so I was a little apprehensive about the drive but everything went well with no issues.

I guess I'll never ask a "stupid" question on these boards to get "stupid" responses back.

Anyway Happy 4th to you! arty:

Wasn't a stupid question, but it was kinda silly. And you didn't catch your raft of shit for asking the question, you caught your raft of shit for your prickly response to the gentle ribbing you got from Daren.

This is a friendly board, we do a lot of joking. We also do a lot of poking stuffy tards that can't take a joke. If you're going to ask questions like in the OP, you're going to have to grow a thicker skin and be ready for the jesting response, or you're not going to enjoy your time here.

Happy 4th to you, hope yours is fun and safe.

 

[Sungod]

It was a stupid question. It is a shining example of how schools have failed us. My 3rd grader knows about the Appalachian Mountains. HS physics should have told you that your 4 runner has more than enough power to cross those mountains once you realized that the only way to avoid them would add an additional 900 miles to the trip. I guess you can champion the fact that math must have some success still.

I am not blasting the individual. I am blasting the system. Patting someone on the back and telling them that it is ok doesn't seem like the right approach.

 

[Runner27]

It was a stupid question. It is a shining example of how schools have failed us. My 3rd grader knows about the Appalachian Mountains. HS physics should have told you that your 4 runner has more than enough power to cross those mountains once you realized that the only way to avoid them would add an additional 900 miles to the trip. I guess you can champion the fact that math must have some success still.

I am not blasting the individual. I am blasting the system. Patting someone on the back and telling them that it is ok doesn't seem like the right approach.

The OP asked for "the least mountainous route" so it's obvious that he's aware of the Appalachian mountains between DC and Min. He didn't want to avoid the mountain, just wanted to find the route with the least elevation. It was a legitimate question, not a stupid one.

 

[Code2]

It was a stupid question. It is a shining example of how schools have failed us. My 3rd grader knows about the Appalachian Mountains. HS physics should have told you that your 4 runner has more than enough power to cross those mountains once you realized that the only way to avoid them would add an additional 900 miles to the trip. I guess you can champion the fact that math must have some success still.

I am not blasting the individual. I am blasting the system. Patting someone on the back and telling them that it is ok doesn't seem like the right approach.

Neither does being an ass Guess the whiny tard came out

 

[DarenS]

The OP asked for "the least mountainous route" so it's obvious that he's aware of the Appalachian mountains between DC and Min. He didn't want to avoid the mountain, just wanted to find the route with the least elevation. It was a legitimate question, not a stupid one.

I thought it was a lazy question. My impression was that the OP wanted someone to give him the information he was too lazy to research for himself. Or at least he could have done the research, then asked the question.

It took me about two minutes to find this website. Highest Points in the United States

Nothing personal against the OP. There is a lot I don't know. I try to find the answer, then if I'm still stumped, I ask. I do qualify it and let everyone know that I tried searching but couldn't find the info I was looking for.

I actually thought the OP took my joke answers with a pretty good humor. I'm a teach a man how to fish kind of guy, rather than give him a fillet-o-fish sandwich every day. Must be the pioneer spirit I was raised with. :shrug:

Daren

 

[ebg18t]

Thanks Code2. I was just asking for any useful information as I never drove out that way. I just purchased my 4Runner 1.5 months ago and this was my first time towing anything so I was a little apprehensive about the drive but everything went well with no issues.

I guess I'll never ask a "stupid" question on these boards to get "stupid" responses back.

Anyway Happy 4th to you! arty:

Glad you got there safe. :thumb:

You are probably starting to realize your 4Runner is fairly capable. Keep posting questions as this forum is built on the premise of sharing information.

Just a tip for you. I find when searching for information it is easier to use google to search: toyota-4runner.org + your question. It seems to work better than our forum search tool.

Safe travels this weekend.