Driving from Texas to Michigan

MotoMo165
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1415
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4/3/2014
Location
TX US
Edited Date/Time 5/8/2019 10:11am
What’s up guys. Just like the title says. Anyone ever drive thru these states? I enjoy traveling and want the best scenic route possible.. plan on doing 12 hours Monday and 12 Tuesday. What’s the better state/location I can crash at for the night? Would you recommend a different route for better travels? Also, tornado season.. so maybe I want the best possible route regardless of scenic haha.

Really my only options for hotel room is in Missouri or maybe Tennessee. So it sorta comes down to is the drive thru Missouri/Illinois pretty sweet, or is the extra half hour (maybe a bit more) worth it to drive thru Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana/Ohio worth it? Never been thru any of these states before, thanks
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KMC440
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7764
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4/1/2008
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US
5/2/2019 10:28pm
Nothing to see once you've passed through the Ozarks ... it flattens out and becomes corn fields.
Points of interest would be the Indy Speedway Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB museum and maybe snag a major-minor league b-ball game along the way to help break it up.

Be safe on the drive, pass big trucks as quickly as possible and give them room.
1
blusmbl
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3/19/2012
Location
Plymouth, MI US
5/3/2019 8:23am
If you don't mind extra time, the drive further east through Louisiana and then up through Mississippi/Tennessee/Kentucky is a little more scenic than through Illinois or Indiana. There are more hills on the Tennessee/Kentucky route for sure. Neither route is particularly incredible though. Like mentioned, on the highlighted route once you get past St. Louis it is flat and cornfields for an entire state. Michigan will be a little better, at least taking the route up the coast on US-31.

If you really want adventurous you could head straight north mostly along the Mississippi river up into Wisconsin, then take the SS Badger from Manitowoc to Luddington. It's expensive but cool to do once.
1
early
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University Heights, OH US
5/3/2019 9:14am
An alternative route could be little rock, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Indy, Michigan. You could stop by mammoth cave between Nashville and Louisville. Reservations are required for a cave tour in the park, the historic tour is a nice 2 hours. The Diamond Cave is an independent cave located outside the park but it is a truly incredible cave.
1

The Shop

dmm698
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956
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6/24/2015
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NY US
5/6/2019 3:45pm
As somebody who’s driven from Dallas area to NY and back many times, I avoid going up through Ohio at all costs. That route has got to be the most boring flat drive ever
4
GrapeApe
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8756
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Mc Kinney, TX US
5/6/2019 5:14pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2019 5:17pm
I've made that drive with my family many times. Day 1 is always cool. We usually take the route through the Boston Mountains and Fayetteville up to St. Louis. Stay in downtown St. Louis, hit some great hole in the wall Italian food restaurants (try the toasted ravioli), and go up in the Arch. Day 2 sucks no matter what route you take.

If you are a mountain biker, leave some time to ride the trails around Bentonville, AR.

On the way back, you can take the route through Cincinnati/Nashville/Memphis. Many things to do in each City but I would recommend the Maker's Mark distillery in Bourbon Co., KY, if that's your thing.
1
JustMX
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5239
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4/1/2008
Location
TN US
5/6/2019 5:51pm
I don't know if it is too late, but if you want a memorable experience checkout the old ferry overvthe mississipi river between dorena Missouri and Hickman kentucky.

I was on my way home from Iowa back to nc and wanted to go to LL's on the way home and remembered riding a ferry as a kid. The one we rode had shut down so I found this one.

I was in a truck pulling equipment parts and we took it across and parked and then rode it 2 more trips across for no charge. It was big enough to haul tractor trailers, but was basically a flat barge with and engine room and control tower on one side.

My girlfriend at the time had a good time. We even rode through a pretty impressive thunderstorm.

Watching the barges go upriver was pretty impressive.
Timo_2824
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12/19/2016
Location
Wichita, KS US
5/6/2019 7:29pm
Ozarks and Ouachita National Forest!
MotoMo165
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1415
Joined
4/3/2014
Location
TX US
5/7/2019 8:51pm
Ended up leaving early this morning and made it to Jackson TN. South west TN is pretty sweet from the little I’ve seen.
I was really tempted to drive up to LL but what the heck i just want to make the drive haha. Maybe on the way back.. almost stayed in hurricane hills but figured it’d be better to keep going. Maybe on the way back.

The little bits of the ozarks I’ve seen from the hwy 40 is pretty bad ass. First time driving thru this part of the US.

@early yeah that’s pretty much the route I’m taking.

@GrapeApe pretty big into mountain biking and I will definitely be hitting trails on the way home in late September.

At the time of this post I didn’t factor in the extra cost of little tours and side views/routes..
Really Appreciate all the sound advice. Tomorrow I’ll be driving thru north central ish Tennessee, straight thru Kentucky and Indiana. Moto people are the best people, thanks guys Cool

2
Ebs
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841
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6/1/2014
Location
MI US
5/8/2019 6:26am
Lake Michigan shoreline along western Michigan has some really beautiful areas. Worth checking out some spots since you're right in the area.
early
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9802
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2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH US
5/8/2019 6:46am
MotoMo165 wrote:
Ended up leaving early this morning and made it to Jackson TN. South west TN is pretty sweet from the little I’ve seen. I was really...
Ended up leaving early this morning and made it to Jackson TN. South west TN is pretty sweet from the little I’ve seen.
I was really tempted to drive up to LL but what the heck i just want to make the drive haha. Maybe on the way back.. almost stayed in hurricane hills but figured it’d be better to keep going. Maybe on the way back.

The little bits of the ozarks I’ve seen from the hwy 40 is pretty bad ass. First time driving thru this part of the US.

@early yeah that’s pretty much the route I’m taking.

@GrapeApe pretty big into mountain biking and I will definitely be hitting trails on the way home in late September.

At the time of this post I didn’t factor in the extra cost of little tours and side views/routes..
Really Appreciate all the sound advice. Tomorrow I’ll be driving thru north central ish Tennessee, straight thru Kentucky and Indiana. Moto people are the best people, thanks guys Cool

Saw this place on I65 in Kentucky a couple years ago, if you're into either one of those Laughing

1
KMC440
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7764
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4/1/2008
Location
US
5/8/2019 10:11am
The museum at. Indy is very inexpensive. If you do stop be sure to take the van ride around on the track. Adds a whole new perspective. Oh and tge speedway will be busy as well. Be safe intrepid traveler.

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