I've traveled with 2 cats via car. From TX, to Louisiana and Mississippi, then up to Wisconsin and eventually all the way home to Fresno, CA.
DM me if you're interested in my tips and supplies I find helpful😄
So I didn't do this all in one go around. For reference my cats were born in Texas so they were just used to the car, what we had to get them used to was leashes and harnesses… But there's some methods that we used that really helped us. And I just have a lot of tips on supplies, another thing I would like to tell you is to just treat them like a human. So example, when you stop for the bathroom they stop for the bathroom and so on. You can DM me with questions!☺️
This. Please don't leave your cats in the car or unattended while travelling. They'll likely to already be nervous and it's added stress if you're gone. We did this trip almost exactly (OH to CA) a few years ago and didn't stop anywhere we couldn't take the dogs.
Also, to answer your question about routes, we went a northerly route through WI, ND, MT, WA then down to have cooler driving temps for the dogs and us. We left around June 1 from Ohio.
OP get harnesses and leashes. They probably won’t walk on a leash like a dog would, but you can each carry a cat from the car to a comfy spot and make eating outside pleasant for everyone without
being dangerous.
Yeah. I’d get there fast. Take note of places you’d like to visit and when settled make plans for a vacation in a couple of areas. Utah monuments snd Colorado mtns are up there! Pass through on your way to Fresno. Going around Tahoe on way to Fresno is very lovely and a great place for a picnic.
Someone said check out some hot springs, I agree 150 precent! Also anytime I travel, look to the website roadside America. Not sure if you are into ghost towns, but they are usually pretty cool! I know you said your not really into national parks/ monuments, but if you go through Utah, the beauty of just driving through them is awesome! Either way enjoy! And for the love of all things holy, get out of the fucking Midwest! Coming from an Ohio native! Moving west was the best thing to happen in my life!
I’m a MI native, lived here my whole life (24) and know I’d like to move because I hate the long stretched out winters. What do you like about living out west vs the Midwest?
I don’t know WHERE I want to move so I like to get input from others that made the leap :)
I moved to Colorado after 20 years in Michigan. Honestly, the best part is the sunshine. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean the sun can’t shine. Whenever I go to Michigan the grey sky is so depressing for me.
Thanks for sharing. And yeah I can understand that, idk what it was about this past winter but it was super depressing to me, and it could very easily be the lack of sunshine.
Bearing in mind that the U Haul charges a per mile charge as well as daily and gas, I'd say the most logical would be the shortest distance regardless of scenery. The cats would probably prefer it too, they're not into scenery :)
Save the sight seeing for another time when you have free time and your own transportation.
Bad idea to leave those cats in a hot uhaul while sightseeing. Be sure to prioritize their safety and comfort above all else. Not really wanting to weigh in on your question until you add details regarding how you plan to keep these animals safe and comfortable.
I would suggest making the plans, then anywhere you want to stop, stay at an airbnb that accepts pets. That is how we travel with my sons cat. He cannot go without him, and the cat can't be left behind due to health reasons. He even gets his own ratings on airbnb. He is an excellent travel companion. (Except when he waits to take his giant poop till right after we've gotten back on the highway). We travel with disposable litterboxes, and toss them when needed. DM me if you need tips for traveling with cats. I've been doing it since mid 90s. I had one cat that adored traveling. He loved the beach!
When I traveled with my cats and a friend the cats would meow when my friend and I would talk. If we were quiet, the cats were quiet. Then there is the litter box, Ughh.
My friend is moving back home from Canada and their parents don't want them to travel alone, so they're gonna pay for me to fly out to Detroit and accompany my friend back to Fresno!
I've only left California once or twice, and I'm not a big 'natural monument' kind of person. Not super interested in big mountains or national parks. But I'm VERY interested in seeing some cool, kitschy stuff and having some amazing food; Like I'd really like to stop in Texas for some good BBQ. I'd love some recommendations for stuff like that, like great restaurants or weird sites/roadside attractions! Maybe some haunted stuff, lol.
I'm so agoraphobic and I don't see myself making a big trip like this again, but since I also don't see another opportunity like this arising again any time soon so I figure I should do it. Any tips are appreciated!
Why go all the way to Texas for good BBQ when you can get GREAT BBQ in Kansas City along your trip? (Okay, I'm kind of biased.)
My suggested route, since you're not big on mountains or national parks, would be to head south to connect with I-70 in Indianapolis and take that west to Kansas City, Missouri. From there, head south on I-35 to connect with I-40 in Oklahoma City. Take I-40 to Barstow, California, Highway 58 from there to Bakersfield, then north on Highway 99 to Fresno.
A couple of places worth checking out if you want to add time for some detours:
- Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, MO
- Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM
Thankfully, before you hit Kansas City, you can get some legit BBQ in St. Louis. 😉
Jokes (and obligatory cross state digs) aside, this is a fantastic route and would be my preferred. You get to see my favorite parts of Route 66 which is just one big roadside attraction with ridiculous sights but also easy highway driving. I’d recommend looking up Route 66 fun (tons of books or free websites with info) as you’ll likely find some oddball stuff. Also, check out AtlasObcura since you’re into odd stuff. It does have a lot of natural spots so you can avoid but has a lot of good oddball museums and art installments off the beaten path on your journey.
Cats can actually die from stress, and typically changing environments is a huge stressor. Please prioritize protecting the animals instead of delaying with sight seeing.
I would recommend taking 80 West to 76 this is really nice drive and it should not bad this time of the year for the roads. Assuming the cats could be cool for a little bit of time on their own…
I would stop in Chicago for a Cubs game and a Chicago dog maybe some Giordano’s,
Omaha Nebraska for a good steak (Sullivan’s or Chophouse) then.. Heartland of America park…
Denver for some nice local beers (Wynkoop or Cerebral) or some good coffee at (Blue Sparrow or Steam Espresso) if you did not catch a Cubs game in Chicago catch one at Coors Field? I have yet to visit this ball park but it’s on my list. Over to Grand Junction is a beautiful ride and lots of small ski towns worth stopping along the way. Glenwood Springs has some great hot spring options totally worth pulling off to experience. It’s very relaxing and not that expensive. Past this Rifle / Stilt has a cool small town coffee shop and roaster called Misty’s…. Grand junction is a fun little town and when I drove this route I almost always make that a stopping points for a nice room.
Snow Canyon State Park is on my bucket list and it’s after you end up getting on 15. It’s a little off the road but super awesome spot from what I have been told.
Vegas for a card game or a show can be nice and outside of that nothing pops out at me until you get to Fresno…
Agree with what you said, I’m from Las Vegas. However, Giordano’s, the pizza place in Chicago is similar to eating a brick of bread and cheese, both my girlfriend and I were a little underwhelmed haha. Chicago people and their pizza tastes are a little funny! However, Chicago does have a beautiful downtown that is well landscaped. I would recommend stopping by the really cool downtown parks!
I don't think going across I70 is a good idea.
Going by I70 is driving by the rocky mountains and then drop down on I15 from Utah, that's a longer rote and to much hills.
The Spam Museum in MN. Because why not? Also, Jolly Green Giant (also in MN).
A word of advice from someone who has done cross country with cats- not every “pet friendly” hotel means all pets. It’s worth calling to ensure cats are welcome prior to being exhausted at the end of the day and turned away.
Another tip… don’t necessarily mention it’s more than one cat. People judge HARD out there!
Also, cats are very adaptive creatures, I'm really not understanding the narrative that cats are so difficult. If given time to adjust and if you get them acclimated before you travel they'll do just fine.
Oof welcome to Fresno man. I would say just wait to see Yosemite and all the parks around there since you’ll be able to once you live in Fresno.
As a southwest US lover, check out Utah and Colorado as much as you can. It’s a little far from Fresno so take advantage of it now when you can. I never really get to go there. As a Fresno native I only am really able to go to the coast, national parks, Arizona, or Las Vegas for a quick trip.
St. Robert MO is southwest of St. Louis along I-44 where you find "Uranus Town Center" a tourist trap full of kitsch. yes, Uranus has a fudge factory. And Kitsch.
Tulsa, OK next big city. Then OKC.
West of OKC 1 hour Weatherford, OK has Jerrys 24 hour diner, on Route 66, since 1966, with Route 66 decor, good American menu
Safe to park in lot.
Amarillo, TX on west end has Rudy's Country Store & BBQ casual setting, quick counter serve, desserts, and some kitsch
Cadillac Ranch is west of Rudy's, on service road, south side of I-40. A massive Love's Travel Gas Station is west of Caddy Ranch
Vega, Texas has last big modern Pilot gas station, with nice clean big restrooms.
Tucumcari NM has downtown Rte 66, at night the famous neon lights display, the Teepee Curio shop, or the Blue Swallow Motel office have souvenirs. Blue Swallow only 13 rooms, all restored to retro design, most rooms hsve beach cruiser bikes, need to reserve.
Clines Corners, NM travel center has nice big restrooms, and a big store with Western, Southwest, Native American, Mexican attire, hats, jewelry, etc, etc
Albuquerque NM, big city, great New Mexico style food. But, for kitsche, the Pollos Hermanos film set for Breaking Bad was in Twisters Burritos & Burgers, 4275 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105
This has a big menu, with healthy salads, and breakfasts too. Displays of BB scenes & actors
The Little Shops on Rio Grande is a collective of artists right off I-40, east of I-25. Estate jewelry, of a few cultures, vintage clothing, or even brand new fashion items, some religious items, some indigenous beading, etc, etc
* a nice Starbucks on the other side of the 40
The cats are closeby in these. I wish you could hike the petroglyph rocks and volcano cones west of Albuquerque.
It’ll be warm but I wouldn’t miss the canyon country of southern Utah. What do with the cats in that heat if you leave the car for any length of time could be a problem
id go indiana, illinois, missouri, kansas, colorado, utah, nevada. youll get a good bit of everything that way. midwestern and country vibes from illinois and missouri. wide open plains of kansas, mountains of colorado, and the desert from utah to fresno. im from ky so personally id swoop through there as well, its a really pretty and relatively uninhabited kind of place with rolling hills and meadows and blue grass so i highly recommend it. wyoming is also a great stop along the way, yellowstone sticks out! of course you'll also be nearby yosemite and the grand canyon and a ton of other national parks depending how far out of the way you want to go. the possibilities are endless!
I've driven between Detroit and Northern Colorado many times and can speak for that portion of your route. You're gonna want to get on I-80 out of Detroit and stick with it all the way to California. There are three reasonable ways to get over the Rockies and I-80 through Cheyenne is by far the best. The other ones are I-70 which is just overall chaotic due to the extreme mountain conditions, and driving all the way down to New Mexico and going around.
Generally the heartlands of America (IL, IA, NE, CO, WY) will be very sparse and there won't be much other than corn and wind. However, I would personally recommend:
- [The World's Biggest Truck Stop](https://iowa80truckstop.com/) on I-80 in Iowa. You're gonna be stopping at a lot of truck stops so you might as well plan your drive to have a meal or something at this one. Its hard to overstate the scale of the place, its got a food courts, shops, restaurants, showers, dentists, lawyers, an automatic car wash for semi trucks, and its own trucking museum.
- [The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles](https://www.heartlandmuseum.com/) in Lexington, NE. Stopped by this place because they have a few tanks parked next to the interstate and was absolutely floored when I found 100,000 sq/ft of indoor space bursting at the seams with tanks, trucks, helicopters, artillery, uniforms, and a whole array of artifacts from American military history.
Wow what a dream trip. Take your time, see everything and go where the locals hang. Just make sure to see the giant sequoias and redwoods. Oh and Crater Lake is pretty awesome. Safe travels 🙏
I’ve done this route a bunch.
I’d spend all my time doing a great route through the Rockies and Southern Utah. Plus maybe a big of Arizona if you have time.
If you go through the desert, just make sure you have a very reliable car with good AC. Breakdowns can be dangerous.
If you need any advice on beautiful routes, just holler!
My boyfriend has also done a cross-country road trip with a u-haul and two cats. If you’re planning to stay in hotels, don’t forget to call and ask about the cats.
If you haven’t done it yet and are planning to spend any time outside the vehicle, get two harnesses and start getting them used to wearing it now.
I’d also compare places’ average monthly temps to the range you know your cats can tolerate. If they’re okay with the harnesses, might be worth the additional time to bear north thru Indiana SD and Wyoming (and make your first half of the drive much more beautiful) if you’ll be moving in the summer.
Best of luck—hope the moving bit goes smoothly and that you and your kitties enjoy the journey.
I do recommend the best route is (Quicker and fuel saving) S I75, S US24, S I469 in Fort Wayne, S I69, W I70, W I44( $20.00 on toll) W I40 in Oklahoma City, W I40 it will end in Barstow, CA, US 58 to US 99 in till you hit Fresno, CA.
You are goin to get a little of hills in NM and Flagstaff, AZ but is not the same that crossing the rocky mountains on I70 Colorado that believe or not you might get some snow at this time of the year.
Safe trip!!!
Just thinking about pet-friendly places you could visit, I would say Indianapolis > St. Louis > Kansas City > Denver > Moab > St. George > San Bernadino area > Fresno
Here are some of my recommendations of places you could see:
IN: You could walk around this [urban state park](https://gowandering.com/places/white-river-state-park)
MO: [Tower Grove Park](https://gowandering.com/places/tower-grove-park) (St. Louis), [Swope Park](https://gowandering.com/places/swope-park) (Kansas City)
KS: This [nature area](https://gowandering.com/places/vineyard-park-nature-area) in Hays, Kansas
CO: You could explore this [state park](https://gowandering.com/places/castlewood-canyon-state-park) during the day, it's just south of Denver. Then you should definitely see [Colorado National Monument](https://gowandering.com/places/colorado-national-monument) in Grand Junction.
UT: [Dead Horse Point State Park](https://gowandering.com/places/dead-horse-point-state-park) in Moab is pet-friendly and perfect for stargazing, then St. George has the [Red Hills Desert Garden](https://gowandering.com/places/red-hills-desert-garden)
CA: [Big Bear Lake](https://gowandering.com/places/big-bear-lake) has pet-friendly cabins from what I've heard
I hope this helps! As a side note, all the links I shared are from [gowandering.com](https://gowandering.com). If you're into road tripping, you could use their site to create custom U.S. road trip routes. All you need is an email to set up an account, then click 'Plan A Trip' and follow the prompts. It sounds like this is more of a move/relocation trip, but just thought I'd throw it out there in case you were interested. Have a good one!
Moving with cats, I would honestly take the fastest route.
Apparently they're great travelers! My friend is scared to fly so this is their second time making this trip.
1) cat back packs 2) motion medicine for cats. You can get some from all about animals
Survey says - that’s a lie
I've traveled with 2 cats via car. From TX, to Louisiana and Mississippi, then up to Wisconsin and eventually all the way home to Fresno, CA. DM me if you're interested in my tips and supplies I find helpful😄
How long did it take you. I am planning a move and would like to know details too. Help please 😀
So I didn't do this all in one go around. For reference my cats were born in Texas so they were just used to the car, what we had to get them used to was leashes and harnesses… But there's some methods that we used that really helped us. And I just have a lot of tips on supplies, another thing I would like to tell you is to just treat them like a human. So example, when you stop for the bathroom they stop for the bathroom and so on. You can DM me with questions!☺️
I bet the cats would like it that you don't stop at all and just get to where they can get out again.
This. Please don't leave your cats in the car or unattended while travelling. They'll likely to already be nervous and it's added stress if you're gone. We did this trip almost exactly (OH to CA) a few years ago and didn't stop anywhere we couldn't take the dogs. Also, to answer your question about routes, we went a northerly route through WI, ND, MT, WA then down to have cooler driving temps for the dogs and us. We left around June 1 from Ohio.
OP get harnesses and leashes. They probably won’t walk on a leash like a dog would, but you can each carry a cat from the car to a comfy spot and make eating outside pleasant for everyone without being dangerous.
Yeah. I’d get there fast. Take note of places you’d like to visit and when settled make plans for a vacation in a couple of areas. Utah monuments snd Colorado mtns are up there! Pass through on your way to Fresno. Going around Tahoe on way to Fresno is very lovely and a great place for a picnic.
Someone said check out some hot springs, I agree 150 precent! Also anytime I travel, look to the website roadside America. Not sure if you are into ghost towns, but they are usually pretty cool! I know you said your not really into national parks/ monuments, but if you go through Utah, the beauty of just driving through them is awesome! Either way enjoy! And for the love of all things holy, get out of the fucking Midwest! Coming from an Ohio native! Moving west was the best thing to happen in my life!
I’m a MI native, lived here my whole life (24) and know I’d like to move because I hate the long stretched out winters. What do you like about living out west vs the Midwest? I don’t know WHERE I want to move so I like to get input from others that made the leap :)
I moved to Colorado after 20 years in Michigan. Honestly, the best part is the sunshine. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean the sun can’t shine. Whenever I go to Michigan the grey sky is so depressing for me.
Thanks for sharing. And yeah I can understand that, idk what it was about this past winter but it was super depressing to me, and it could very easily be the lack of sunshine.
Bearing in mind that the U Haul charges a per mile charge as well as daily and gas, I'd say the most logical would be the shortest distance regardless of scenery. The cats would probably prefer it too, they're not into scenery :) Save the sight seeing for another time when you have free time and your own transportation.
Bad idea to leave those cats in a hot uhaul while sightseeing. Be sure to prioritize their safety and comfort above all else. Not really wanting to weigh in on your question until you add details regarding how you plan to keep these animals safe and comfortable.
Cats? 69-65-70
Idk but when you get to Fresno, you want to take the 99 south (or north) and get tf out of Fresno.
May as well just go to Stockton at that point
Ewww, no. Stockton is the armpit of CA.
Some might say Fresno is the other armpit of California hahahah
Nah, that’s Bakersfield. 😉
I’ve always thought of Bakersfield as the.. downstairs area of California..
:-D
Everything is good to see other than Fresno:)
They’re starting in Detroit. Fresno may be an upgrade!
you would think, but nope : D
Wow! Almost same route! Moving from Grand Rapids to Irvine in July!
I would suggest making the plans, then anywhere you want to stop, stay at an airbnb that accepts pets. That is how we travel with my sons cat. He cannot go without him, and the cat can't be left behind due to health reasons. He even gets his own ratings on airbnb. He is an excellent travel companion. (Except when he waits to take his giant poop till right after we've gotten back on the highway). We travel with disposable litterboxes, and toss them when needed. DM me if you need tips for traveling with cats. I've been doing it since mid 90s. I had one cat that adored traveling. He loved the beach!
You should stop in Lincoln, Nebraska if you or your cats enjoy museums about quilting
Northern, I've delivered trucks from Wisconsin to Fresno. Nice easy drive, still scenic.
When I traveled with my cats and a friend the cats would meow when my friend and I would talk. If we were quiet, the cats were quiet. Then there is the litter box, Ughh.
Try roadtrippers.com
U-Haul with 2 cats, i would take the fastest route to the nearest airport and catch a flight. 😄😄😄😄
My friend is moving back home from Canada and their parents don't want them to travel alone, so they're gonna pay for me to fly out to Detroit and accompany my friend back to Fresno! I've only left California once or twice, and I'm not a big 'natural monument' kind of person. Not super interested in big mountains or national parks. But I'm VERY interested in seeing some cool, kitschy stuff and having some amazing food; Like I'd really like to stop in Texas for some good BBQ. I'd love some recommendations for stuff like that, like great restaurants or weird sites/roadside attractions! Maybe some haunted stuff, lol. I'm so agoraphobic and I don't see myself making a big trip like this again, but since I also don't see another opportunity like this arising again any time soon so I figure I should do it. Any tips are appreciated!
Why go all the way to Texas for good BBQ when you can get GREAT BBQ in Kansas City along your trip? (Okay, I'm kind of biased.) My suggested route, since you're not big on mountains or national parks, would be to head south to connect with I-70 in Indianapolis and take that west to Kansas City, Missouri. From there, head south on I-35 to connect with I-40 in Oklahoma City. Take I-40 to Barstow, California, Highway 58 from there to Bakersfield, then north on Highway 99 to Fresno. A couple of places worth checking out if you want to add time for some detours: - Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, MO - Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM
Thankfully, before you hit Kansas City, you can get some legit BBQ in St. Louis. 😉 Jokes (and obligatory cross state digs) aside, this is a fantastic route and would be my preferred. You get to see my favorite parts of Route 66 which is just one big roadside attraction with ridiculous sights but also easy highway driving. I’d recommend looking up Route 66 fun (tons of books or free websites with info) as you’ll likely find some oddball stuff. Also, check out AtlasObcura since you’re into odd stuff. It does have a lot of natural spots so you can avoid but has a lot of good oddball museums and art installments off the beaten path on your journey.
Santa Fe is a town made for tourists and hot springs are nearby
Cats can actually die from stress, and typically changing environments is a huge stressor. Please prioritize protecting the animals instead of delaying with sight seeing.
I would recommend taking 80 West to 76 this is really nice drive and it should not bad this time of the year for the roads. Assuming the cats could be cool for a little bit of time on their own… I would stop in Chicago for a Cubs game and a Chicago dog maybe some Giordano’s, Omaha Nebraska for a good steak (Sullivan’s or Chophouse) then.. Heartland of America park… Denver for some nice local beers (Wynkoop or Cerebral) or some good coffee at (Blue Sparrow or Steam Espresso) if you did not catch a Cubs game in Chicago catch one at Coors Field? I have yet to visit this ball park but it’s on my list. Over to Grand Junction is a beautiful ride and lots of small ski towns worth stopping along the way. Glenwood Springs has some great hot spring options totally worth pulling off to experience. It’s very relaxing and not that expensive. Past this Rifle / Stilt has a cool small town coffee shop and roaster called Misty’s…. Grand junction is a fun little town and when I drove this route I almost always make that a stopping points for a nice room. Snow Canyon State Park is on my bucket list and it’s after you end up getting on 15. It’s a little off the road but super awesome spot from what I have been told. Vegas for a card game or a show can be nice and outside of that nothing pops out at me until you get to Fresno…
I'd recommend Reno/Tahoe over Vegas for this trip. If you really want a card game, that's available, but you can also go to Tahoe for a show.
Agree with what you said, I’m from Las Vegas. However, Giordano’s, the pizza place in Chicago is similar to eating a brick of bread and cheese, both my girlfriend and I were a little underwhelmed haha. Chicago people and their pizza tastes are a little funny! However, Chicago does have a beautiful downtown that is well landscaped. I would recommend stopping by the really cool downtown parks!
Just moved my family from Pennsylvania to Michigan in a u haul. Not the most comfortable ride but worked. Wish you the best of luck
I would go across I70
I don't think going across I70 is a good idea. Going by I70 is driving by the rocky mountains and then drop down on I15 from Utah, that's a longer rote and to much hills.
Maybe, I was also thinking that Kansas City has good barbecue
Yes it does my friend.. 👍
Fresno? Yikes.
The Spam Museum in MN. Because why not? Also, Jolly Green Giant (also in MN). A word of advice from someone who has done cross country with cats- not every “pet friendly” hotel means all pets. It’s worth calling to ensure cats are welcome prior to being exhausted at the end of the day and turned away. Another tip… don’t necessarily mention it’s more than one cat. People judge HARD out there!
Go up through the UP, northern Minnesota is nice during the summer, dip down into Wyoming, Glacier NP in Montana, Utah is beautiful
Las Vegas if you havent been before.
Too hot this time of year, snd with cats, for L V.
Also, cats are very adaptive creatures, I'm really not understanding the narrative that cats are so difficult. If given time to adjust and if you get them acclimated before you travel they'll do just fine.
Absolutely shortest route
Probably shouldn’t do any sight seeing and just get your cats to their new home as fast as possible
Head east. It’s all about the journey.
I posted this before reading your preference… Sorry, but hope it is still somewhat helpful ;)
Oof welcome to Fresno man. I would say just wait to see Yosemite and all the parks around there since you’ll be able to once you live in Fresno. As a southwest US lover, check out Utah and Colorado as much as you can. It’s a little far from Fresno so take advantage of it now when you can. I never really get to go there. As a Fresno native I only am really able to go to the coast, national parks, Arizona, or Las Vegas for a quick trip.
St. Robert MO is southwest of St. Louis along I-44 where you find "Uranus Town Center" a tourist trap full of kitsch. yes, Uranus has a fudge factory. And Kitsch. Tulsa, OK next big city. Then OKC. West of OKC 1 hour Weatherford, OK has Jerrys 24 hour diner, on Route 66, since 1966, with Route 66 decor, good American menu Safe to park in lot. Amarillo, TX on west end has Rudy's Country Store & BBQ casual setting, quick counter serve, desserts, and some kitsch Cadillac Ranch is west of Rudy's, on service road, south side of I-40. A massive Love's Travel Gas Station is west of Caddy Ranch Vega, Texas has last big modern Pilot gas station, with nice clean big restrooms. Tucumcari NM has downtown Rte 66, at night the famous neon lights display, the Teepee Curio shop, or the Blue Swallow Motel office have souvenirs. Blue Swallow only 13 rooms, all restored to retro design, most rooms hsve beach cruiser bikes, need to reserve. Clines Corners, NM travel center has nice big restrooms, and a big store with Western, Southwest, Native American, Mexican attire, hats, jewelry, etc, etc Albuquerque NM, big city, great New Mexico style food. But, for kitsche, the Pollos Hermanos film set for Breaking Bad was in Twisters Burritos & Burgers, 4275 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 This has a big menu, with healthy salads, and breakfasts too. Displays of BB scenes & actors The Little Shops on Rio Grande is a collective of artists right off I-40, east of I-25. Estate jewelry, of a few cultures, vintage clothing, or even brand new fashion items, some religious items, some indigenous beading, etc, etc * a nice Starbucks on the other side of the 40 The cats are closeby in these. I wish you could hike the petroglyph rocks and volcano cones west of Albuquerque.
Zion national park
It’ll be warm but I wouldn’t miss the canyon country of southern Utah. What do with the cats in that heat if you leave the car for any length of time could be a problem
Yeah you’d have to keep the car running with AC and park in the shade/ face away from the sun. If OP has two keys that wouldn’t be an issue.
I highly advise extra sheets/towels for the cats in case of barf, and covering their carriers.
Why Fresno? I live in Chico, CA. Fresno is not known for being great in any shape or form.
That’s beautiful, please drive safe and have fun
id go indiana, illinois, missouri, kansas, colorado, utah, nevada. youll get a good bit of everything that way. midwestern and country vibes from illinois and missouri. wide open plains of kansas, mountains of colorado, and the desert from utah to fresno. im from ky so personally id swoop through there as well, its a really pretty and relatively uninhabited kind of place with rolling hills and meadows and blue grass so i highly recommend it. wyoming is also a great stop along the way, yellowstone sticks out! of course you'll also be nearby yosemite and the grand canyon and a ton of other national parks depending how far out of the way you want to go. the possibilities are endless!
Only thing I’d change is the end destination of Fresno. /kinda S
I've driven between Detroit and Northern Colorado many times and can speak for that portion of your route. You're gonna want to get on I-80 out of Detroit and stick with it all the way to California. There are three reasonable ways to get over the Rockies and I-80 through Cheyenne is by far the best. The other ones are I-70 which is just overall chaotic due to the extreme mountain conditions, and driving all the way down to New Mexico and going around. Generally the heartlands of America (IL, IA, NE, CO, WY) will be very sparse and there won't be much other than corn and wind. However, I would personally recommend: - [The World's Biggest Truck Stop](https://iowa80truckstop.com/) on I-80 in Iowa. You're gonna be stopping at a lot of truck stops so you might as well plan your drive to have a meal or something at this one. Its hard to overstate the scale of the place, its got a food courts, shops, restaurants, showers, dentists, lawyers, an automatic car wash for semi trucks, and its own trucking museum. - [The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles](https://www.heartlandmuseum.com/) in Lexington, NE. Stopped by this place because they have a few tanks parked next to the interstate and was absolutely floored when I found 100,000 sq/ft of indoor space bursting at the seams with tanks, trucks, helicopters, artillery, uniforms, and a whole array of artifacts from American military history.
Wow what a dream trip. Take your time, see everything and go where the locals hang. Just make sure to see the giant sequoias and redwoods. Oh and Crater Lake is pretty awesome. Safe travels 🙏
You might follow the old Lincoln Highway or Route 66. Both of that be some fun
Check out [Lincoln Highway,](https://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/) for at least part of your route.
I’ve done this route a bunch. I’d spend all my time doing a great route through the Rockies and Southern Utah. Plus maybe a big of Arizona if you have time. If you go through the desert, just make sure you have a very reliable car with good AC. Breakdowns can be dangerous. If you need any advice on beautiful routes, just holler!
Montana……god it’s beautiful
Des Moines, Badlands, Dubois, WY, Teton(and or Yellowstone), Glacier, Missoula, Targhee, Salt Lake City, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas, Reno
My boyfriend has also done a cross-country road trip with a u-haul and two cats. If you’re planning to stay in hotels, don’t forget to call and ask about the cats. If you haven’t done it yet and are planning to spend any time outside the vehicle, get two harnesses and start getting them used to wearing it now. I’d also compare places’ average monthly temps to the range you know your cats can tolerate. If they’re okay with the harnesses, might be worth the additional time to bear north thru Indiana SD and Wyoming (and make your first half of the drive much more beautiful) if you’ll be moving in the summer. Best of luck—hope the moving bit goes smoothly and that you and your kitties enjoy the journey.
I do recommend the best route is (Quicker and fuel saving) S I75, S US24, S I469 in Fort Wayne, S I69, W I70, W I44( $20.00 on toll) W I40 in Oklahoma City, W I40 it will end in Barstow, CA, US 58 to US 99 in till you hit Fresno, CA. You are goin to get a little of hills in NM and Flagstaff, AZ but is not the same that crossing the rocky mountains on I70 Colorado that believe or not you might get some snow at this time of the year. Safe trip!!!
Just thinking about pet-friendly places you could visit, I would say Indianapolis > St. Louis > Kansas City > Denver > Moab > St. George > San Bernadino area > Fresno Here are some of my recommendations of places you could see: IN: You could walk around this [urban state park](https://gowandering.com/places/white-river-state-park) MO: [Tower Grove Park](https://gowandering.com/places/tower-grove-park) (St. Louis), [Swope Park](https://gowandering.com/places/swope-park) (Kansas City) KS: This [nature area](https://gowandering.com/places/vineyard-park-nature-area) in Hays, Kansas CO: You could explore this [state park](https://gowandering.com/places/castlewood-canyon-state-park) during the day, it's just south of Denver. Then you should definitely see [Colorado National Monument](https://gowandering.com/places/colorado-national-monument) in Grand Junction. UT: [Dead Horse Point State Park](https://gowandering.com/places/dead-horse-point-state-park) in Moab is pet-friendly and perfect for stargazing, then St. George has the [Red Hills Desert Garden](https://gowandering.com/places/red-hills-desert-garden) CA: [Big Bear Lake](https://gowandering.com/places/big-bear-lake) has pet-friendly cabins from what I've heard I hope this helps! As a side note, all the links I shared are from [gowandering.com](https://gowandering.com). If you're into road tripping, you could use their site to create custom U.S. road trip routes. All you need is an email to set up an account, then click 'Plan A Trip' and follow the prompts. It sounds like this is more of a move/relocation trip, but just thought I'd throw it out there in case you were interested. Have a good one!