Tulsa or Dallas?

[John_H]

If I'm heading from Albuquerque to Birmingham in my drive cross-country, should I stop of in Tulsa or the Dallas area?

My typical MO is to hit priceline and get a random well rated hotel without going 4 star+ downtown where parking is always bizarre.

I won't be seeing the sights but I'd like to find a good spot for food on the road.

By averaging about 9 hours a day, I should be well rested the entire trip and if state troopers DO pull me over for having out of state tags (suspecting me to be a drug runner again) I'll be sure not to have any unmarked dietary supplements with me and be able to keep my schedule despite the long delay.

[Okiesmrt]

Originally Posted by John_H

If I'm heading from Albuquerque to Birmingham in my drive cross-country, should I stop of in Tulsa or the Dallas area?

My typical MO is to hit priceline and get a random well rated hotel without going 4 star+ downtown where parking is always bizarre.

I won't be seeing the sights but I'd like to find a good spot for food on the road.

By averaging about 9 hours a day, I should be well rested the entire trip and if state troopers DO pull me over for having out of state tags (suspecting me to be a drug runner again) I'll be sure not to have any unmarked dietary supplements with me and be able to keep my schedule despite the long delay.

A and B are both on I40. Why would you want to go to T or D? There is a nice Hampton Inn and Cracker Barrel in Amarillo.

[Suze]

Keeping on I-40 takes you right through OK city. 548 mi – about 7 hours 51 mins.

But, really, why plan at all? Just get up in the morning and drive till you feel like stopping for the day. It works, trust me!

[Okiesmrt]

If the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pull you over just try to ball up in the fetal position and cover your head if possible. If you don't fight back they usually stop beating/kicking you in a few minutes. If you don't believe me...google.

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by Suze

But, really, why plan at all? Just get up in the morning and drive till you feel like stopping for the day. It works, trust me!

I used to do that. Just one time having to sleep in the car due to all motels/hotels being booked solid (Astoria) I started planning, just a little. Before hitting the road in the morning, I'd check the map and call in a reservation for that night. Still, I didn't know from day to day what city the next hotel would be in.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by Suze

Keeping on I-40 takes you right through OK city.

Is OK city a better choice rather than simply more convenient? It's only about an hour's difference with Tulsa or Dallas being more midpoint between the two other choices so I'm open but I know nothing of any of these places.

Originally Posted by Suze

But, really, why plan at all? Just get up in the morning and drive till you feel like stopping for the day. It works, trust me!

I like a nice hotel even if I do little more than sleep there. Having internet is good and not always available in the "first found" approach to lodging for the night.

Priceline lets me get something that's rated well and get a decent price at the same time.

I'd also hate to be stuck with 5 hours between decent hotels, so planning my route is important to me.

Originally Posted by Okiesmrt

A and B are both on I40. Why would you want to go to T or D? There is a nice Hampton Inn and Cracker Barrel in Amarillo.

Amarillo is about 4 hours from Albuquerque, 14 hours to Birmingham. It's a bit lopsided for me and trying to cut out a day of leisurely 9 hour drives makes the other days tougher.

While T and D are both off 40, the deviation isn't extreme since they're both approached and departed at angles - I don't have to retrace a long path.

[Suze]

OK, if you feel more comfortable with a reservation in a hotel, then I think any of those 3 cities (Dallas, Tulsa or Oklahoma City) would do.

When I was traveling in June, I did reserve if I were staying in a metro area, but even in the most off-beat, lonesome $42 a night motel, I had wireless in the room.

Even Luverne, Minnesota.




and Ely Nevada



But I really liked the idea of surprise and an unplanned adventure. And I had time to wander. ...sigh... I miss June.

[smart fortimo]

1 vote for DFW