What is the best route for Driving from chicago to los angeles but avoiding the mountains?

Question

Im planning on driving from Chicago to los angeles. I drive a toyota corolla 1993 with 93,000 miles on it. Some guy told me he did the drive before and that driving over the mountains would possibly destroy my transmission. I plan to go from 60-65 MPH and break every 4 hours for 30 min to let things cool down. How do i avoid the mountains? My plan is to use i-80 till i hit Denver then I-25 and finally I-40 to get to LA. Any realistic advice about this topic?

also a guy at the auto shop told me to but some type of transmission coolant thing for $70 if i plan to drive the mountains. can someone give me some advice about this. i really cant afford my transmision going out so i want to play it safe.

Johnny b good thanks for the advice.. i looked it up and it looks good but it adds on 400 miles/7 hours extra to my route. is it really worth it. are these mountains through denver that bad?

Answer 1

If you really want to avoid the mountains, you won't go to Denver. The best and flattest route is not the fastest. It is take I-55 south to St Louis, then I-44 to Oklahoma City. You then have a choice. If you want to run interstate highways all the way, you will go south on I-35 to Denton,TX, then I-35W south to loop 820 towards the west to I-30 west which will end into I-20 west which will end into I-10 west which runs all the way to Los Angeles. There will still be some hills, but it is the fastest flat route.
You could go west from Oklahoma City to Amarillo. You then would go south on I-27 and be able to read and follow a map, because you would be taking a lot of 2-lane roads until you get to I-10 in western New Mexico. Then you again go west.

Answer 2

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What is the best route for Driving from chicago to los angeles but avoiding the mountains?
Im planning on driving from Chicago to los angeles. I drive a toyota corolla 1993 with 93,000 miles on it. Some guy told me he did the drive before and that driving over the mountains would possibly destroy my transmission. I plan to go from 60-65 MPH and break every 4 hours for 30 min to let...

Answer 3

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You can't entirely avoid mountains. However, that's not necessarily a problem. The interstate freeways are fairly straight and easy to drive even through the mountains. It's easy as long as you don't have snow or ice. If you're going before the snow starts, go through Colorado and don't worry about it. You can increase your odds of avoiding snow and ice by taking a more southerly route. Take I-55 south to St. Louis, I-44 west to Oklahoma City, I-40 west to Barstow, and I-15 south to the Los Angeles area. However, I've encountered snow in New Mexico in late November even going this far south. You can go even further south, but it will be a much longer trip. Take I-55 south to St. Louis, I-44 west to Oklahoma City, I-35 south to Ft. Worth, I-20 west to I-10, and I-10 west to Los Angeles.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

you really can't avoid the mountains. Just because some ignorant bum told you your car would break doen't mean it will happen. You have a corolla, they last well till 200k.
I have a integra with 130k and routinelly do hard driving in the mountains in tahoe. You don't need to take a brake either, just make sure everything like fluids, brakes, etc are in check before you go.

It sounds to me like you do not have a run down piece of crap. Don't worry so much you'll be fine

Answer 6

this may sound stupid. but what I woud do. if not taking the very depenable. 747 jumbo jet. I would rent a car. For a while whats it cost? blast through the mountain area have fun. except warning. when it says right turn arrow slow to 15. please don't try to go as fast as you can. I almost fell off the side of a cliff just trying to see how fast I could make the turn.
then you have no extra miles on your car. and if you drive off the side of the mountain. you can use on star.
just rent a car. one way if you don't like it you can fly back. you might get a discount. for bringing it back. hmm I wanna go on vacation.
hhhmmmm never mind i might not want to come back.

Answer 7

go down thru texas, new mexico and arizona. the view is beautiful. and once you hit the middle of texas to la takes about 20 hours. the route that your saying is the northern route.

seems like forever! and there are tons of mountains there.
only mountains i went thru the southern route was the grapevine near la and a few hills near san bernie

Answer 8

go via texas. really your corrolla should be in pretty good shape. mine is a 99 with 160,000 on it. i would drive the mountains and not stress about it. and i plan to keep my car until it hit 300,000 thousand miles. and yes, i might even buy it a new engine at that time.

Answer 9

Just avoid Colorado. Either go over it or under it.

Answer 10

Take a bus so you do not have to drive