I have searched typical places for routing. Nothing seems to offer guidance that I'm sure SF can offer.

Travel from Tucson AZ to Richmond VA. Ancient Toyota Highlander. Wife. Post setting up MIL in assisted living and post "pre-estate sale." Read "emotions high" for wife.

If Highlander is worth keeping, I thought it might be good to drive it "home." If we had a 500 mile per day maximum, and all the time we need, is there an optimum route?

Sure, we could sell the Highlander and fly home. But, what's the fun in that? A drive would give my wife time to share feelings and thoughts (if possible). Maybe there are some fun cities along the way? Knoxville TN is our intended retirement home. Should we go walking in Memphis? What about a Texas two-step in DFW? Steak in El Paso?

If we drive, we want to enjoy it. Not sure that is possible, with the ancient Toyota. But, the Highlander could be useful to our daughter.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4MUL8R,

maybe a bit out of the way, but if you cut to the North, Route 66 through NM , Texas and Oklahoma is kind of interesting.

Get to see things like a bunch of Cadillacs stuck in the ground.

If it gets boring just get on the interstate and get out of there.

Not sure when you plan on doing this, extremely hot here for the next month or so, head north on I10 to route 60 East or even route 66 mentioned above.

I asked two AI for fun:

Claude AI:

Here is a suggested scenic route from Tucson, AZ to Richmond, VA with highly rated tourist stops along the way:

Day 1:
- Leave Tucson, AZ in the morning
- Drive east on I-10 to Las Cruces, NM
- Stop at White Sands National Park along the way to see the white sand dunes. Allow 2-3 hours to walk around and take photos.
- Continue east on I-10 and stop in San Antonio, TX for the night. Stay downtown to visit the Riverwalk.

Day 2:
- Leave San Antonio in the morning and head northeast on I-35 to Austin, TX
- Spend a few hours in Austin seeing the state capitol building, 6th Street, and grabbing lunch.
- Continue northeast on I-35 to Dallas, TX. Stop to see downtown Dallas and the JFK Memorial/Dealey Plaza.
- Drive east on I-20 and stop for the night in Shreveport, LA.

Day 3:
- Leave Shreveport and drive northeast on I-20 into Mississippi
- Stop at Vicksburg National Military Park to learn about the Civil War history. Allow 1-2 hours.
- Continue north on I-55 to Memphis, TN and see Graceland, Beale Street, and have some BBQ ribs for dinner.
- Stay the night in Memphis.

Day 4:
- Leave Memphis and drive northeast on I-40 into Nashville, TN
- Spend some time seeing downtown Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Have lunch on Broadway.
- Drive east on I-40 and stop for the night in Knoxville, TN

Day 5:
- Leave Knoxville and drive east on I-40 into North Carolina
- Take a slight detour south to see Great Smoky Mountains National Park - do some hikes and take in the gorgeous scenery.
- Drive north on I-81 and stop for the night in Roanoke, VA

Day 6:
- Leave Roanoke and drive east on I-64 to Richmond, VA
- Stop to seeColonial Williamsburg and historic Jamestown along the way.
- Arrive in Richmond in the early evening. Enjoy dinner and drinks in Shockoe Bottom.

Let me know if you would like me to modify or add to this scenic route! I tried to include highly rated outdoor sights as well as some of the most famous cities and music/culture destinations along the route.

ChatGPT 3.5:

Sure! Planning a scenic trip from Tucson, AZ, to Richmond, VA, with the best sights and minimal disruptions sounds exciting. Here's a suggested route with some highly-rated tourist stops along the way:

Day 1: Tucson, AZ, to Santa Fe, NM
- Suggested stops: White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Day 2: Santa Fe, NM, to Amarillo, TX
- Suggested stops: Bandelier National Monument, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Day 3: Amarillo, TX, to Oklahoma City, OK
- Suggested stops: Cadillac Ranch, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Day 4: Oklahoma City, OK, to St. Louis, MO
- Suggested stops: The Gateway Arch, City Museum

Day 5: St. Louis, MO, to Louisville, KY
- Suggested stops: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Louisville Waterfront Park

Day 6: Louisville, KY, to Lexington, KY
- Suggested stops: Bourbon distillery tour (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve), Kentucky Horse Park

Day 7: Lexington, KY, to Richmond, VA

Please note that the suggested stops and attractions are based on highly-rated tourist spots as of my last update in September 2021. It's essential to check their current availability and opening hours before your trip.

Additionally, consider adjusting the duration of your stay in each location based on your preferences and interests. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

----+

These are AI answers, could be spot on or wildly inaccurate.

Wow! I am not a user of the AI and am amazed at the results.

I have enough vacation to do the longer route and enjoy the suggestions.

107F in White Sands today, perfect weather to walk around for a couple hours . Seriously though, hotter than normal, nothing to be messing with, especially with an older vehicle.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

Day 6:
- Leave Roanoke and drive east on I-64 to Richmond, VA
- Stop to seeColonial Williamsburg and historic Jamestown along the way.
- Arrive in Richmond in the early evening. Enjoy dinner and drinks in Shockoe Bottom.

These are AI answers, could be spot on or wildly inaccurate.

Can't speak to the rest of it, but this one is dead wrong. Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown are not "along the way" from Roanoke to Richmond. Roanoke is two+ hours west of Richmond (and is not on I-64); Williamsburg and Jamestown are both well east of Richmond.

There is a great steakhouse just east of El Paso in Fabens, TX called Cattleman’s. Great place!

About 180 miles east of El Paso on I10 is where I20 starts. I’d get on I20 and avoid I10. 10 is very desolate, at least you get Odessa & Midland on 20 for fuel and food options. Very glad I took that route going from Florida to San Diego as my car battery died in Odessa. Fortunately it was a big enough town to have options for auto parts stores. 10 would’ve been a different story. West of San Antonio really only leaves Fort Stockton as a major stop until you get to El Paso. I guess there’s Van Horn and Sierra Blanco but I avoid those towns.

Not sure what interests you & the wife may have, I’d line up a thing or 3 along the way. It’s always easier, likely safer driving the freeway.

Take note of any larger metropolitan areas, consider time off day & best way through or around.

I was out West earlier this Summer, UT & MT mostly. On the way back from MT I stopped at the Little Big Horn battlefield site. It was on my list for a while, enjoyable. That’s an example, I realize nowhere near your travels.

Looking at this again, I wonder if this routing might be good:

Day 1: Tucson to Roswell, NM
Day 2: Roswell tourist activities (the truth is out there)
Day 3: Roswell to Dallas, TX
Day 4: Dallas to Memphis, TN
Day 5: Memphis activities (Peabody ducks, Graceland)
Day 6: Memphis to Knoxville, TN (hometown)
Day 7: Knoxville real estate shopping (retirement)
Day 8: Knoxville real estate shopping, visiting friends
Day 9: Knoxville to Richmond, VA
Day 10: Recovery

2016 Toyota RAV 4, well-maintained, would be the chariot.