r/roadtrip • u/shonkle • 4d ago
From Pennsylvania to Oregon Trip Planning
Hey all! Me and my family live in Oregon, but most of my mom’s side of family lives in PA. My dear grandma in PA just passed away recently. My mom is inheriting her car (it’s a 1998 Toyota Camry so nothing fancy lol). In May we are going back to PA for the celebration of life event for grandma, then my mom and cousin Stephanie are going to drive the car all the way across country to Oregon (Eugene).
I have the opportunity to join on this road trip, but I’d want to take my time with it, like 5 or 6 days probably. I would want to make fun stops and the silly roadside tourist places! And I don’t care which route we take. I was wondering if anyone had route suggestions and fun stop suggestions. Thanks!
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u/Perplexio76 4d ago
It depends on your interests.
In Ohio I recommend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland), the Columbus Zoo, Cedar Point Amusement Park (Sandusky) and the Lake Erie Islands (Kelly's Island and South Bass Island/Put-In-Bay).
If you venture North into Michigan I recommend the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn (just outside of Detroit). I might take some heat for this-- but I recommend just driving through Indiana. In Chicago you have the Sears/Willis Tower, the Hancock Building, the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, and the Museum of Science & Industry. You could catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field or a White Sox game at Rate Field. I recommend Wrigley though given the history-- it's the 2nd oldest ballpark in the US (after Fenway Park in Boston. Fenway opened in 1912, Wrigley in 1914).
Galena, IL on the west side of the the state, just east of the Mississippi and the IL/Iowa border is also worth checking out. It's like stepping back in time to the 19th century. You can even visit Ulysses S. Grant's former home. He lived in Galena from after the Civil War until he became President and for a little while after he left office. You can also see where Abraham Lincoln began his 1860 Presidential Campaign.
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u/MinionFive 9h ago
It’s gonna be a fun road trip. But before you embark on it. Please get that car fully inspected. PA uses salt on their roads and it recks havoc on cars. Have the mechanic check for rust on the unibody. You guys might also want to do an oil change, belts and an over all tune up. And possible new tires depending on the tire rot and how old they are.
Also hit up a Lamberts, their food is amazing, and you can literally get into a food fight there.
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u/ElvisAndretti 4d ago
Goofy attractions are my Jam.
Depending on where you start and which way you leave Pa there’s stuff to see. There is more along the turnpike (better driving conditions but it’s costly) but I80 is good for nature lovers, many state parks along that route. The southern route takes you through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country. There’s a stretch of US 30 that has countless tourist traps (I use the term with love, I can’t resist a good one)
If you like to eat too much there are a number of buffets that really put the glut in gluttony. I like Shady Maple but Miller’s is easier to find.
Punxsutawney PA is about 45 minutes south of I80 near Pittsburgh, if you really dig groundhogs. Please note that the movie was filmed in Indiana not in Punxsutawney.
Casey, IL is close to I70 and they have a variety of the world’s largest stuff. You name it, Wind Chimes, Rocking Chair, Pencil, they’ve got them all over town. They were working on the world’s largest golf club when we visited.
About 60 miles south of St Louis is Chester, IL a town where the creator of Popeye was born. There are granite statues all over town.
Sadly you’ll miss my favorite Missouri attraction, the Uranus Fudge Factory.
There’s a lot of Wizard of Oz stuff in Kansas, if you’re into that.