Driving across PA to Ohio -- where to stop? archived

How could you not stop in Punxsutawney, genesis of one of America's great films? You can walk around the green.

Neither of those suggestions are on I80. How many hours do you want to drive your first day deporahg? I am an I80 expert.

Total time to Westerville is around nine hours, so maybe half of that (give or take)?

4 hours from here is Clearfield Pa, exit 120, 250 miles. 5 hours is Clarion Pa, exit 62, 310 miles. Both have motels with pools.

You DO know it well! Which area would oyu recommend? Or is there someone else that would make more sense?

A couple of years ago we had to do a similar trip. We were on the PA Turnpike, and found a town on a map that was on the half-way point. Then we did a search for one of those chain "suites hotels", and found one at an exit nearby.

The chain "suites hotels" usually turn out okay, for staying with kids on a road trip, in our experience. Good luck!

You need to decide on the Pa Turnpike or I80. IMO I80 is a faster route. This from someone whose parents used the Pa turnpike in the 50's-60's to travel from near Pittsburgh to Philly a few times a year. Sorry but the Pa turnpike sucks as a route west from here.

faster if you took 78 west to pa turnpike and then 70 west.... halfway would put you somewhere in bedford and somerset.... haven't driven in a couple of years but it is a beautiful drive in the mountains of pennsylvania... there are plenty of hotels/motels off the turnpike

We drive to a trade show in Fairfield, OH each July. It only takes about 10.5-11 hours (with a trailer). Why stop, just get the driving over with.

As the only adult, I find I can't drive that long without falling over. But...I may give it a try.

http://visitpa.com/index.aspx

Nice interactive maps.

Can't recall where, but I was recently warned (we have to drive to OH next month) that some stretch from PA to OH is a total speed trap, fyi, so be careful...anyone know specifics?

I cant' drive that long, and don't suggest you do so as the sole driver. If you can take the time, break it up.

One note, for either route, there's a long stretch through the Appalachian mountains and a little west of them when exits are few and far between. And while most of those exits have gas, they don't all have food/motels.

wedjet is spot on. We just drove to Indiana for a wedding (16 hours out, 14 hours back). The PA Turnpike in most places is a 2 lane road with a 55 mph speed limit. It was Memorial Day weekend and there were dozens of police stops. Most exits had some chain hotel... and there's tons of Bob Evans.

According to Google Maps, I 80 to I 76 to I 71 is 25 miles longer than the PA Turnpike route, but only four minutes longer in driving time. I would go this way.

Clearfield isn't half way in distance and while they have tons of motels, restaurants are limited if you want more than Mickey D's and the Clones. At least that was the case a few years ago when we drove to Chicago three or so times a year.

I agree that there is a stretch in western PA where there are few exits and few motels. I would check out the Comfort Inn website to find a good place to stop. Usually motels are like fast food places. There are several at the same exit.

SO Lady, are the Bob Evans a fault or a feature? :devil:

Posted By: bobkAccording to Google Maps, I 80 to I 76 to I 71 is 25 miles longer than the PA Turnpike route, but only four minutes longer in driving time. I would go this way.

Absolutely! Eastern PA sucks as far as scenery goes, and god forbid it's time to fertilize the fields when you make your trek, and the exhaust gates from the many chicken farms is enough to bring up last week's lunch. Western PA is much more scenic, especially when it gets more mountainous and you start going through the tunnels, they are very cool.

Although it is about a half hour from the PA turnpike, you could spend the night in Pittsburgh. Station Square, across the river from Pittsburgh, has a nice selection of restaurants and activities for your teen and 9-year-old. It is about 5-1/2 hours to Pgh from here and about 3 hours to Columbus from Pittsburgh.

Thanks guys. Just to clarify, I am taking I-80, not the turnpike. So I need someplace to stay at roughly the halfway point between SO and Columbus, OH (mapquest shows this as somewhere around Dubois), with a nice pool for the kids and maybe something to do nearby....

Posted By: bobkSO Lady, are the Bob Evans a fault or a feature?

LOL Bob! Actually it wasn't bad. We were driving with 3 other adults and 2 kids (6 & 3) and wanted something better than fast food, but family friendly and relatively fast.

Since we got our GPS, we get in the car with barely any plans. When we get tired of driving, we ask Karen (the GPS) where the nearest motel is, and she tells us where to go.

I grew up in Youngstown Ohio, DO NOT STOP IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO. Yes, it appears that they have great places to eat, DON'T STOP! trust me on this! Unless you want some kick'ss Pizza. Y-town has some of the greatest Pizza in the US. Wedgewood Pizza in Austintown is the best!!! Period! they will sell you the best pizza ever in Y-TOWN, and then take you wallet and hub caps!

I like the Cracker barrel in Bloomsburg, PA
I-80 , Exit# 232
I-80 & SR 24
228 Mall Blvd
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-8305

Iron Bridge Inn is really good - I went to Thiel college. When we won, the coach got us some kick ass steaks. oooohhhh, I am getting hungry. Grove City Outlet Mall is around the corner, that place is cool too! Iron Bridge Inn - 1438 Perry Highway, Mercer, PA 16137 it is only 10 minutes off I-80. PS WEDJET, you may know a couple of wrestlers hanging out at the Iron Bridge.

Why are you set on 80? That is the longer more congested route.
Curious I am.

I was told the opposite, V. Seems like there is no consensus.

Dubois is between Clearfield and Clarion, so the determining factor is how far you want to drive. Motels with pools are there as well.
And it is pronounced du boyz, not du bwa.

Bubba, yes I go to the Iron Bridge when I am home. My nephew tends bar there. He is the uncle to the Thiel wrestlers you refer to.

deborah, I should mention that I just got back yesterday from a trip on I80 and there is construction with 1 lane traffic in a couple of places which is a real PIA, but that's I80. Construction is happening both east and west bound. Good luck in your decision.

Which would oyu do, Wed?

yea, Iron Bridge great burgers and prime rib. wow, I just had a "it really is a small world moment!"

If 80 has a bunch of traffic, take 78 east to 81

we drove rt 80 thru pa and ohio to get to detroit a couple of weeks ago.
it was 10 hrs, and really not a bad drive at all. most of it was quite beautiful. i loved seeing all the farms. and my husband discovered a gas station with a coin operated cologne dispenser in the rest room! what could top that?

Posted By: DEFCON Creatorgod forbid it's time to fertilize the fields when you make your trek,

ooof, we hit this in ohio. even with the windows closed, i could TASTE it.

I80, the turnpike will have construction spots as well, I just checked the turnpike website.