PIttsburgh too isolated? (Indiana, Denver: to live, cars, snow)

[escilade18]

For Columbus it all depends on how fast one drives. I70 is an easy road to speed on due to it being largely flat and straight. 3 Hours isn't an unreasonable assumption on the trip assuming you don't hit major traffic in either Pittsburgh (likely) or Columbus (highly unlikely, especially on 70.
Now I will note that the drive through PA to Philly is much more beautiful and scenic than the Drive to Detroit along the Ohio turnpike and I75, but it also is a road that I would want to be completely alert driving on due to the hairpin turns and steep hills (neither of which are prevalent on the drive to Detroit

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by escilade18

For Columbus it all depends on how fast one drives. I70 is an easy road to speed on due to it being largely flat and straight. 3 Hours isn't an unreasonable assumption on the trip assuming you don't hit major traffic in either Pittsburgh (likely) or Columbus (highly unlikely, especially on 70.
Now I will note that the drive through PA to Philly is much more beautiful and scenic than the Drive to Detroit along the Ohio turnpike and I75, but it also is a road that I would want to be completely alert driving on due to the hairpin turns and steep hills (neither of which are prevalent on the drive to Detroit

Driving through Ohio is a nightmare. I want to fall asleep while driving through that state almost.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by escilade18

Now I will note that the drive through PA to Philly is much more beautiful and scenic than the Drive to Detroit along the Ohio turnpike and I75, but it also is a road that I would want to be completely alert driving on due to the hairpin turns and steep hills (neither of which are prevalent on the drive to Detroit

The flipside of that, however, is that I wasn't kidding about having to mix it up to stay awake on my drives to Detroit (of course I did that trip a million times, which didn't help).

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Driving through Ohio is a nightmare. I want to fall asleep while driving through that state almost.

Seems like a prime candidate for Google's automated cars.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Driving through Ohio is a nightmare. I want to fall asleep while driving through that state almost.

Maybe it's because I'm from Ohio and drive it often, but I've got a system. You just break it into chunks: Wheeling to Zanesville; Zanesville to Columbus, etc. Plus, the landscape of eastern Ohio is a lot more interesting to look at than western Ohio. Once you hit farm country, all bets are off.

[cheezit34141988]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Driving through Ohio is a nightmare. I want to fall asleep while driving through that state almost.

I get to make that drive tonight after work back to Detroit for a wedding...if I leave Southside at 6 I'll be in Detroit by 10-10:30, albeit bored and ready for a few beers.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Plus, the landscape of eastern Ohio is a lot more interesting to look at than western Ohio. Once you hit farm country, all bets are off.

Agreed--I've got no particular problem with the hillier parts in the east.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Maybe it's because I'm from Ohio and drive it often, but I've got a system. You just break it into chunks: Wheeling to Zanesville; Zanesville to Columbus, etc. Plus, the landscape of eastern Ohio is a lot more interesting to look at than western Ohio. Once you hit farm country, all bets are off.

That's how I do it with Nebraska. Omaha to Lincoln, Lincoln to Grand Island, etc. I like to look at the farms and the baby animals.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Driving through Ohio is a nightmare due to the state patrol everywhere. I traveled to Cleveland last month and counted 13 cars pulled over by state patrol. In PA I counted 1.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Columbus is an easy 3 hours. When I drive to Cincinnati, I don't hit the 3-hour mark until the far side of the Cbus area at 71. Plus, you don't really need to stop for snacks on a trip that short.

I always get to Columbus in 3 hours as well. My brother lives outside Indy which takes us 6 hours and Columbus has always been our exact midway point. It's where we traditionally stop and eat, potty break and stretch on that longer trip. If I were driving just to Columbus I wouldn't bother to stop either.

And I agree with others about the blandness of driving across Ohio. I like Ohio, but it always seems so, so long to me psychologically because it is so flat, the road so straight, and the view along the highway doesn't really seem to vary much. Which probably does lead to me driving fast.

ETA: On the way back I always notice the difference between eastern and western Ohio so much more. I think my brain starts to adjust to the plains from spending time in Indiana so that when we get close to Zanesville I always notice the hills so much more.