Morning: Leave 6085 Manor Lane early, enjoy a quick breakfast at a local diner, and head west on I-70. The drive to Union, MO takes about 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time for a relaxed start.
Afternoon: Continue westward, stopping for fuel at the St. Louis West Service Plaza where you can stretch your legs and grab a snack. After refueling, you’ll cruise through the Missouri countryside, arriving back near Union for a brief rest.
Evening: Check into the Union Motel & Suites, unwind, and have dinner at the nearby Union Family Restaurant. A good night’s sleep prepares you for the long haul ahead.
Find HotelsMorning: Depart Union after breakfast and merge onto I-70 west, then transition to I-35 south toward Kansas. First stop is the Hutchinson Rest Area for a quick bathroom break and coffee.
Afternoon: Travel through Kansas, stopping for lunch at the Hays Downtown Diner. Refuel at the Hays Travel Center before crossing into Oklahoma, where you’ll pass the scenic plains without detours.
Evening: Arrive in Amarillo, TX and settle into the Amarillo Comfort Inn. Enjoy a hearty dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch and rest for the final leg of the journey.
Find HotelsMorning: Leave Amarillo heading west on I-40, crossing New Mexico. Stop at the Albuquerque Fuel Station for a quick top‑up and a coffee break.
Afternoon: Continue on I-40, then merge onto I-5 north in California, avoiding Las Vegas entirely. Take a lunch break in Redding, CA at the Riverfront Café and refuel at the Redding Service Plaza.
Evening: Arrive at 12801 Fair Oaks Blvd, Citrus Heights, CA and check into the Fair Oaks Guesthouse. Unwind with a light dinner nearby and reflect on the successful road trip.
Find HotelsIf you’d like to extend the trip, consider adding a day in Albuquerque to explore the Old Town and the Sandia Peak Tramway. To shorten the journey, you could combine the Union and Amarillo stays into a single longer driving day, reducing the total travel time to two days but requiring about 15‑hour driving days, which may be more tiring.