Yup, the West Virgina turnpike has a couple steep hills. I have no idea what I-70 crossing that area is like mountain wise.
I always use I-64 to scoot past St Louis. I-70 on the north side is the pits. 
If she left KC before the morning rush hour she would be passing St. Louis at noon and it’s easy sailing after that.
I-40 in TN is one place I would loathe to have to drive a rig on. Narrow lanes and no shoulders.
If you are in NoCo, I-80 is a far more pleasant journey, but it tacks on another hour or so. If DH is with me we take that route, if I’m alone or with my mom, we do I 70
I used to use Equine Express for hauling my boy back and forth between TX and MD. I always got a box stall. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to haul him myself.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8226888]
Welcome! There is a sign on I-70 westbound that has the mileage to Denver listed. I always wondered who would come or go all the way.[/QUOTE]
Every single time I see that sign I have a deep urge to just… keep going.
Have done that route a lot! I-70 to I-64 is the way to go. I recommend using Annick Chappot-Look from First Class Equine Transport out of Steamboat. Highly recommend her. http://www.firstclassequinetransport.com/ Have used her on trips from Ca to FL. having hauled horses on that route tons of times, I would hire commercially in half a heartbeat.
Congrats! We did the opposite move, from Baltimore to Denver. I agree that commercially shipping your horses is best. We used Brookledge; they are amazing.
Oh, and we did two layovers on our drive without horses.
I live in WV and have made the trip across I-64 dozens of times with a truck and trailer. Traffic is usually very light between Lexington, KY and Lexington, VA.
Just take it easy on the turnpike as it twists around between Charleston and Beckley, and be sure to gear down on Sandstone Mountain east of Beckley, and North Mountain coming into Lexington, VA.
I didn’t have nearly as much to move when I came to Virginia from Montana. However, I was very happy I chose to ship my horse professionally and use my trailer to move my stuff. With the layover, my horse took one day longer to get to the farm I was working at so I was ready to receive him myself.
Btw, I’ve seen that sign in Maryland and every time I just want to keep going. I have days driving west on I-66 that I want to just go back. To
I moved from DC to CO a couple years ago with no horse but a couple of critters (a loaded up SUV but I hired movers), and I did 2 layovers so I could get to the final destination with enough day left to get some things done. It was also in the middle of winter, and the first 11+hr day of driving was in snow the whole time.
I moved 7 horses, three dogs, two cats and a barnful of stuff from Virginia to California.
We sent all the equines but one with a professional hauler (Equine Express), we sent the majority of our household and farm goods with a professional moving company, and my husband drive our 4 horse living quarters trailer across the country with three dogs, one cat, the rest of the barn stuff, and our ancient mini who required medication every 12 hours, which is why he didn’t go on the big trailer. I flew on a plane with the remaining cat.
I arrived a day before everyone, and was there to meet the horses and the moving van (thankfully they came on different days). Hubby (who drive with his sister) did the drive in about 4 days as I recall–Va to the Kenrucky Horse Park, Kentucky to a friend of his in Colorado, Colorodo to a friend in sis-in-laws in Nevada, then to CA.
I wouldn’t have done it any other way, horses arrived in great shape, as did the rest of us. Sometimes it’s worth it to throw money at the problem lol!
WELCOME! Maryland is a wonderful place to live…Barnesville is a pretty area and you have access to some great trainers out there.
[QUOTE=Petalstorm;8226849]
Thank you! We will be living in Barnesville.[/QUOTE]
Great area - in the country but 20 minutes either way to a bit more civilization - about 1 hour to DC and 20 minute or so to Frederick which has some great restaurants and cute shops.
If you fox hunt there are 4 hunts close by - Barnesville is in Potomac Hunt’s back or front yard, not too much further is Howard County and NewMarket Middletown, and Goshen. Then across the river there are some Virginia Hunts. If you event - there are several venues that host horse trials less than an hour!
I’d ship them.
I just did that drive last week – well, most of it – and the AC went out on the truck in 100+ degree heat in Missouri. Not possible to continue with children in the car safely (heat stroke was a serious concern). It was a minor layover to hang out at the dealer for half a day to get it fixed, but I have no idea what we would have done if we’d had horses with us.
PS - congrats!!! SO thrilled that you finally found a place!!
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