About I-70

I-70 in Colorado
   Most first-time visitors to Colorado expect to see soaring mountain ranges - and they're not disappointed. Coming in on I-70 from the east, though, you have to be a little more patient; one third of the way across Colorado from the eastern border you are traversing more of the Great Plains. Approaching Denver, though, is reward enough for it is a spectacular sight.
   Coming into Colorado from Utah is a completely different experience. This is the desert side of Colorado - and dinosaur country. Then, from Grand Junction on almost all the way to Denver you are sandwiched in the Colorado River Canyon - in itself a spectacular sight.
   Check the weather if you're traveling I-70 in the winter!

I-70 in Kansas
   In Kansas, 'amber waves of grain' is true to life. This is the center of the Great Plains and the 'bread basket' of America (and, perhaps, the world). There is something special about Kansas. A famous naval Admiral once said: "The best sailors come from Kansas." Maybe watching those amber waves of grain immunizes them against sea-sickness.
  You could rush across Kansas with just a brief stop for gas — or — you can check out some of the many interesting places along I-70. We will point out some of them to you in our community write-ups.
  Oh, yes, from Topeka to Kansas City is toll road... sorry!

I-70 in Missouri
  Missouri, the 'Show Me' state also would like to show you! Here the Great Plains becomes the rolling midwest. The agriculture is as varied as the industries and there seems to be plenty of both. They even have taken a page from Las Vegas but with one major difference: live shows. Not just night club shows but the major entertainers. The difference? No gaming. The place? Branson — about as unlikely a spot for these venues as one might find. But it has worked out very well - not only for Missouri but for the tens of thousands of folks who come to be entertained (and love it!).
   I-70 connects Missouri's two major cities: Kansas City and Saint Louis. It is a great highway with plenty of nice places to stop and take a break. Columbia — about in the center of Missouri — should be especially interesting to most people. We have also especially enjoyed Saint Louis.
  We hope you enjoy your drive across Missouri as much as we have. If you are accompanied by children, especially grandchildren, ask them to name the state capitals. I-70 is America's 'Capital Interstate Highway' because it is routed through more state capitals than and other Interstate. (Sorry, Missouri, they just forgot about you.)

I-70 in Illinois
   Crossing the Mississippi River is almost like crossing into a different country. Much is divided as 'east of the Mississippi' and 'west of the Mississippi' but these clichés usually refer to social behavior or physical location. Geographically, the area of the continent occupied by the U.S.A. is also split into east and west.

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  If you are eastbound, you've seen that the Great Plains is not 'flat'. It frequently appears that way from the distance because the undulations have been created by erosion. As you travel east of the Mississippi — at least well south of the Great Lakes at first until you get to Ohio, the undulations are foothills of mountain chains — many of them.
  Illinois is a 'between' state. It has the incredible fertility of the Great Plains but mixed with debris from the glaciers of the ice age. The rivers flow more quickly but not as much so as Indiana and Ohio.

I-70 in Indiana
   Indiana is a study in contrasts. Southern Indiana is mainly agricultural. Its rolling hills become the foothills of the Appalachians to the south and east. This southern area (south of I-70) is the only part of the state not reached by the mammoth glaciers during the ice age.

I-70 in Ohio
   You are entering the Great Lakes Plains region of Ohio - flat, fertile and well populated. As you drive eastward you will see more and more undulations until, soon after you pass the Columbus area, you will encounter more and more hills - the 'Appalachian Plateau.
   Many folks driving larger RVs (especially' 5th Wheels') having more than two axles prefer I-70 because, unlike I-80, there are almost no toll areas on I-70. There is also much more freedom of access to the countryside for those who like to stop and smell the roses (and many if not most RVers do).

I-70 in West Virginia
   As you approach Wheeling, you are greeted with a preview of what you'll see in Pennsylvania: more, and higher, hills morphing into row after row of mountains like giant furrows in a freshly plowed field. You cross the rambunctious Ohio River just before you enter Wheeling. This river, though it may look very peaceful, today. has been just about as bad as the infamous Mississippi for flooding — an almost annual event. For eastbound folks, you've been following Wheeling Creek since exit 220. After you cross the Fort Henry Bridge, you will be following the Big Wheeling Creek, then the Middle Wheeling Creek. And up by US-40 (which parallels I-70) they have Little Wheeling Creek. Guess they ran out of names for creeks around here.

I-70 in Pennsylvania
   As you leave Ohio and cross the short stretch of West Virginia's 'panhandle' you'll see more, and higher, hills morphing into row after row of mountains like giant furrows in a freshly plowed field. Yes, this is Pennsylvania: rugged and virtually impassible until modern engineering and heavy equipment sliced through the mountains.
   I-70 cuts through the southwest corner of Pennsylvania. At Washing, PA, I-70 and I-79 merge. At exit 21, I-79 heads to the south, again, and would take you back into West Virginia and Charleston. From New Stanton to Breezewood I-70 merges with I-76 and for some 86 miles it is toll highway (sorry!). At Breezewood, I-70 leaves I-76 and darts south into Maryland to turn again, eastward, to carry folks on to Baltimore.

I-70 in Maryland
   Hancock, Hagerstown, Frederick.. if you studied the "War Between the States' you know that you are now in the thick of battle country. You could take I-81 near Hagerstown, head north to US-30 then east on 30 to Gettysburg and enjoy a great moment in American history. The alternative route — US-15 from Frederick, may be more scenic but it is at least 20 miles longer.
   In Frederick is the northern terminus of I-270 which takes you to the Washington, DC, area and points south. If you stay on I-70 it drops you off, rather unceremoniously, at the western edge of Leakin Park in the western fringe of Baltimore. I-70 doesn't quite make it to the east coast.

contributed by Bob Masters

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