Driving to the National - Help from PA and OH residents

nam812 · July 30, 2007 8:33AM

I guess this is directed to guys from PA and OH, but anyone with info would be great. I am driving from NY to OH Thursday evening, and most of the trip (377 of the 481 miles) will take place on interstate 80 west. I am looking for a place to stay not far off Interstate 80 West that is about 45 minutes from Middleburg Heights. We are going to leave NY about 7PM, and are looking for a place to sleep a bit before going to the Naitonal Friday morning. If I drive about 6 hours, that gets me to an affordable motel that hopefully you guys can recommend close to I 80 West at about 1AM, and that will leave me about 1 hour from the National when I get up Friday morning. Any info would be great. Thanks guys.

jimq112 · July 30, 2007 8:57AM

Nick, I-80 at I-79 is pretty dead for motels etc, but if you go a little further to the youngstown ohio area you should do pretty well. It still leaves you a couple hours away, 1 1/2 if speed limits are optional. Youngstown area is pretty loaded with hotels/motels. The closer you get to I-90 the rougher the roads get and the more construction you catch. Shouldn't see much more than 1 lane roads for 10 miles at a time while they patch a pothole. (PA construction is kind of a joke)

I think 78 in a 65 = $75 if I remember right. I was pretty shocked last time I got caught speeding in ohio. They do have in-car radar where they can get you while driving toward you or from behind you. PA is more of a "sitting in the maintenance road" and then put on the hat after you drive by. 41 in a 25 cost me $140 here. On 80 there are some places you'll want to make time, just be easy and watch out for the late nite deer either on the side of the road or in between the sides of the road.

If you don't want to drive that far it seems like it was busy in the altoona pa area and also around brookville exit last time I went across I-80 late at nite. I'm sure there's some hotels/motels just off I-80 at rte 36 brookville exit. There's a pretty big truck stop at barkeyville just before you get to I-79.

LEAVE EXTRA TIME FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL MUSEUM WHILE YOU'RE IN CLEVELAND!!!!!

nam812 · July 30, 2007 9:03AM

How about this question then. Where would I be (what town) on I 80 west if I was about 45 minutes away from I-71 North which I believe is exit 161 toward Cleveland?

ArchStanton · July 30, 2007 9:14AM

Sharon, PA is as far west as you can go in PA. That is perhaps 45 min to an hour from Cleveland. You would most likely be better off going to Youngstown. You will have your gun right?

nam812 · July 30, 2007 9:34AM

Guys, my main concern is not getting too far off my Interstate 80 west course. I wanna hop off, sleep a few hours, then hop right back on in the AM and be about 45 minutes from Cleveland.

jimq112 · July 30, 2007 9:40AM

Nick if you're only going to sleep a couple hours, just park at barkeyville and take a nap. They have showers there (truck stop), go in and grab some carbs and get back on the road. I've crashed a few hours more than once at barkeyville rest area, used to be the worst thing you had to do was avoid the h00kers.

The weather here (erie, 70 miles north) is supposed to be 80s all week, we get down to 65 or so at nite. Perfect sleeping weather.

It's kind of primitive but $150 not spent at a motel = 2 regular admissions and $120 to buy yourself a nice card.

nam812 · July 30, 2007 11:46AM

Thanks guys. I just secured a Comfort Inn that is only half of a mile off of interstate 80 in Harrisville. That would leave me only 110 miles from the show when I wake up Friday morning. See you all at the show.

Guru · July 30, 2007 1:02PM

Make sure you eat at Quaker Steak and Lube in the Valley. Best wings in the area in my opinion.

nam812 · July 30, 2007 1:11PM

Got an address on that place Guru?

stown · July 30, 2007 1:20PM

I'm guessing this one.

Reason # 1,492 why google can find what you're looking for

BigDaddyBowman · July 30, 2007 1:25PM

thats the one....great wings...but not very close to the IX center...actually very out of the way

Guru · July 30, 2007 1:30PM

That's the one. But, in my opinion, it's worth the drive. There's also this really awesome restaurant about an hour south in Kent called Mikes. They have an actual X-Wing fighter (life size) on display outside. I actually thought there was a Quaker Steak close to the IX, but i could be mistaken. It's been about 3 years since I've lived there. There used to be an amusement park inside the IX center. Anyone know if it's still there?

JohnnyD · July 31, 2007 3:00AM

There is an amusement park at the IX center for about 3 weeks, I think it is in March or April. There is still an indoor ferris wheel....

Driving to the National - Help from PA and OH residents

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