Pittsburgh, PA to Denver Road Trip

Question

Planning a road trip in August - would like to see things along the way. Which is route has more to see - I80 or I70? Also any suggestions of marriotts along the way is helpful!

Answer

When planning a road trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Denver, CO in August, both I-70 and I-80 offer interesting sights, but they cater to slightly different experiences. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide:

Route Options:

I-70 Route: This is a more southern route that passes through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. It generally offers more historic towns, scenic river valleys, and cultural stops. Notable sights include:

Columbus, OH – Statehouse and Short North Arts District
Indianapolis, IN – Monument Circle and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
St. Louis, MO – Gateway Arch and Forest Park
Kansas City, MO – Barbecue culture and Country Club Plaza
Denver outskirts – Rocky Mountain foothills and scenic views as you approach Colorado

I-80 Route: This is a more northern route passing through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming. It’s often favored for wide open plains, midwestern landscapes, and fewer major city stops. Key sights include:

Cleveland, OH – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Chicago, IL – Millennium Park and Navy Pier (a slight detour)
Iowa – Amana Colonies (historic German settlements)
Nebraska – Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney
Wyoming – High Plains and Laramie scenic views before entering Colorado

For sightseeing variety and historic/cultural stops, I-70 is usually preferred. I-80 is more direct and offers open landscape photography and smaller towns if you prefer less urban stops.

Marriott Options Along the Way:

Columbus, OH – Columbus Marriott Downtown or Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel
Indianapolis, IN – JW Marriott Indianapolis or Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis Marriott Grand or Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel
Kansas City, MO – Kansas City Marriott Downtown or Courtyard by Marriott Kansas City Downtown
Denver, CO – Denver Marriott City Center or Denver Marriott Tech Center (depending on which part of Denver you prefer)

Additional Tips:

Plan stops ahead, especially if you want to see local attractions or take scenic detours.
Book Marriotts in advance for August as summer is peak travel season.
Consider traffic near major cities like Columbus, Indianapolis, and St. Louis on I-70.

Overall, I-70 offers a richer mix of cultural, historic, and urban sights, while I-80 is more straightforward with expansive plains and fewer cities. Depending on your interests—city exploration versus open-road scenery—you can choose accordingly.