Route Planner: Best Stops on the FL→ID Drive via I‑10, I‑40 & I‑84




Overview

Most Florida origins to Boise clock 2,700–2,900 miles. The classic spine—I‑10 → I‑40 → I‑84—balances services, scenery, and winter plow priority. Break the drive into repeatable 6–8‑hour segments with flexible “stretch” options.

Choose Your Pace

  • 4‑Day Push (for two drivers): ~9–11 hours/day; minimal sightseeing.

  • 5‑Day Balanced: ~7–9 hours/day; one scenic stop daily.

  • 6‑Day Easy Mode: ~6–7 hours/day; best with kids/pets or winter.

Sample Itinerary (5‑Day Balanced)

Day 1: Florida Panhandle → Baton Rouge, LA (~430–520 mi)
Start with early‑morning load. Coffee at a local roaster; lunch near Mobile Bay. Pet‑friendly hotel near LSU lakes; evening walk to reset.

Day 2: Baton Rouge → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (~450 mi)
Aim for Buc‑ee’s en route for clean restrooms and brisket sandwiches. Book a hotel with trailer parking. If you have expedited shipping handling fragile items, you can choose smaller rooms without elevator stress.

Day 3: DFW → Amarillo, TX (~365 mi)
Shorter leg to catch up on laundry. Stretch at Palo Duro Canyon State Park at sunset. Amarillo’s Route 66 district has hearty fare for cold nights.

Day 4: Amarillo → Albuquerque, NM → Gallup (~320–420 mi)
Desert scenery and high elevation. Hydrate more than you think. If winter weather threatens I‑40 west of ABQ, consider an extra night. Use the budget blueprint buffer for smart decisions.

Day 5: Gallup → Flagstaff, AZ → Las Vegas, NV or St. George, UT (~360–440 mi)
Two path options depending on weather and where you want hotel availability. If traveling with pets, St. George’s parks are clutch for off‑leash energy resets.

Day 6: St. George/Las Vegas → Salt Lake City, UT (~120–420 mi)
Service‑rich corridor. If storms loom on I‑84, time your departure to slip behind plows.

Day 7: SLC → Boise, ID (~340 mi)
Final leg. Plan an arrival window during daylight for easier unloading and neighborhood orientation.

Compress to a 4‑day push by merging Days 3–5. Expand to 6–7 days when traveling mid‑winter or solo.

Pet‑Friendly Planning

  • Book hotels with outside entries (fewer lobby bottlenecks).

  • Pack collapsible bowls, extra leashes, and vaccination records.

  • If your pet stresses in vehicles, explore pet transport services so you can drive safer hours without guilt.

Food & Coffee Stops Worth a Detour

Prioritize local roasters and BBQ joints with easy trailer parking. Quick‑serve salads and protein help you avoid the “fried‑only” slump across some exits.

Safety & Sanity

  • Rotate drivers every 2–3 hours; swap at fuel stops.

  • Keep a paper atlas for service gaps; download offline maps.

  • Stage a small toolkit: torx bits, duct tape, zip ties, headlamp.

  • Photograph your load daily for insurance records.

Arrival Strategy

  • Hit a grocery run before unloading: hydration, humidifier filters, high‑cal snacks.

  • Park on level ground; chock wheels if icy.

  • Prioritize bedrooms and kitchen; leave decor for week two.

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