Road Trip from Anderson to Seattle: What's the Cost?
Are you thinking about hitting the road for an adventure? Are you planning a cross-country trip from Anderson, South Carolina to Seattle, Washington? You've come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll break down the cost of different routes for you. With current gas prices in mind, let's explore the various costs, distances, and times of different routes.
The Southern Route
The Southern Route is the longest one but also allows you to soak up a bit of the southern hospitality. This route covers about 2,800 miles along the southern part of the United States. The time it will take you to travel this route depends on the time you spend on each stop, but usually, it takes around 4-5 days.
The route starts in Anderson, South Carolina, but the first major city you will hit is Atlanta, Georgia. From there, you’ll continue to drive south-west through Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, and Little Rock, Arkansas. After Little Rock, you’ll take the I-40 and cross over the Mississippi River into Memphis, Tennessee. The rest of the route from Memphis to Albuquerque, New Mexico, cuts through the deserts of Texas and New Mexico. Once you reach Albuquerque, the final leg of the journey takes you through Arizona, the Hoover Dam, and finally into your Seattle destination.
If you take this route, you may encounter some tolls, and you’ll need to budget for gas. With $3.11 being the average national gas price per gallon, driving a car that gets 25 miles per gallon would cost you around $312 for gas alone. That figure is based on the assumption that you will be making the trip non-stop.
The Midwestern Route
With a distance of around 2,200 miles, the Midwestern Route is the shortest of the three. The route takes you through the heart of America and the Midwest. This route will take you approximately 3-4 days to complete.
Starting from Anderson, South Carolina, you’ll be heading west through the mountains of Tennessee, Kentucky's Bluegrass State, Missouri, and Kansas. In Kansas, you’ll pass through Wichita before you hit the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. After traversing the Rockies, you’ll make your way through Utah, Salt Lake City, and Boise, Idaho, before finally touching upon the Pacific Northwest, sending you towards Seattle.
While taking this route, you’ll encounter tolls, but not as many as the Southern Route. Additionally, the cost of gas will still be a significant expense. Based on our calculation earlier, it would still cost you around $273 in gas alone.
The Northern Route
The Northern Route measures around 2,500 miles, which is in between the other two road trip options in terms of journey time and distance. This route heads north eerily close to the Canadian border. Plan for this route to take you 3-4 days in total.
Starting from Anderson, South Carolina, this route takes you through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. You’ll journey past the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and over the Canadian border into North Dakota. From North Dakota, you’ll encounter spectacular views of landscapes like the Badlands, before finally ending your journey in Seattle.
The Northern Route has fewer tolls than the Southern Route but will still require you to pay for gas. Based on our previous calculation, gas alone would cost you around $288.
Final Thoughts
With the above routes, we hope we’ve given you a rough idea of what to expect when driving from Anderson, South Carolina to Seattle, Washington. It’s important to remember that the costs mentioned are estimates based on current gas prices, amongst other factors. That being said, the beauty of driving is that you can create your adventure.
The road trip adventure will be one of a kind and a memory you’ll never forget, and with these options, you can choose the route that fits you best. Before getting on the road, ensure that you check your car's condition, get any necessary maintenance, and stock up on snacks and drinks. We hope that you have an adventure of a lifetime!