Until the recent gas price hike, it worked out better financially for me to drive from Cali to the midwest to see family than to fly, figuring in gas and motels vs. air fare and car rental, and I get to enjoy seeing the country off the Interstates as much as possible.
I get to visit State and Nat'l Parks, cruise back highways, visit old buddies on the way, eat local and not get treated like cattle at the airports. There's a lot of great stuff out there.
Just takes a little time.
"Service is for suckers."- Cheeto Benito