SK - moving to Oregon saved me from the 14 hour drive to visit my parents twice a year and we always did it in one trip. Ugh!

When we drove out here we didn't have a strict arrival deadline, so I planned 9 hour days alternating with 4-5 hour days so that we weren't in the car for too long (and if winter weather screwed with us, we'd have room for changes). It was a really nice trip that way!