Planning and flight actuals for our travels in N313DC to the 48 contiguous states plus Alaska.

We only had five states under our belt in 3DC as of the summer of 2022 - our home state of Washington, plus Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana. The plan for Aug/Sep 2022 was to fly 3DC across the northern states, from Washington state to Maine and back, for a Celebration of Life and a family reunion.

Day 1 (Thu, 18 Aug): Plan - Renton (KRNT) to Coeur d'Alene, ID (KCOE) to Missoula (KMSO) to Billings, MT (KBIL)
Actual: Fuel stop not required in Coeur d'Alene, first stop was Missoula.
Leg 1: Renton to Missoula, MT (KMSO) - 342 NM. Good gas prices for a top off at NorthStar Jet self-serve, off runway 30.
Leg 2: Missoula to Billings, MT (KBIL) - 254 NM. Day total = 596 NM. Overnight parking at Edwards Jet Center, with lodging at the DoubleTree downtown, 24 hour shuttle. Enjoyed braised short ribs at BIN119.

Day 2 (Fri, 19 Aug): Plan - Billings, MT to Mandan, ND (Y19) to Aberdeen, SD (KABR)
Actual: Refueled in Dickinson, ND instead of Mandan due to IFR conditions at Mandan.
Leg 3: Billings, MT to Dickinson, ND (KDIK) - 245 NM. Western Edge Aviation offered good fuel prices and an excellent FBO facility.
Leg 4: Dickinson, ND to Aberdeen, SD (KABR) - 199 NM. Day total = 444 NM. Good fuel prices and service at Hangar 9 FBO. Took advantage of a $50 hangar overnight, which protected 3DC when a thunderstorm with heavy rain and wind passed through in the early evening. The Fairfield Inn offered a Hangar 9 rate. An Aberdeen shuttle (605-725-2195) was available, but we used one of Hangar 9's two courtesy cars, an old Cadillac Escalade, which was available on a first come, first served. Enjoyed walleye for dinner at Maverick's.

Day 3 (Sat, 20 Aug):
Actual: We stayed an extra night in Aberdeen, and used one of our planned weather days due to thunderstorms and IFR conditions from a stalled low to the east. The Fairfield Inn was full due to the local State Fair, but we found a room at the nearby Holiday Inn Express, initially at $239/night, then reduced to $90/night for a 'pilot rate'.

Day 4 (Sun, 21 Aug): Plan - Aberdeen, SD to Caledonia, MN (KCHU) to Madison, WI (KMSN)
Actual: Refueled in Dodge Center, MN instead of Caledonia, MN due to cheaper fuel and better weather at Dodge Center.
Leg 5: Aberdeen, SD to Dodge Center, MN (KTOB) - 253 NM. Convenient gas stop, with a significant dip in the long 4500' runway. No one at the airport, but with convenient gas and a clean airport office.
Leg 6: Dodge Center, MN to Madison, WI (KMSN) - 161 NM. Day total = 414 NM. Wisconsin Aviation FBO. Parking $10 overnight, hangar $37.50 first come. Cambria Suites had a shuttle, $99 FBO rate. Enjoyed walleye and a calamari salad for dinner at Erin's Snug Irish Pub.

Day 5 (Mon, 22 Aug):
Leg 7: Madison, WI to Battle Creek, MI (KBTL) - 236 NM. Day total = 236 NM. Via lakeshore route: KMSN-KUGN-KGYY-KMGC-KBTL. Parked 3DC at the Centennial/WACO FBO with Janelle, tiedown $10/night, with a free F150 loaner truck. Stayed at the new Home2 Hilton, $79 FBO rate. Toured the WACO aircraft factory the next morning.

Day 6 (Tue, 23 Aug): Plan - Battle Creek, MI to Clarion County, PA (KAXQ) to Allentown, PA (KXLL)
Actual: Refueled in Wooster, OH instead of Clarion County, PA due to cheaper fuel and better weather in Wooster.
Leg 8: Battle Creek, MI to Wooster, OH (KBJJ) - 174 NM. The local FBO attendant refueled 3DC with a good rate, got waters.
Leg 9: Wooster, OH to Allentown, PA (KXLL) - 292. Day total = 466 NM. Stayed in Allentown for the nights of Day 6 and 7.

Day 7 (Wed, 24 Aug) Visiting with Danny and Brenda in Allentown, PA, used another backup WX day.

Day 8 (Thu, 25 Aug): Plan - Allentown to Sussex, NJ (KFWN) to Danbury, CT (KDXR) to Rome, NY (KRME)
Actual: Due to lightning damage repair to the runway at Griffiss (KRME), the runway was closed until 6:00PM. We decided to add Block Island, RI to our flights around New England, with a stop for lunch. After landing at Block Island, we found the airport cafe was closed due to family emergency, so we then flew to New Bedford, MA for excellent seafood chowder and haddock at the Airport Grille, then continued on past an Albany, NY thunderstorm to land at Griffiss and meet Theresa.
Leg 10: Allentown, PA to Sussex, NJ (KFWN) - 55 NM. NJ stop.
Leg 11: Sussex, NJ to Danbury, CT (KDXR) - 53 NM. Refuel and CT stop.
Leg 12: Danbury, CT to Block Island, RI (KBID) - 90 NM. RI stop.
Leg 13: Block Island, RI to New Bedford, MA (KEWB) - 41 NM. MA stop and dinner.
Leg 14: New Bedford, MA to Rome, NY (KRME) - 218 NM, Day total = 457 NM. Visited family for 4 days. Free parking for 4 nights at the excellent Million Air FBO, with a great FBO rate at the nearby Hampton Inn Rome.

Day 9-11 (Fri, 26 Aug to Sun, 28 Aug) Celebration of Life and Family Reunion in the Utica-Rome, NY area.

Day 12 (Mon, 29 Aug): Plan - Rome, NY to Springfield, VT (KVSF) to Laconia, NH (KLCI) to Rockland, ME (KRKD)
Actual: Weather was better in Rutland, VT (KRUT), instead of Springfield, VT (KVSF).
Leg 15: Griffiss/Rome, NY to Rutland, VT (KRUT) - 108 NM. VT stop.
Leg 16: Rutland, VT to Laconia, NH (KLCI) - 67 NM. NH stop.
Leg 17: Laconia, NH to Rockland, ME (KRKD) - 105 NM. Day total = 281 NM. Bobby Kaczor picked us up at the Downeast Air FBO, and took us to check in at the Lime Rock Inn for lodging. Visited with Bobby and Keri at their home, then had a great lobster dinner at Waterfront and town tour in Camden, ME. Joe's taxi was available to the airport then next morning.

Day 13 (Tue, 30 Aug): Plan - Rockland, ME to Beverly, MA (KBVY) to Block Island (KBID) to (KAXQ) to Allentown, PA (KXLL)
Actual: Since we had visited MA and RI earlier in the trip, we proceeded nearly direct from Rockland, ME to Allentown, with just a quick fuel stop at the Sky Acres airport (44N) in Lagrangeville, NY. Gusty crosswinds and an uphill runway made for a fun approach into Sky Acres. Stayed with Danny and Brenda again overnight.
Leg 18: Rockland, ME to Lagrangeville, NY (44N) - 248 NM. Refueling stop.
Leg 19: Lagrangeville, NY to Allentown, PA (KXLL) - 104 NM. Day total = 352 NM.

Day 14 (Wed, 31 Aug)
Leg 20: Allentown, PA to Oakland, MD (2G4) 186 NM. Day total = 186 NM. Garrett County airport, in the far western part of MD. $5 overnight parking. Rode a taxi from Candy and her dogs. Stayed at a gorgeous new wood cabin on Deep Creek Lake at The Lodges at Sunset Village. Had creamy crab soup, crab stuffed shrimp and blueberry cobbler at the nearby Pine Lodge Steakhouse. Great stargazing on the lake dock.

Day 15 (Thu, 1 Sep): Plan - Oakland, MD to Buckhannon, WV (W22) to Circleville, OH (KCYO) to Rensselear, IN (KRZL) to Pekin, IL (C15)
Actual: Since we had visited OH earlier in the trip, we skipped Circleville, OH, and also found better gas prices at Clarksburg, WV and Winchester, IN.
Leg 21: Oakland, MD to Clarksburg, WV (KCKB) - 45 NM. WV refueling stop. Efficient FBO, pumped from a truck right at the airplane, full service at a good fuel price.
Leg 22: Clarksburg, WV to Winchester, IN (KCYO) - 223 NM. IN Stop, full service fuel from a friendly airport manager at a great price.
Leg 23: Winchester, IN to Pekin, IL (C15) - 218 NM. Day total = 486 NM. Near Peoria, great small airport, no parking fees, Nick at 309-348-3692, got a courtesy van. Stayed at the Hampton Inn with another great FBO rate. Had salad, pizza and a gyro at Kouri's Pub.

Day 16 (Fri, 2 Sep): Plan - Pekin, IL to Storm Lake, IA (KSLB) to Creighton, NE (6K3) to Pierre, SD (KPIR)
Actual: Cherokee, IA had a decent fuel price, and with Hartington, NB, was closer to a direct route to Pierre.
Leg 24: Pekin, IL to Cherokee, IA (KCKP) - 296 NM. Quick fuel stop. Crop duster traffic, good facility.
Leg 25: Cherokee, IA to Hartington, NE (0B4) - 75 NM. NE Stop, gusty crosswind.
Leg 26: Hartington, NE to Pierre, SD (KPIR) - 170 NM. Day total = 541 NM. Parked at the excellent Mustang FBO, free overnight parking, fueling right at the airplane, and a new Toyota loaner car driven up to 3DC. Stayed at the very nice Clubhouse Hotel at a nice FBO rate, then enjoyed excellent filet steaks, plus cheesecake at the Cattleman's Club Steakhouse.

Day 17 (Sat, 3 Sep): Plan - Pierre, SD to Miles City, MT (KMLS) to Helena, MT (KHLN)
Actual: Broadus, MT had a better fuel price and was on a direct route to Helena from Pierre.
Leg 27: Pierre, SD to Broadus, MT (00F) - 229 NM. Fuel stop with 15+ knot direct crosswinds. Had to call to get the self service pump unlocked by a local attendant, paid with a check. Impressive crosswind takeoff.
Leg 28: Broadus to Helena, MT (KHLN) - 301 NM. Day total = 530 NM. Two overnights. Exec Air FBO, Rheanon. No parking fee with 5 gal fuel purchase. Avis rental car rented for 2 days. Stayed in the Hampton Inn at another great FBO rate. Enjoyed classic broasted chicken at the Sud's Hut.

Day 18 (Sun, 4 Sep)
Helena relaxing day. Enjoyed walleye at the Schooners Grill on Canyon Ferry Lake on a smoky afternoon.

Day 19 (Mon, 5 Sep)
Leg 29: Helena to (KSFF) Felt's Field, Spokane, WA - 229 NM. Last refueling after a smoky flight out of Helena using Special VFR to depart.
Leg 30: Spokane, WA to Renton - 200 NM. Day total = 429NM.

Trip total = 5417 NM, 63.0 flight hours, 24 states!