Okay, I've had enough real-time travel now.
The Travel Options mod allows for sped up travel, but can still take some time, so you DO feel like you made the trek nonetheless, especially when combined with the Advanced Wilderness Encounters mod, Basic Roads, and whatever terrain mod you want to use.
Also, DREAM/DREAM 90s textures combined with the Hand Painted Models mod and detailed or HD sprites really bring life to the old game!