Does anyone have experience with contacting programs in a specific area and requesting an interview based on another interview date, so I can hit a bunch of places in the same area in one trip?

I have done that already and so far they have been accomodating.

Really?? I think that would peeve off Yale if I asked them for an interview because I've got one scheduled at U Conn. I'm too scared to ask :o

I told one program that recently requested an interview that I will be up in the area between these dates and asked if they had any interviews during that time period. She informed me that the only one they had close was that Friday, and I mentioned that the Wednesday before would work better. She worked with me and made a new interview day for that Wednesday. So yes, very very accomodating people who understand both our financial strain and time limitations.