Driving across America?
Nov 27th 2007, 9:36 am
#17
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Driving across America?
Seeing as you have only three weeks and having read that it took a BE member months to drive across the US, have you considered an Amtrak trip?
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...2922209&ssid=4
and there's also a PDF of all the routes in the US on that page.
Let the train take the strain.
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...2922209&ssid=4
and there's also a PDF of all the routes in the US on that page.
Let the train take the strain.
Nov 27th 2007, 1:58 pm
#19
.
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Where bad things rarely happen in movies
Posts: 8,933
Re: Driving across America?
Keep an eye on the Top Gear re-runs on BBCA....a few food tips on buying an old heap for a one way trip and selling it at the other end...Also some good info on keeping in with the locals on the way.....
Nov 28th 2007, 12:44 am
#20
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Driving across America?
I’m thinking that driving across the US could be a good way to see a lot of it for my holiday next year (3 weeks). I live in Boston, I’m thinking of driving in a hire car to the west coast and flying back.
Has anyone on here driven across the US, if so do you have any tips or advice?
Has anyone on here driven across the US, if so do you have any tips or advice?
I-90 to Cleveland
Cleveland to Columbis OH 1-71
Columbus OH on I-70 as far west as you can take it.
through Indianapolis
St Louis and the Arch
Kansas City
to Denver.
at this point you have th option of going up I-25 to Wyoming and rejoining 1-80 across to San Fran, going further north and joining i-90 again over to Montana / Oregon and the rest of the PNW
or keep going on 70 over the Eisenhower to Grand Junction colorado and onto Utah.
Arches Natl Park in Utah and wild senery.
then join I-15 through a corner of Arizona and the Virgin river canyon.
through Vegas on I-15 onto LA through the Mojave.
Nov 28th 2007, 12:59 am
#21
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,669
Re: Driving across America?
Do NOT write, 'Man Love Rocks' on the side of your car if you're going to be in Alabama!
Nov 28th 2007, 2:33 am
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10
Re: Driving across America?
Watched that episode and they almost got themselves into really big big trouble.
Nov 28th 2007, 2:39 am
#23
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: Driving across America?
It might be a cheap romantic option but it's not a wise choice. This country is huge and there are areas that are very sparse. The last thing that you need is to break down somewhere in the middle of a desert or highway that's not traveled much. Having reliable transport is a must. Rent a car and have the piece of mind that if anything happens to it you can have it replaced in the closest city where the company is located. I say this because I was in a position where I had to get a replacement rental. If this had happened to me and it was my car, I would have been SOL.
Nov 28th 2007, 3:24 am
#24
.
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Where bad things rarely happen in movies
Posts: 8,933
Re: Driving across America?
Duh...reposted with
for those that haven't seen the episode................
Nov 28th 2007, 9:05 am
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,820
Re: Driving across America?
Take I-84 from MA to OR, you will see amazing things ! and it won't cost you a fortune in tolls
I have done it as I worked a few times, without taking day at seeing places and 10 hours per day it should take about 5 days in a good car. If you really do the tourist bit it will take 2 weeks or more one way.
I have done it as I worked a few times, without taking day at seeing places and 10 hours per day it should take about 5 days in a good car. If you really do the tourist bit it will take 2 weeks or more one way.
Nov 28th 2007, 11:34 am
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Nov 28th 2007, 11:36 am
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Driving across America?
I’m thinking that driving across the US could be a good way to see a lot of it for my holiday next year (3 weeks). I live in Boston, I’m thinking of driving in a hire car to the west coast and flying back.
Has anyone on here driven across the US, if so do you have any tips or advice?
Has anyone on here driven across the US, if so do you have any tips or advice?
Nov 29th 2007, 2:28 pm
#28
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 826
Re: Driving across America?
Ahhh sweet memories of when I was 13 years old and me, my sisters and mum and dad came to the States for our summer holiday.
We hired a HUGE Winebago, started in Los Angeles - not sure the exact routes but we visited San Francisco, San Diego, Yosemite, The Joshua Tree (in some godforsaken desert) The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and mile upon mile of the Nevada desert... in the hottest part of summer!
(In fact I have a clear memory of my flipflops melting when we stopped at a service station on our way to Las Vegas!)
Oh thems were the days.
Alright we didn't see the rest of America but it was a cracking holiday all the same... And that Winebago rocked!
We hired a HUGE Winebago, started in Los Angeles - not sure the exact routes but we visited San Francisco, San Diego, Yosemite, The Joshua Tree (in some godforsaken desert) The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and mile upon mile of the Nevada desert... in the hottest part of summer!
(In fact I have a clear memory of my flipflops melting when we stopped at a service station on our way to Las Vegas!)Oh thems were the days.
Alright we didn't see the rest of America but it was a cracking holiday all the same... And that Winebago rocked!
Nov 29th 2007, 2:42 pm
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Driving across America?
I've done two round trips. Once (outdoorsy trip New York to California) 70 to 44 to 40 to California 395, back to 15 to 70 an then 70 clear across the country. That gets you Palo Duro Canyon, Petrified National Forest, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Sequoia, Vegas, Zion National Park, Arches/Canyonlands/Dead Horse Point, Rockies (Vail), the Kansas Plains, and then a bunch of boring Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The second time, I did (one way with a friend from Boston to LA) 95 to 4 to 75 to 10 to Florida 98 and then back to 10, Texas 90, back to 10 all the way to LA. This gets you Richmond, Savannah, Daytona Beach, Disney World, the Florida Panhandle (Pensacola), Mobile AL, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Big Bend, El Paso, Saguaro, Tuscon/Phoenix, Sonoran, Joshua Tree, LA.
I prefered the second route as a more fun drive (I got to live my Smokey and the Bandit fantasies), but the highlights of the first are clearly tops.
Tips: give yourself at least a month and take it slow. Drive four hours at a stretch and then switch off with a partner, no more. Don't drink lots of water, you'll just be stopping to pee all the time. Buy a bunch of food and a big cooler and do all picnics, it's cheaper and better than eating crap at truck stops. Check your car out thouroughly befor setting out and run your tires at the top of the recommended pressure. Don't pre-plan to death and be prepared to stop everywhere (we almost didn't hit Palo Duro the first time and it was a truly amazing place, we would have missed out). If you do go to a restaurant, find a locally-owned place (institute a strict no-national-chains policy). Break the no-chains policy to hit Waffle House. Get good hiking shoes. Stay at Best Westerns (cheap and much cleaner than most other chains) but camp out at least half the time. Get a $500 GPS. Etc.
The second time, I did (one way with a friend from Boston to LA) 95 to 4 to 75 to 10 to Florida 98 and then back to 10, Texas 90, back to 10 all the way to LA. This gets you Richmond, Savannah, Daytona Beach, Disney World, the Florida Panhandle (Pensacola), Mobile AL, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Big Bend, El Paso, Saguaro, Tuscon/Phoenix, Sonoran, Joshua Tree, LA.
I prefered the second route as a more fun drive (I got to live my Smokey and the Bandit fantasies), but the highlights of the first are clearly tops.
Tips: give yourself at least a month and take it slow. Drive four hours at a stretch and then switch off with a partner, no more. Don't drink lots of water, you'll just be stopping to pee all the time. Buy a bunch of food and a big cooler and do all picnics, it's cheaper and better than eating crap at truck stops. Check your car out thouroughly befor setting out and run your tires at the top of the recommended pressure. Don't pre-plan to death and be prepared to stop everywhere (we almost didn't hit Palo Duro the first time and it was a truly amazing place, we would have missed out). If you do go to a restaurant, find a locally-owned place (institute a strict no-national-chains policy). Break the no-chains policy to hit Waffle House. Get good hiking shoes. Stay at Best Westerns (cheap and much cleaner than most other chains) but camp out at least half the time. Get a $500 GPS. Etc.
Reg. Frank R.
Dec 1st 2007, 2:01 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: Driving across America?
Google auto drive away - they move peoples cars for them but use ordinary people as drivers - basically you find out if there is a car needs delivering where you are going and they cover the insurance and provide the car. You pay the gas and speeding tickets! The down side is that you have to get the car there by a certain time, although they do build in a bit of time for sight seeing!
I drove LA to Chicago doing this a few years ago and it was great. I also have friends who vacationed this way - you deliver a car and see what they have waiting to go out and take the one you fancy! Great fun and saves renting costs.
I drove LA to Chicago doing this a few years ago and it was great. I also have friends who vacationed this way - you deliver a car and see what they have waiting to go out and take the one you fancy! Great fun and saves renting costs.
Last edited by Big D; Dec 1st 2007 at 2:04 am.
