bigal24

Hi there all I am asking you all for a bit of info and advice, good or bad!!
I am taking a break from work and know you are able to visit to usa for up to 90 days on the visa waiver, I am looking to go for around 8 weeks and would like to visit every state - something I have always thought of doing! I would like to buy a car for around $2000 to do it in - is this possible and sell it before I return to the UK? What would be the insurance be like? Is it possible to do? Any ideas of what to do in the states I visit? Thanks for your help!!!!!

Ash UK/US

How much would it cost to rent a car for that long?

$2000 might get you a just OK car and you might get a small return on it but keep in mind with a rental you should be covered if it breaks down etc and you get to hand it back with out the hassle, of course this might cost a whole lot more, I don't know but I would for sure check it out.

astor

8 weeks for 48 states? 6 states per week..less than 1 day per state...
I drive twice Canada to Mexico and back..different routes..I did it average 2 state per day just stopping to sleep-no sightseeing or very little.
I suggest take a close look the map of US and plan a directional route-east to west/north to south or curve shape etc. You may skip some states or not go even near but you will enjoy more.I ma sure you do not want to make a race or for record breaking trip..
google maps are great for planning this type of adventure!

tonrob

I did roughly 11 weeks split between Canada and the US back in 2002. None of the major rental agencies would touch this (most stating that they would only rent for 30 days max) and those that would were cost-prohibitive.

In the end I found a smaller, local agency (admittedly this was in Vancouver) who rented me a (almost brand new) Nissan Sentra for the equivalent of about sixteen quid a day (including insurance).

Yes, time (and probably costs) have moved on, but the lesson here is look for smaller outfits (we basically grabbed the Yellow Pages and a phone) as the big boys can be a trifle inflexible.

hobbes79

Sort of depends when you're planning on coming over too. Winter in the Northern states isn't a lot of fun, and you'll be baked alive in Texas, Louisiana, etc during the Summer.

I would select a few must-see sites/states. Stephen Fry devoted as little as 2-mins of coverage to certain states during his trip doing exactly the same thing... that should be a hint!

BTW, good luck driving to Hawaii

Bob

I wouldn't bother on just one trip, pick a region of the country and do that and perhaps another region another time or you'll spend the whole time getting cauliflower arse sitting in the car all day and night getting to the places.

Also, rent a car or look at places that need a car delivered because it's a waste of time buying as you won't be able to register the car and get it inspected not being resident of any US State and on top of that, insurance would be horrendous and you've got all the incidentals like tax on the car, registration tax, cost of plate, inspection and any other state/county/town taxes.

Might be worth travelling by train to get to regions your interested in and rent locally to tour those areas?

Jerseygirl

Cauliflower arse...I love it!!

Bill_S

All 48 states in 56 days? I suppose it's possible, in theory, but I don't know why anybody would do that. You won't be doing anything but driving and sleeping. You do realize how vast the USA is, don't you?

Buying a car is easy, all you need is money. The hard part will be getting it registered, titled, plated, insured. Very difficult as a tourist.

Kar98

Piece of cake:



http://www.timbotrip.com/trip-schedule/

That guy actually inspired me to take to the road shortly after he did, with a much humbler schedule and route, but on the other hand, I wound up getting married because of it:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/22748375@N08/

He did it with a 84 Scirocco, I did it with a 87

Maybe you'll get some ideas out of it.

Manc

Al.

I drive an 18 wheeler for a living, and have been all over the country.

If I were you, I'd stay west of the Mississippi. As far as I am concerned, driving in the majority of the East of the USA you may as well drive around Shropshire.......

take in a few cities, but don't make the cities the focus of your drives.

I'd spend a lot of time in Cali, Montana, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado.........
mainly just because the scenery is so far removed from what you'd be used to in the UK.

Bob

indeed...well I can't be the only one with an arse that looks like cauliflower after driving more than 6 hours

beachblue

Wow I think all you will have time to remember is all the different gas(petrol) stations you visit. That trip is something you should probably take a good year planning. It;s going to be a hell of an 8 week journey. I agree with previous posters split it in to three or four visits.

Good Luck

caleyjag

I endorse this message.

bigal24

HI ALL THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INFORMATION SO FAR! I WOULD BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE LENGTH OF MY TRIP TO 11 WEEKS INSTEAD OF THE 8. I JUST DONT WANT TO PUSH IT TOO MUCH TO THE MAXIMUM VISA STAY THATS ALL!
THANKS AGAIN I HAVE A FEW IDEAS.

caleyjag

Mate,

In all honesty I think you would have a much better time if you focused on a specific region.

This is my suggestion:

EPIC SHIT