USA Roadtrip : Need some ideas !

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

Cisero said:

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

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Take that road trip in the late spring/early summer.

ttwtt78640 said:

Take that road trip in the late spring/early summer.

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May & June 2016

Cisero said:

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

Click to expand...

I would suggest the southern route along I-10 or through the middle of the country along I-40, then going up the east coast along I-95 to NYC, stopping at historical cities along the way. If you choose one of these routes, we can give you great advice on where to stop along the way to maximize your trip, and your money. Both of these routes will maximize the differences in culture we have to offer here in the US.

Cisero said:

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

Click to expand...

Take the road up along the coast to Alaska and back down across Canada to Noth Dakota to Chicago. Depending on the time of year serve up to Boston and Maine or down to DC and further South. Those are wonderful drives, if you like long drives.

Cisero said:

May & June 2016

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Are you more interested in scenery (natural beauty?) or in cultural (tourist?) attractions? I have traveled much of the country (34 states) by motorcycle. Travel time is saved by taking the interstates, but many "real" places, or a feel for the area, are better enjoyed by traveling the byways. Examining the results of a web search using the state name and attractions (e.g. Texas attractions) might be a good way to preview your options.

Example:

14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Texas | PlanetWare

The Top 10 Things to Do in Texas - TripAdvisor - Texas, United States Attractions - Find What to Do Today, This Weekend, or in January

If you tell us what your itinerary is on the west coast we would be better equipped to give you advice for the trip east.

If this is your first trip to the US you need to plan on a couple of days in DC and a couple of days in NYC. If you don't stop to pee or sleep it's a two day drive from NM to NY so your 3 weeks is going to get cut down quite a bit.

Beaudreaux said:

I would suggest the southern route along I-10 or through the middle of the country along I-40, then going up the east coast along I-95 to NYC, stopping at historical cities along the way. If you choose one of these routes, we can give you great advice on where to stop along the way to maximize your trip, and your money. Both of these routes will maximize the differences in culture we have to offer here in the US.

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I-10? They are taking a road trip not a nap, i-10 has to be the most boring stretch of interstate to drive across

Crovax said:

I-10? They are taking a road trip not a nap, i-10 has to be the most boring stretch of interstate to drive across

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Use it as a main trunk to get across the country, and branch off and then back again as they go. On I-10 they can visit Phoenix and take a side trip to the beautiful Sonoran Desert and spend the night in Gila Bend (I have relatives there) and then in Las Cruces or El Paso, and once they're in your state, take a ride on a boat along the river walk in San Antonio down the San Antonio River and visit the Alamo, run south from Houston to Galveston Island then take a fishing trip in the Sabine Pass. Then they have the rest of the Gulf Coast - visit a casino in Lake Charles, eat some food like they have never had and will never have again in Lafayette (the center of Cajun Country [Acadia]), then visit the French Quarter in New Orleans, stay the night on the beach in Biloxi, tour old downtown Mobile, and visit the pristine white sands of Panama City Beach, then spend a day in the oldest city in the US, Saint Augustine.

And that's just I-10. Then they can start up I-95 with Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk/Suffolk/Richmond, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and the birth place of our government, and then of course NYC and all it has to offer.

Sure, they could take the back roads, but what we forget is how BIG our country actually is. They only have 6 weeks. If they want to spend time in any single area, they will need to get from one point to the other rather quickly.

We have states that it can take longer to travel across than most of Western Europe. Just my suggestion though.

this was presented as the best road trip route to see the USA
disclaimer: i have not used it
if you see nothing else in CA, make a point to visit Yosemite (the most majestic place on earth that i have visited)

Lutherf said:

If you tell us what your itinerary is on the west coast we would be better equipped to give you advice for the trip east.

If this is your first trip to the US you need to plan on a couple of days in DC and a couple of days in NYC. If you don't stop to pee or sleep it's a two day drive from NM to NY so your 3 weeks is going to get cut down quite a bit.

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Hey
Here is our plan for the first half of our roadtrip.



California : Family, friends, Yosemite, L.A
Nevada : Las Vegas
Arizona : Grand Canyon, Monument Valley
Utah : Salt Lake City
Montana : Family, Yellowstone
Wyoming : Devil's Tower
South Dakota : Mt Rushmore
Colorado : Epic scenery
New Mexico : White Sands Monument, ABQ

Half of my family is in the U.S

Beaudreaux said:

Use it as a main trunk to get across the country, and branch off and then back again as they go. On I-10 they can visit Phoenix and take a side trip to the beautiful Sonoran Desert and spend the night in Gila Bend (I have relatives there) and then in Las Cruces or El Paso, and once they're in your state, take a ride on a boat along the river walk in San Antonio down the San Antonio River and visit the Alamo, run south from Houston to Galveston Island then take a fishing trip in the Sabine Pass. Then they have the rest of the Gulf Coast - visit a casino in Lake Charles, eat some food like they have never had and will never have again in Lafayette (the center of Cajun Country [Acadia]), then visit the French Quarter in New Orleans, stay the night on the beach in Biloxi, tour old downtown Mobile, and visit the pristine white sands of Panama City Beach, then spend a day in the oldest city in the US, Saint Augustine.

And that's just I-10. Then they can start up I-95 with Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk/Suffolk/Richmond, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and the birth place of our government, and then of course NYC and all it has to offer.

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This sounds insanely convincing, I'll look into it Thanks !

Cisero said:

Hey
Here is our plan for the first half of our roadtrip.

View attachment 67195159

California : Family, friends, Yosemite, L.A
Nevada : Las Vegas
Arizona : Grand Canyon, Monument Valley
Utah : Salt Lake City
Montana : Family, Yellowstone
Wyoming : Devil's Tower
South Dakota : Mt Rushmore
Colorado : Epic scenery
New Mexico : White Sands Monument, ABQ

Half of my family is in the U.S

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While you're up near Montana border you should check out Custer's Last Stand. Cody Wyoming has a wonderful western museum.

If you skip the west coast you'll be missing out on the best scenery in the lower 48. Period.

Top Cat said:

If you skip the west coast you'll be missing out on the best scenery in the lower 48. Period.

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A pity to be sure.

Cisero said:

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

Click to expand...

I am from Chicago and I would say that this city and the rust belt can safely be missed. Lots of history and some interesting things, but the low density of natural wonders does not justify the stench of decay that you will have to put up with.

Go south, Arkansas maybe, New Orleans, Orlando, go down the the florida keys, then back up through the coastal areas of the South, the Piedmont the Appalachians....then do the cities DC/NY/Bos and if you have time Maine/VT/NH

As others mentioned I would drive the Southern route too. Make sure you have 2-3 days though for NYC. It's a fun town. Try to get to Boston too.

Cisero said:

Hey everybody

My friend and I are organizing a 6 week roadtrip in the U.S. We have already organised the first 3 weeks (California, Monument Valley, Vegas, Montana, Denver, ABQ) but we need ideas for the second half of our trip.
So basically, if you had three weeks to go from ABQ to NYC, where would you go ? Through which states would you drive ? We were thinking of driving up to Chicago -> Washington -> NYC.

Any ideas ?

:lol:

Click to expand...

EDITED, I saw your map, it was exactly the course I pictured when you described it

So a North South Zig Zag? You might want to take I-40 East to Oklahoma City, a day's hard drive, north up I-35 to Minneapolis, I'd actually keep going North to Duluth, Minn. but you probably won't. Minneapolis is a good midwestern city with a substantially lower risk of high speed lead poisoning then Chicago. you can take I-94 from Minneapolis to Chicago if you want, but I would rather go through Wisconsin to Manitowoc and you can take a large steam ferry across lake Michigan to Ludington Michigan and bypass the Chicago altogether, from there numerous possibilities await,

in general though, if you have six weeks, I would avoid Interstates to the extent possible, and try the US Numbered Highways instead.

The reason being, most of the stops along Interstates are heavily commercialized with billboards and national brands providing the food gas and lodging.

the older numbered highways (distuingished by the white shield, instead of the blue shield on the highway signs) are often two lane roads instead of freeways, and they run as mainstreets through the towns they cross, and the rural communities they served you're more likely to find locally owned businesses providing the restuarants and hotels and the like.

and if you have any questions let me know, I actually can help you here, I was an Over the Road (long haul) Truck Driver for a year and I know almost all the best places to eat and buy gas in the Western 11 (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico.

Cisero said:

Hey
Here is our plan for the first half of our roadtrip.

View attachment 67195159

California : Family, friends, Yosemite, L.A
Nevada : Las Vegas
Arizona : Grand Canyon, Monument Valley
Utah : Salt Lake City
Montana : Family, Yellowstone
Wyoming : Devil's Tower
South Dakota : Mt Rushmore
Colorado : Epic scenery
New Mexico : White Sands Monument, ABQ

Half of my family is in the U.S

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There's a couple detours you might be interested in, when you leave Denver, instead of taking 25 straight to ABQ, if you can wing the time, double back west, on I-70, when you get to the mountains take the split for US-6 over Loveland pass, it's surreal, it's a roadway over the mountains at 12,000 feet of elevation. I remember one day coming down that pass in an 18 wheeler, fun as hell. but I digress.
cross back into Utah, take US-191 south to Four Corners National monument, then you can get on US-491 south to I-40 and go to ABQ, it will add a day to travel time, but it will be a day well spent IMO

You might try an see some of the American South. Of course, if you would like to also drive to another country you are welcome to visit me here in Texas.

I have two spare rooms. Enjoy some good BBQ, shoot a few guns, and sit back under these lovely piney woods.

You can PM me if interested.

EMNofSeattle said:

There's a couple detours you might be interested in, when you leave Denver, instead of taking 25 straight to ABQ, if you can wing the time, double back west, on I-70, when you get to the mountains take the split for US-6 over Loveland pass, it's surreal, it's a roadway over the mountains at 12,000 feet of elevation. I remember one day coming down that pass in an 18 wheeler, fun as hell. but I digress.
cross back into Utah, take US-191 south to Four Corners National monument, then you can get on US-491 south to I-40 and go to ABQ, it will add a day to travel time, but it will be a day well spent IMO

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Sounds very fun, I'm writing the suggestions down Thanks for your help !
I hope our Chevrolet Spark will survive the journey :lamo

RetiredNSmilin said:

You might try an see some of the American South. Of course, if you would like to also drive to another country you are welcome to visit me here in Texas.

I have two spare rooms. Enjoy some good BBQ, shoot a few guns, and sit back under these lovely piney woods.

You can PM me if interested.

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Oh, thanks for the invite ! Sounds wonderful, I'll let you know

Cisero said:

Sounds very fun, I'm writing the suggestions down Thanks for your help !
I hope our Chevrolet Spark will survive the journey :lamo

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It should, as long as you stay on pavement.

if you can see if you can rent like a TDI Jetta or Chevy Cruz Eco Diesel.

I don't know if any outfits offer them, but worth checking into, Diesel is cheaper then gasoline right now in many places and the mileage can exceed 50 mpg on straight highways.

plus, because truck stops, you shouldn't need to worry, Diesel fuel is now widely available in the US

like I said to, let me know your final plan, because Western America I know like the back of my hand.

EMNofSeattle said:

It should, as long as you stay on pavement.

if you can see if you can rent like a TDI Jetta or Chevy Cruz Eco Diesel.

I don't know if any outfits offer them, but worth checking into, Diesel is cheaper then gasoline right now in many places and the mileage can exceed 50 mpg on straight highways.

plus, because truck stops, you shouldn't need to worry, Diesel fuel is now widely available in the US

like I said to, let me know your final plan, because Western America I know like the back of my hand.

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The vehicule choice is very limited since we're renting the car in SF and dropping it off in NYC, but we'll check around & see if they don't have anything more credible for a 8,000 mile roadtrip