Suggestions for a Road Trip?

[CamaroSkooter]

You do know that August 2-5 is Camaro5 Fest in Indy, right?

[zeebad1]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

You do know that August 2-5 is Camaro5 Fest in Indy, right?

Yeah, I know!!!
Timing!!!

[zeebad1]

We are planning on leaving later this week.

Here is a general route that I've mapped out with the specific places that we would like to visit. It looks to be a little over 6200 miles.

We may deviate from this at any time.







If anyone has any suggestions along the way, please feel free to make some recommendations.

We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.




.

[orbitearl]

dont forget to take a flashlght and pocket knife!

[mastertypodemon]

Originally Posted by zeebad1

We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.
.

I've driven from Dallas to LA several times. If you push it, you can make that in 2 days (12 hour days). So that whole trip should take about 6-7 days if you drive 12 hours a day. A more relaxed schedule can easily take you to your target of 2 weeks.

If you're into this kinda thing, hang a left at Albuquerque and you can check out the Very Large Array. The VLA was the star of such movies as Contact, Terminator Salvation and Transformers 3.

[PalmerGA]

Originally Posted by zeebad1

We are planning on leaving later this week.

Here is a general route that I've mapped out with the specific places that we would like to visit. It looks to be a little over 6200 miles.

We may deviate from this at any time.







If anyone has any suggestions along the way, please feel free to make some recommendations.

We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.

For a trip like this, it's good to have extra time if you need it (and you will). It's personal preference of course, but I would head south from San Fran and go through King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The most amazing trees in the world are there. From there you could head up through Barstow and back on track in Vegas. Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest are all very cool. And don't forget to spend a minute "standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ".

Additional things to take with you:
- A couple of gallons of water in case of overheating engine
- Powerful flashlight and extra batteries (w/ DC power cord if possible)
- blankets, pillows
- snack foods (granola bars, crackers, etc.)

Have a great time and See the USA in your Chevrolet!

[jmaynard]

If you're coming through Dallas you might want to make sure that A/C is working REALLY well. We hit 104 on Saturday and even with the AC running max it was all it could do to exchange the heat. Just saying, Texas in July/August is not the best time to see our state. Expect lots of dust also so bring along your wash products.

[jmaynard]

On a side note, Glacier is one of the most beautiful places in the US. Wife and I returned from Montana just a few weeks ago and it was really cool (figuratively and literally). We went through Logans pass (once it opened after the snow drift) and it was an amazing LONG drive.

[hrpiii]

Originally Posted by Animal

I'd suggest a full size spare or at the very least, a tire without the wheel. In some places a replacement tire is a next day service after the morning supply run. 20" tires just aren't in stock in the city (especially a matching one), let alone BF Montana.

.

I second the full spare. I have one that will fit the rear or front of the car and take it with me on any long trips. It fits into the trunk nicely (and a low profile jack).

[IrocJack]

Red Rock Canyon is awesome, Hoover Dam and also visit Bad Water, AZ.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by zeebad1

We are planning on leaving later this week.

Here is a general route that I've mapped out with the specific places that we would like to visit. It looks to be a little over 6200 miles.

We may deviate from this at any time.







If anyone has any suggestions along the way, please feel free to make some recommendations.

We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.

.

That looks like an awesome road trip. I've been to most of those places at one time or another over the years. No schedule to keep makes it even better. For a route that big, I say plan closer to 3 weeks than two.

A few suggestions:

Yellowstone: I hope you did at least some planning, because the hotels around there fill up well in advance, even off peak season.

As far as things to do, there are really too many to list. I have spent 3-4 days there every summer for the last 10+ years, and the most recent time just a month ago, I still found a lot of stuff to do that I had never done. In previous years, the traffic can get annoying in Yellowstone, but for some reason, it was really dead there in June. Don't know if that means more people are coming later and it will be worse than normal now, or if it is just a slow overall season.

On your way into Yellowstone, instead of the route you have mapped, I would recommend going up to Billings and catching US212 in Montana. That takes you into the northeast entrance via Bear Tooth Pass.

Also, if you get a good, clear sky day, plan to take a side trip down to Grand Teton Park. Clear days can be hard to come by, but if you get one, Teton is spectacular.

Glacier: Another excellent choice, and truly amazing scenery on relatively clear days. My last few trips there have been thwarted by snow (my vacations are normally in June). That won't be a problem now, though.

Another note, some of the two lane roads leading into glacier from the southeast (sorry, I can't remember the numbers to pick out the specific ones on a map) are some of the best driving roads I've ever been on in all my travels. If you get lucky enough to have clear road in front (no slow moving cars), just getting there is a blast. Just secure everything in the car so nothing shifts around.

Mt. Rainier: This is one of those only if the weather cooperates stops. Rainier is shrouded with cloud most days of the year. If you get lucky and the skies are completely clear (and I mean completely, if there are just scattered puffy clouds in general, Rainier will probably be clouded in), check it out. It's quite a site. It rises high about its surrounding base, and just seems to go up forever. Statistically, this time of year is the most likely time for clear days there.

Sequoia: Someone else already mentioned it. As long as you are so close, it is worth the stop. You couldn't possibly understand how big some of those trees are unless you actually see them yourself.

Zion/Grand Canyon: As long as you are so close, the Grand Canyon should be another stop.

As for Zion and some of the other stuff in southern Utah and northern Arizona, that really depends on your own preferences. The scenery around there can be amazing, but it is a bit of an acquired taste. Some people would drive through and look around and see "nothingness." Others might see a beautiful landscape that you could lose yourself in (in a good way). If you know a bit or have an interest in geology, it can be kinda cool too, as there are a lot of exposed rock outcrops with geologic structures visible, if you know what to look for.

[fielderLS3]

Also, if you want a small sample (a few dozen of probably over 1000 pictures) from some of these places, you can look though the album I put together in my profile. Hold the mouse over the picture, and it should say where it is from.

[Ladybugsmom]

Originally Posted by zeebad1

We are planning on leaving later this week.

Here is a general route that I've mapped out with the specific places that we would like to visit. It looks to be a little over 6200 miles.

We may deviate from this at any time.







If anyone has any suggestions along the way, please feel free to make some recommendations.

We still don't have a projected timeline. No schedule to keep, and no real hurry to get back home. If we can do this in 2 weeks, that would be a whirlwind trip. If it takes us 3, that's OK.




.

I would suggest going into Western Washington before cutting south. You'll get to see Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens if you do that. The route you have mapped isn't very "scenic" until you get to the Columbia River Gorge. An added bonus if you go to the west side of WA??? We can give you a break from the heat wave the rest of the country has been experiencing! Highs forecasted for this week (and beyond, I'm sure, it hasn't been very summery here) are between 72-80. Sounds refreshing, huh??

[MikeSVX]

I would say riding down Coast north of San Fran is a must. The Coast Guard has a training center in Petaluma, so I've spent a few months there. To road along the coast is beautiful, and twisty.

And don't forget to check out the Giant Redwoods in Northern California.

And if your going through Amerillo stop and eat at the Big Texan.