Doing 6,300 mile road trip...anyone have tips / place to stay?

Meeyatch1

Meeyatch1

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Point of No Return
Okay gang, due to some personal life circumstances, I have decided that life is too short not to live and do things you really want to do. I wanted to do a total perimiter of the USA a couple of years ago, but work got in the way when I got a new job. Now I care more about enjoying the time we are blessed to have, and less about work. So here is what I have planned.

Day 1:
Fishers, IN - Minneapolis, MN

Day 2:
Minneapolis, MN - Billings, MT

Day 3:
Billings, MT - Spokane, WA

Day 4:
Spokane, WA - Seattle, WA

Day 5:
Seattle, WA - Eureka, CA

Day 6:
Eureka, CA - Monterey, CA

Day 7:
Staying in Monterey, CA to enjoy the experience and relax.

Day 8:
Monterey, CA - San Diego, CA

Day 9:
San Diego, CA - Las Vegas, NV

Day 10:
Las Vegas, NV - Sedona, AZ

Day 11:
Sedona, AZ - Roswell, NM

Day 12:
Roswell, NM - Tulsa, OK

Day 13:
Tulsa, OK - Fishers, IN

The plan is to do things, and see places that I have never seen. It has always been a dream of mine to drive the perimeter of the United States, so this will allow me to get halfway there, while taking some time to see things I always wanted to. If you have recommendations on foods to try, places to visit, or other things along the way, I would love to hear them. Doing it this way allows me to enjoy the trip, even if only by completing the first half of my ultimate journey of total border driving. Seeing family in Seattle, driving the Pacific Coast Highway in California, seeing Area 51 in Nevada and stopping in Las Vegas. Then moving on to drive through Red Rocks with the windows down and listening to the VTEC singing loudly, then on to Roswell to see more UFO stuff (yeah, I am a nerd) before heading back home. I have figured in staying at hotels, but I must say that I would rather experience interacting with others along the way. So if you live in or near any of my destination cities listed above, and have an extra floor or couch you do not mind sharing, I would appreciate it. It will keep my costs down, and (more importantly than money) would really make the trip a lot more fun.

For those of you wondering, yes, I am driving the NSX. You only live once. I look forward to this experience, and hopefully to meeting some of you along the way, and seeing old friends again. ;) :cool:
 
I don't know you at all, but it sounds like your mind is made up. I wish you well with your endeavors. And I hope that your life changing circumstances are good and not bad!
 
That's an aggressive schedule. You gonna be sleeping a few hours and driving 12+ hours / day to make that.

Down to Cali - 101/1 is beautiful, especially along the Oregon coast. It is too die for in Oregon.. I would just make sure to NOT go on the coast once you get to San Francisco. Jump back on to either 101 or I-5.
 
Definitely check out Jaskon Hole, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Yellow Stone National Park and the Grand Canyon! I've been to all but Jackson Hole and Yellow stone but the rest are a MUST. :)
 
If you're going to Seattle, why not take the time to visit Vancouver. There's a great drive on the way up called Chuckanut drive.

http://www.chuckanutdrive.com/

According to your schedule, you're going to be driving all the time and you will not have time to enjoy the stops. That's a very tight schedule you've planned.
 
Just so everyone knows, yes, I know it is an aggressive schedule. I figured in at my typical rate of travel, most days will have about 8 hours on the road. That is fine with me. Most things I want to do will conform to that, and I took an entire extra day in the middle of the trip to do no driving at all, and just enjoy the California coast by Monterey. If push comes to shove, I can always take an extra day or two if I have to to make the trip what I want it to be. Keep the input coming though. I appreciate it as I mark things to see and do.
 
Well as much as respect your schedule, here are the things I've always done:

Set a date when you want to be done with your trip. And give yourself at least 2 days to fart around and sightsee.

I've driven across the US 5 times... I've made it from Atlanta, GA to Santa Fe, NM in 24 hours. Thats taking turns driivng 12 hrs each which is not a big deal. I've also driven from Cheyenne, WY to Atlanta, GA in 24 hours...So dont worry about not making good time if your timing is right when you hit major cities.

Most of the southeast has little landmarks, but has tons of souther charm if you are into that sort of thing.

Let us know how it goes! I love a good road trip!
 
Sounds awesome! Enjoy your trip.

My only suggestion would be, for Montana, to drive the northern route (U.S. highway 2 I think) so you can drive through Glacier/Waterton National Park. Just so you know, Hwy 2 appears to be a major road on the map -- it is -- but you will see other cars about every 20 minutes. It's also nice and smooth (I road a bike across MT on that road).

Take lots of pics. :smile:
 
I applaud your dreams my friend. :biggrin: I lost both of my folks in '05 and me getting my '95 daily driver NSX was my tribute to them. I have just gotten to the point (like you) where I would like to live a little in their honor. I want to do a East Coast N2S...or...S2N...visit family in Florida and Michigan...grand loop before coming back to Arizona. You inspire me. When you come to Arizona, State Route 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona is one of the most breathtaking drives ev-ah!! I'll PM you with my contact info when you hit the Grand Canyon State...
All the best, and safe travels Mee. Tim.
 
Take pics and post updates when you can along the way. Some of us are trapped in the office and would like to be there vicariously.:redface:
 
Have a safe trip keep plenty of photos and update us. I don't see DC on the list I would have meet up :)
 
Re: Day 8:
Monterey, CA - San Diego, CA

No way to do this in a day (traffic is going to make you want to go "Postal")
Stay at my place for the night and time the traffic right, you won't be sorry :biggrin: Dinners on me!
Oh, and you'll be staying in the FUN BOX
Rinconweekend002.jpg

lakecasitas020.jpg
 
slownsxt said:
That's an aggressive schedule. You gonna be sleeping a few hours and driving 12+ hours / day to make that.

Down to Cali - 101/1 is beautiful, especially along the Oregon coast. It is too die for in Oregon.. I would just make sure to NOT go on the coast once you get to San Francisco. Jump back on to either 101 or I-5.
Click to expand...

? Why would you NOT want to drive on US-1 south of SF? That's one of the most amazing drives! I agree it gets a little boring as you get down closer to Santa Cruz but its better than 101/I-5 which is boring the whole way.

I would try to take a little side trip through Napa, if possible. If not, going through Muir Woods area is very pretty. Sausalito or Tiburon are a nice place to grab a waterside meal (although pricey).

Carmel is pretty nice, but overrated in my view. Monterey was okay. Pebble Beach 17 mile drive is worth doing. Another good place to stop for an amazing(!!) view is the Rocky Point Restaurant (owned by Clint Eastwood, I believe) 10 miles south of Carmel on 1. I think it is at mile marker 54 but not certain about that. It is easy to miss.

That's pretty much what I've driven. It is an amazing drive and you won't regret at all taking this trip.
 
ANYTIME said:
Re: Day 8:
Monterey, CA - San Diego, CA

No way to do this in a day (traffic is going to make you want to go "Postal")
Stay at my place for the night and time the traffic right, you won't be sorry :biggrin: Dinners on me!
Oh, and you'll be staying in the FUN BOX
Rinconweekend002.jpg

lakecasitas020.jpg
Click to expand...

Excellent! Thank you. That is the information I need to know for my travel planning and timetable. Also, thank you for the hospitality on a place to stay. Considering that your RV looks nicer than my house, I think I will be fine in there. :D
 
if you decide to go to deception pass, you can stay at my place for the night and then head south on whidbey island and take the ferry to everett then head south to towards seattle


deception_pass.jpg
 
When does this trip start?

What kind of food do you like?

If you are interested, let me know when you are in town, and I can show you some turbo goodies at the shop(near downtown MPLS).
 
I've always wanted to do this type of trip, but man, I would definitely want to stop and smell the roses more than you are!

Monterey to San Diego is a nice drive if you take the 1 or 101, but its going to take the full day via that route. If you go on the 5, you can do it within 7 hours, but its a more boring drive. Also if you're not going to enjoy a day in San Diego, then you're just kind of overshooting Vegas (heading more south than you need to.) The drive down from Monterey to SoCal along the coast is awesome, but LA to SD via the coast is nothing special once you've come that far. If you're not going to spend some time in SD, I would just head over to vegas from north LA area.

You're going to need more time in Vegas. ;)

Good luck with your trip! Take Pics!
 
Hey Mitch,

If you have a day to spare in So Cal - Why don't you plan your drive here to coincide with the upcoming CALCOASTAL NSX CANYON RUN(John?? Scott???) ...That should be a lot of fun and at the same time to hang out/meet with the SW nsxprimers.

And by the way ALMS laguna Seca (monterey) is coming up October ..That would be an awesome experience if you haven't been to one. Good luck on planning this trip - looks like to be a very exciting NSX adventure. :biggrin:
 
Greetings

If you should happen to drive through by Ukiah, just north of there is a Redwood that you can drive a car through. It would be cool to see a picture of an NSX parked inside a tree. You have to pay to do this, and it is hokey, but we still laugh at the pictures taken 20 years ago.

Cheers,
Martin
 
Mitch,

You can crash with me in Silverdale (west of Seattle), if you are doing this trip before early Jun. I'm likely moving south by then. I drove my NSX up from Corpus Christi to here in 3.5 days a few years ago and drove up through the 4 corners region. From Gallup, NM to Seattle was some awesome vistas, especially in the Moab, UT area. I did the drive from Monterrey to LA when I was in college, took 2 days and my best friend and I can still remember how great a drive it was. Even the I-5 from Seattle to San Diego is a neat drive, something about the farms of central CA, the mountains of Oregon. I-90 from Seattle to Montana is a sight as well.

If you plan to do the driving day after day, you may want to stick to the Interstate. Having a multilane road with lots of rest stops and petrol stations makes the drive easier on the mind. I enjoy the views of the smaller roads, but spending time behind a logging truck, or looking for a place to stop can get old. I'm with Anytime on the drive from Monterrey to SD taking more than a day. Stop and see the Hearst Mansion in San Luis Obispo, and at all the scenic overlooks along the PCH. They all look like the image of Deception Pass that mpkr shows.

Miner
 
ThreadJack - Anytime are you on RL as well?? Think I have seen that cute kid on there. :biggrin:
 
What day are you coming to Minneapolis??
 

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