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Message
US road trip-
Posted on 10/5/21 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 10/5/21 at 12:20 pm
Anyone ever did a giant lower 48 road trip? I’m looking into it in the next 2 years. Myself, spouse , 1 very adventurous child. Will be during summer months, prob May-Aug. spouse and I can both take leave of absence, unpaid. Starting to look at a route map, besides the obvious (tourist stuff, national parks, etc) load me on can’t miss stuff.
Also looking for tips of anyone who has done something similar
Also looking for tips of anyone who has done something similar
7
Posted on 10/5/21 at 3:17 pm to LeeLoUA16
I have not, but my husband and I have road tripped 44 of the lower 48 with our now 11-year old daughter in a series of 2-3 week segments. Have loved every one. We are planning NV/AZ for Spring Break of 2022 and then WA/OR for Summer 2022 to finish them off.
I find it's best when we do at least one physically active thing each day if at all possible (even if it's just shortening the planned drive to make time for the hotel pool -- though more active than that is preferable).
I don't know how old your child is, but mine read a ton of books from the Who Is/What Is/Where Is series. She still reads them (headed to Niagara Falls this weekend, and she's finishing up that book), but especially when she was a bit younger. Very accessible way to learn about the areas we were seeing.
I find it's best when we do at least one physically active thing each day if at all possible (even if it's just shortening the planned drive to make time for the hotel pool -- though more active than that is preferable).
I don't know how old your child is, but mine read a ton of books from the Who Is/What Is/Where Is series. She still reads them (headed to Niagara Falls this weekend, and she's finishing up that book), but especially when she was a bit younger. Very accessible way to learn about the areas we were seeing.
This post was edited on 10/5/21 at 3:19 pm
Posted on 10/5/21 at 3:28 pm to NCTigerFan
quote:I really want to start doing this in a year or 2 when my kids are old enough. What sort of vehicle do you use? Just a personal vehicle and then hotel it everywhere?
I have not, but my husband and I have road tripped 44 of the lower 48 with our now 11-year old daughter in a series of 2-3 week segments.
I'd love to have one of those Van Campers but I'm not dropping 150K on one.
Posted on 10/5/21 at 3:42 pm to LeeLoUA16
I would try to do your trip in the West outside of the mid-July to mid September time frame. Lots of wildfire smoke in the western states in this timeframe now. I would hit up maybe the northeast during that time. The west is ideal outside of this timeframe though.
Posted on 10/5/21 at 4:11 pm to LeeLoUA16
Map of trip I took last summer:
I did it over 17 days. It was a lot of fun. The trip's momentum died however when my AC went out in Cleveland. It wasn't a big deal in the Northeast but once I got into South Carolina it was miserable the rest of the way. To the point where I was starting my drive for the day at 4am just to minimize the amount of time driving out when the sun was up. I was far less likely to stop and sight see after the AC went out.
I did it over 17 days. It was a lot of fun. The trip's momentum died however when my AC went out in Cleveland. It wasn't a big deal in the Northeast but once I got into South Carolina it was miserable the rest of the way. To the point where I was starting my drive for the day at 4am just to minimize the amount of time driving out when the sun was up. I was far less likely to stop and sight see after the AC went out.
Posted on 10/5/21 at 5:17 pm to DukeSilver
quote:
I really want to start doing this in a year or 2 when my kids are old enough.
Start as early as you feel you can! Being 11 years, 44 states, and 17 countries into this with her, the older she gets the happier I am that we started early. I keep thinking that at some point she's not going to want to hang out with us as much. Even though that's not an issue yet, scheduling has become more challenging as makeup work for school absences has ramped up and she has become more involved in sports. As a first time mom, I didn't really anticipate this -- though I should have had I thought about it.
quote:
Just a personal vehicle and then hotel it everywhere?
Yes, the vast majority of trips we have rented cars and stayed in hotels. One trip we rented an RV through Outdoorsy. My daughter and I *LOVED* that trip. My husband, not as much. I didn't do a good job adapting our usual itinerary style to RV travel. The most we ever stayed in one spot was two nights, so my husband had to hook/unhook the RV too often for his tastes. Now that we have that experience behind us, my daughter and I are anxious to do it again, and I think I could work with my husband to come up with an itinerary that he would find more suitable. Rolling up to an RV park and staying for days on end just isn't our cup of tea, though. We'll still need to keep moving.
quote:
I'd love to have one of those Van Campers but I'm not dropping 150K on one.
Our friends are seriously looking into converting a school bus. I think that would be awesome too. (Not sure about gas mileage though.)
Posted on 10/7/21 at 9:45 pm to LeeLoUA16
I have been to 48 states. There are some eastern states to visit if you are a history buff. Otherwise, you want to be west of the continental divide.
Posted on 10/8/21 at 6:20 am to LeeLoUA16
Someone made a route of the shortest travel distance to visit all state capitals in the 48. I’m sure you can find it through google.
Go for it and let I’d know how it goes
Go for it and let I’d know how it goes
Posted on 10/8/21 at 10:24 am to LeeLoUA16
My advice is to stay on scenic roads as much as possible...Pacific Coast Highway, Columbia River Gorge, Flaming Gorge, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc. It's a lot of driving and spending too much time in the middle of nowhere west Texas can get old fast
Posted on 10/8/21 at 11:58 am to DukeSilver
quote:
I really want to start doing this in a year or 2 when my kids are old enough
I did Louisiana to Alaska when my kids were 5 and 7. They were awesome and it was a blast. We took 10 days and after the first couple of days, only did 300-400 miles a day.
Posted on 10/12/21 at 2:08 pm to RogerTheShrubber
We have done a few large trips.
We drove from Auburn to Richmond. I like to drive at night.
Spent one day in Richmond
Next day did Williamsburg
Day 3 Jamestown and Yorktown
Days 4-5 Washington Dc
Day 6 Philadelphia
Day 7-8 NYC
Day 9-10 Boston
Day 11 Drove to Niagara Falls.
Day 12 Niagara Falls and then drove to Cleveland
Day 13 Rock HOF and drove back home.
Left Cleveland around 2 pm and ate breakfast in Auburn.
We just drove from Mobile to Vegas. Stopped in Dallas, OKC, Albuquerque, Santa Fe.
We drove from Auburn to Richmond. I like to drive at night.
Spent one day in Richmond
Next day did Williamsburg
Day 3 Jamestown and Yorktown
Days 4-5 Washington Dc
Day 6 Philadelphia
Day 7-8 NYC
Day 9-10 Boston
Day 11 Drove to Niagara Falls.
Day 12 Niagara Falls and then drove to Cleveland
Day 13 Rock HOF and drove back home.
Left Cleveland around 2 pm and ate breakfast in Auburn.
We just drove from Mobile to Vegas. Stopped in Dallas, OKC, Albuquerque, Santa Fe.
Posted on 10/13/21 at 12:17 pm to LeeLoUA16
In Summer 2021, Went from Nola to Montana (1 week), over to Washington (1 week), to Oregon (1 week), Cali (10 days, and drove back in 3 days.
I loved the route to escape the summer heat. No Rain besides one day in Glacier NP. Wife and I brought our dog and car camped about 20% of the time. Amazing trip.
Downside to leaving in early June is Glacier NP wasn’t fully open until end of June. Caught that crazy head dome in Pacific NW. Once we got to the coast it was fine. Missed all the wildfires luckily.
My advice is to do it. Life is worth living. Traveling is my absolute favorite thing to do.
I loved the route to escape the summer heat. No Rain besides one day in Glacier NP. Wife and I brought our dog and car camped about 20% of the time. Amazing trip.
Downside to leaving in early June is Glacier NP wasn’t fully open until end of June. Caught that crazy head dome in Pacific NW. Once we got to the coast it was fine. Missed all the wildfires luckily.
My advice is to do it. Life is worth living. Traveling is my absolute favorite thing to do.
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