Spike81162

I am driving with my husband and dog from central NJ to Huntington Beach, CA during the last 2 weeks of August. I was planning on taking Route 70 across for the most part then dropping down thru Arizona then across. I was going with this route instead of what I have seen referred to as the southern route. I was avoiding the southern route due to many posts I have seen saying that the northern route is more scenic and a lot safer and I would also like to avoid going thru New Mexico.

Would anyone be able to confirm that my game plan of using Route 70 during the Summer is the better, more scenic, safer route.

Any other helpful driving tips for this road trip would be appreciated.

Thank you!

wrongfoot

Don't know about safer, but the 70 route is certainly more scenic, especially when you go through Colorado/Utah and then take 15 south thru Arizona. If you have time to stop, some of the most amazing national parks are along that route.

I am also from central NJ... enjoy your trip.

tomfuller

With 2 weeks, I'd see several National Parks off the I-70 route. It's sort of boring until you get to Denver. Plan a night in Glenwood Springs. Take US 191 south to Moab, to see Arches and the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands.
From Moab you can go through Monument Valley to get to the Grand Canyon. See Hoover Dam before getting to Las Vegas.
You can make it from LV to Huntington Beach in a day.

Ackislander

Can't imagine avoiding NM but to each his/her own!

Is this two weeks the drive out or the drive round trip?

Two weeks in a car is a long time for a dog. I hope it is small.

It is going to be hot as hell, and you need to be prepared with water and food for yourselves and the dog in case of a breakdown. Have your mechanic/dealer do a major service, with particular attention to belts, hoses and tires. Any weeping around the water pump? Drips from the transmission? Tears in the CV boots? When we used to do these kinds of trips, my father would take the car out in the boonies and drive it a humdred miles an hour or so. Did it stay on the road when he took his hands off the wheel (momentarily!)? What happens to the breaks when you do two or three hard stops from 75 mph? All go? Have a great time, but take your AAA card.

Spike81162

Thank you so much everyone for your feedback.

By the way - the dog is a 7 pound Toy Poodle. She loves to travel by car as long as we keep her in her soft sided crate. If you take her out of it in the car - she starts barking and whining. In it - she sleeps all the way except for rest stops and food breaks. She has already gone on 2 trips already - to Toronto, Canada and Lake Mary, Florida.

Already planned on having extra food and water in car for ALL of us in case of breakdowns.

Also have the car scheduled for a major once over with new tires, brakes, and fluid changes.

Thanks again.

tracys2cents

I would suggest upgrading to AAA Plus or AAA Select which will offer you a tow for more miles than the 7 that you get with the regular AAA, and will come for you if you are out at a further distance from "civilization".