sfamylou

I'm planning a summer road trip. We'll go from Southern California to my folks in St. Louis, stopping in Lubbock, TX to pay respects to Bobby Knight and Buddy Holly, and Little Rock and Memphis. Then home via New Salem, IL, Cedar Rapids to see an Angels farm team play, Mt. Rushmore and area and Yellowstone. About two or two and a half weeks. What's been interesting to me is all the advice I see and receive about what a bad idea this kind of trip is. Stick to one place and really tour it. Don't spread yourself too thin. But are there any others out there who like to go-go-go and see a lot of stuff? Who like the driving and moving around as much as the actual sites? Or am I truly crazy?

Gretchen

I think you have a nice trip for a nice amount of time. Plus you have reasons for each stop--it's something you want to do and see. I am personally more fond of the Grand Tetons than Yellowstone but you can do a bit of both.

ARKANSASNURSE

Everybody has an opinion. I, personally, like each day planned and time limits to the next stop. We left south Arkansas and drove to Montana via Denver and thru Wyoming. Planned to stop wherever on the trip for one extra day. Broke this up to do things like watch moutain sheep run the hills in WY. We visited Little Big Horn, Mt Rushmore, Devil's Tower and all the sites around Mt. Rushmore. Then drove home thru Minnesota and Iowa. Stopped to visit family in Missouri. All in 9 days. Careful planning allows one to do more. I planned this trip for nearly a year. It was worth it. you can do it. Don't let others discourage you.

rapunzll

I have been quilty of overplanning, and have often found that I have a better time when I leave a fair amount of open time for spur of the moment stuff.

You have specific things that you want to do, and that's fine. But promise yourselves that you can deviate from the schedule if you feel like it. I mean, we're talking travel within our own country, so there's a good chance you can go back and see anything you might miss this time around at a later date.

But when you get down to it, you need to do what works for you. There isn't a one size fits all travel style.

Have fun!

starrsville

I had to learn to stop and smell the roses in one place for several days. The first time I tried it I was vibrating I was so ready to hit the road.

My natural mode of traveling is to go-go-go and see as much as I can see. I have made and then broke camp to get a few more hours in on the road before dark.

I think both type vacations have their merits. Enjoy the road trip and pack it all in!

utahtea

To me getting there is just as much fun as being there!

I love road trips. I love traveling and I love going, going, going. I can rest all I want at home. I want to see new things and explore.

Everyone is different and don't let anyone else put their values on what you like to do!

Utahtea

lmsa_mc

sfamylou,
I always hesitate to post any trip reports or plans on this board because we are go-go people and you take a lot of flack on this board if you don't go one place and stay put.

My husband loves to drive and we both do not like to sit. No sitting on beaches and reading for us. We cover a lot of ground and like it that way.

I think a vacation should be what you and your family enjoy, not an agenda imposed by someone with an entirely different idea.

mom2boys

You aren't crazy. We tend to travel the same way. We are hoping to drive from Maryland to Yellowstone & beyond this summer. Our intended tour includes just over 5000 miles in 2-3 weeks. Must stops are Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, Yellowstone & Craters of the Moon. We hope to include a northern detour which will include ND, WI & MN. We don't anticipate more than 3 nights in any one place. Our ultimiate goal is to hit all 50 states - so far DH & I both have 46. If we can make our northern trek, I will have been to 49 states & DH will have been to 48. Our philosphy is that there are too many places to see in this world to spend a week sitting beside a pool or on a beach at some "resort".

LoveItaly

I was just talking to a friend Friday. She was telling me about the 6 week trip that she and her then husband made by traveling almost the entire US. It sounded fabulous. They really had a wonderful time.

She is now going to fly to Boston with a friend and see the last 3 states she has not been to before. Except I think she forgot about Hawaii and Alaska but not sure.

DonnieD

The key to road trips is comfortable and reliable transportation, a good source of music, a fun travel companion, and a little flexibility in case of unexpected detours. Road trips are as American as you can get.

Jayne1973

We also enjoy the quintessential road trip and have taken several three-weekers over the years. It's amazing what you can see on a trip like that.

The only thing I don't like is when we overshoot on how far we can go in one day and get completely worn out and miserable. However, we often do this on the last day because we are ready to get home. Last year, there were six of us and we wanted to do 700 miles on the last day. We each drove a little more than 100 miles and it went surprisingly well.

Have fun!