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Hey everyone, I am finishing a part time job I have in the spring/early summer and starting my full time job at the end of the summer, and in that period of time I want to do a road trip around the country, but am hoping for some input on the feasibility and hearing some recommendations.

My job will finish in up-state New York and I plan on going up to Maine to start then making my way down the coast until DC to start the trip. Below I've listed the places I am considering stopping but wondering if there are places on this general route people think are too good to miss out on.

I am planning to do this in approximately 5 weeks, with the obvious drawback being that I never spend more than a day and a half at any one place, but I don't anticipate having many opportunities to do this sort of around the country trip in the future so I think I am willing to sacrifice diving deep into each place in order to be able to complete this and see all of these places.

There are portions of this trip I may be by myself but for the most part, assume I will be with one or two other people (which makes the 8-10 hour driving days more realistic). Also worth noting that I am very well traveled in the midwest, so not a priority area for me.

Acadia, ME
Boston, MA
Washington, DC
Smoky Mountains (Pigeon Forge)
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
Houston, TX
Big Bend, TX
White Sands/Santa Fe, NM
Arches, UT
Grand Canyon (North Rim), AZ
Zion, UT
Kings Canyon, CA (avoiding Yosemite b/c of crowds)
San Francisco, CA
Crater Lake, OR
Olympic, WA
Glacier, MT
Yellowstone, WY
Badlands, SD
Minneapolis (end of trip)

tomfuller

Is this with a rental car or your own car in good shape?

Rich

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico

142146

@tomfuller Own car, has 65k miles on it but in good shape. I'd imagine a rental car would be a lot for this right?

tomfuller

Are you considering buying a newer car with less miles when you get the last paycheck?
Covering all the places listed will be at least 10K miles.
Will you be living in MN at the end of your trip?
Good luck on your adventure.

dwdvagamundo

I don't think 65k miles on a contemporary car is too much for this kind of trip.

Looks like a good but rushed itinerary. We've done all of that but on some separate trips and it has taken well in excess of three months altogether.

I'd add a stop in Memphis since you're going that way, or else take the Natchez Trace Parkway between Nashville and Natchez, MS, then down the river from there to NOLA.

San Antonio and Austin while you're in Texas. SA is much nicer than Houston, IMO.

If you go to Crater Lake, I'd also go to Mount Ste. Helens, where you can see the startling effects of a volcanic eruption. Very memorable and unique site.

But I'd also consider going up the Pacific Coast to Olympic National Park rather than swinging back inland. Lots of very neat beaches in Oregon and Washington.

Sounds like a fun road trip. Have fun and drive safely.

suze

As long as you don't mind long driving days you mentioned (8-10 hours) for much of your trip, there's no reason you can't do what you describe.

I'm not sure I understand the comment about 65k being too many miles. That seems OK for your a car you own & know.

I do agree with the suggestion above to add a bit more of the California/Oregon/Washington coast and western parts of the states. It's a really beautiful part of the country that you are mostly skipping right over.

nytraveler

65K miles is noting for a decent care. I have always keep mine for 100K or so before trading in - and never had to do repairs on them (just battery, brakes and tires). Naturally the OP should have the car examined by a mechanic before heading out and be sure there has been a recent oil change and all fluids are good. But that is not even middle aged for a car. (My SIL is just now replacing her Accord with more than 280K miles on it - because it will need some work and it doesn't make sense to invest it.)

Wonder why you don;t list NYC unless you have already seen a lot here.

My only concern is how many miles you would rive alone. We have done quite a few road trips - with 2 drivers - and try never to do more than 4 or 5 hours per day - so we aren't rushed and have time to actually do some sightseeing.

emalloy

How much time do you plan to spend in each of your stops? Will you do a drive through in the cities or stop and visit the sights there?

While you are in the Arches area, spend at least a half a day in Canyonlands too. Stop in at Bryce Canyon on the way to Zion. I also agree that Carlsbad Caverns would make a nice stop in southern New Mexico.

Get a good set of maps as some of the areas you will be in have no service.

142146

In response to more time on the northwest coast: I am planning on crater lake and Olympic national park, other than mte st Helen are there other places I should add or just add time to each of those?

NYC not on because I have been twice in past year.

Thanks for recommendation about Carlsbad Caverns, looks really interesting. The longest portion of driving I have at the moment is from Olympic national park to Glacier. Any recommendations on a good stopping point between the two that is relatively on the way?

tomfuller

Leaving Crater Lake NP (north entrance) head west on Rt. 138 down the Umpqua River to Roseburg. Go north on I-5 and then west on 138 to Elkton and 38 west to Reedsport.
About 5 miles east of Reedsport, stop at the Dean's Creek elk viewing area. Take US 101 all the way up through Astoria into Washington.
Are you spending any time in Seattle before heading to Glacier NP? Do you have any desire to see Mt. Rainier NP?
There is a beautiful lake to visit near Coeur 'd Alene ID on the way to Glacier.

suze

<crater lake and Olympic national park, other than mte st Helen>

Maybe include the Oregon coast and Mt Rainier?

Michael

I've always wanted to go to Big Bend but the 130mi. RT from the nearest east-west highway meant that it would have to be for a stay of a few days at a minimum. Your recognition that one day or a day and a half represents your stops suggests to me that it might be better to skip Big Bend.

Michael

I strongly recommend Mesa Verde. Even in half a day one can take a tour of one of the ruins and get a sense of the place.

You might be interested in my trip report from last summer that covered Arches, Canyonlands and other places close to the 4 corners area; click on my name to find it.

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@nikkennung Do you mean that I should plan on being prohibited from traveling on some days? I have realized that likely at least one (and unfortunately probably two/three of these parks) may be closed with wildfire, etc. but not sure I get what your concern over travel days is, please elaborate. Thanks

obxgirl

nikkennung is a spam poster advertising (I'm guessing from the website he/she names) university essays for sale. I would ignore the post.

142146

^Appreciate that.

To those who have been helpful so far (as well as those who are seeing this for first time), am now wondering about an earlier part of my trip. I am currently planning on only an afternoon (from 3pm on) and a morning (leaving at 2) in the GSM but then allowing myself the rest of that day and the next in Nashville before leaving the following morning. Wondering if people think it would make more sense to use that full day in the smoky mountains.

Thanks