chadmcclung

My wife and I are just under forty and our two daughters are 12 and 15. Together we are planning a two week road trip across the US from Parkersburg, WV (our home) to San Francisco, CA and back. Along the way, we want to see the main highlights - The Gateway Arch, The Grand Canyon, Vegas, Golden Gate Bridge, Bad Lands, etc. We prefer national parks and history and art museums over amusements parks and chain places.

Our goal is to maximize the sites and fun on a tight budget and in only two weeks. (That's the most time I could get off work in one shot.)

We are planning on staying in a hotel/motel every night, utilizing where possible, credit card, hotel, and travel points.

We've never done anything like this before and are looking for tips, pointers, advice - anything you can offer. Wether it's general travel/packing/planning advice, or cool places to visit in your favorite state, I'm interested.

Thank you in advance.

starrs

That's 2500 miles and 36 hours of driving, one way.
500 miles a day is a lot for more than a couple of days in a row.

If you drove 500 miles/ 7 hours a day, you will get "there" in 5 days.
Then turn around and come back.
That's 10 days of grueling driving for 4 days of enjoying a place.

Why not cut the trip in half and enjoy more than just riding in a car?

Even if you just drove to the Grand Canyon, you'll have 2000 miles to get there = 4 days of driving each way = 8 days total. That leaves 6 days to actually enjoy things along the way.

Gretchen

Starrs, fortunately or unfortunately, lays it out in real miles and time.
Leave out Vegas and the Badlands for a starter.
We took our kids on a 6 week tour of the west and drove it because it can be very revelatory to you just how LARGE the US is.
San Francisco and its environs are much more than a "city by the BAy". Yosemite is nearby, and a crown jewel of the world's national parks.
You could go to SF and back and to Yosemite and see the Sequoias, to John Muir and see redwoods by the sea. On the way you'll see the Arch--or on the return.
Through Missouri and Kansas you can do a LOT of miles.
Your kids will have the benefit of DVDs, etc. to pass the pretty boring miles.
I think you need to think in terms of a very pared down itinerary, but enjoy it.
You could drive to Colorado/Denver, head south to go to Mesa Verde, also a world treasure IMO, on to the Grand Canyon. Return via a slightly different route--take a look at a map and look for alternatives.
The American West is a wonderful and unique place. Enjoy, but stop long enough to really enjoy it.

emalloy

Do listen to Starrs and Gretchen, I'm in the just go as far as Grand Canyon on this trip camp.

I would suggest you pick a different route going than coming home. Perhaps on the way out I-70 to visit the St. Louis Arch and then through Colorado, five through RMNP on Trail Ridge road then drop down to Mesa Verde and then down into New Mexico and pick up I-40 to visit Accoma Pueble, Petrified Forest/Painted desert, etc. on the way to Grand Canyon.

On the way back maybe head for Kentucky and visit Mammoth Cave.

Have a wonderful trip.

edjim

We did similar trips from the Washington D.C. area, (camping) but we had three weeks each time and we did not go coast to coast. One trip ended in Yellowstone and the other ended at the Grand Canyon. If there is any way you can get a third week or a couple of extra days, do it. We needed the three weeks or we would not have seen anything. At the least, leave California for another journey.

Inakauaidavidababy

Thats a lot of mileage to be stuck in the back seat debating whether to call child services or not. Rent National Lampoons Vacation and reconsider.

nytraveler

That is a very long distance - esp with tweens/teens trapped in a car for so many hours every day.

My parents did a lot of road trips after they retired and my father LOVED to drive but they always took 4 or 5 weeks to do the trip - and each trip went a different route and to a different part of the country - you just can;t cover everything in two weeks.

And I would get your kids involved NOW on what they want to see or you might have a rebellion - or massive sulks by day 3 or 4.

janisj

That would be one hellacious drive. Your kids will hate traveling by the time you get home (and probably hate their parents too )

Do a manageable trip . . . To Colorado, or to the Grand Canyon, or to maybe Yellowstone, and actually see/ do things and not just veg out in the car 8 to 10 hours a day. Skip Vegas for sure and you don't have time for California.

utahtea

I agree with all the posters before me. That's to many miles in to little time. Do your children a favor and cut down the trip....ALOT!

A shorter version and still a little long in my book would be one of these two choices of approx 4000 miles each:

Gateway arch, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore and Badlands.

OR

Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Arches & Canyonlands National Parks near Moab, UT and possible the Rocky Mountains.

Either way, time is not going to be on your side. You will still have about 7 days of just driving so that leaves you just 7 days to explore. We NEVER went on a trip of over 4000 miles unless we had 4 or 5 weeks.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Utahtea

Ozarksbill

I'm one of those remembering back to family travel with three kids. And issues have been raised...geographical as to distances and also generational as to how long can anyone endure a day on the road. So keeping the 12 and 15 year olds happy is one thing but remember you adults are going to be worn out sitting in one place (and maybe crabby too). Yes, you can find some stop off places which helps but slows you down. And yes, we sure did have those travel games in that day long before video games and tablets.

So reevaluate distances, e.g., Badlands and Grand Canyon are so far apart. Oh yes, most important, what do your offspring want to see and do...are they with "the program?" In fact, let them map out the route! Too often one adult loves to plan while others may be a bit passive.

Year ago we traveled from Illinois to various destinations, one time to Seattle and back (for a convention) but more often shorter destinations such as touring Michigan or Black Hills or Colorado. Fodorites have suggested scenic places. But I do encourage your family to share in travel planning...we have good memories ourselves.

gail

I have (not fond) memories of driving across MidWest farmlands as a young teenager. While some of the western sites are interesting, that was a lot of corn and wheat to see as a kid.

If it were me, I would cut the trip short (to save some money) to perhaps 10 days and fly to the cheapest and most western airport you can find, rent a car, and start from there. There are places you can fly from DCA or IAD to almost the west coast for just over $300 RT.

elizzie4000

I hate to pile on but, I agree. Too far with too little time. This sounds like a recipe for a car full of people not speaking to each other after the first couple of days.

You need to factor in downtime to look around and enjoy where you stop. Otherwise, you are just driving from A to B. Driving, stopping, checking into hotel, eating dinner and going to bed. Then in the morning get up, eat breakfast, check out, get in the car and drive from B to C and repeat. Stop, check in, eat, sleep. Get up, eat, check out and leave.

Where's the time to relax and sightsee?

starrs

Here's a routing. It's not "the best" routing or "the best" places to go, but an idea of what you're looking at with times in the car and time to play.

Day 1 - drive to St. Louis
527 miles and 8 hours
Day 2 - do the Arch and drive to Hays KS
514 miles and 7+ hours (Hays is a good place to stop for the night)
Day 3 - on to Denver (or Rocky Mountain NP or Colorado Springs, et)
338 miles - under 5 hours
Days 4&5 - enjoy the mountains of Colorado
Day 6 - 157 miles and 2.5 hours to Glenwood Springs
http://www.hotspringspool.com/
Day 7 - go to Arches NP
194 miles, 2:44 hours
Day 8 - drive through Monument Valley
151 miles, 2:5 hours
Day 9 - drive to the Grand Canyon -
152 miles, 2.5 hours
Day 10 - Grand Canyon
Day 11 - drive to Santa Fe -
451 miles, 6:50 hours
Day 12 - enjoy Santa Fe area
Day 13 - hellacious drive home -
872 miles, 12 hours to Little Rock, AR
Day 14 - finish drive
783 miles, 11:44 miles to home

That includes 2 days of "not too bad" drive days out
Several days enjoying where you are, with days of short driving
A long day of driving but a day to enjoy
2 really hard days of driving to get home

You could do something similar but further north and do Yellowstone/Grand Tetons

But I HIGHLY recommend mixing it up. No more than 2 "hard" days of driving at a time. Short drives in between with PLENTY of time to do stuff. Mix up NO drive days to enjoy the vacation.

There are other options in the area to sub out. This is just a routing to give you an idea of what that kind of mileage can look like.

starrs

Easy camping idea - KOA Camping Cabins -
Are little cabins with one bed and 2 bunks. You bring in your sleeping bags/linens and that's about it to set up camp. They have heat/ac as needed. A little front porch with swing. Picnic table out front with grill and campfire area. Swimming pool. Some have pancake breakfasts, etc. The camping cabins do not have bathrooms - you use the comfort station/showers the campers use.

The Deluxe Cabins do have their own bathrooms, but a moderate hotel room would probably be about the same price.

We loved the camping cabins on road trips with the kids. And each camper was in charge of a meal and decided on the menu, etc. As someone suggested above, it's good to give the kids guidebooks and let them pick something they want to see/do.

Please don't get in the car and drive to the coast and back in two weeks. Take time to enjoy the vacation along the way.

chadmcclung

Thanks to everyone for the great responses. There is a lot of info in here to digest. We'll take a look and try to plan accordingly. I'll keep ya posted.