A little advice on a first time road trip please - New Orleans to New York
Jun 12th, 2012, 05:36 AM
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A little advice on a first time road trip please - New Orleans to New York
Hi,
We're in the process of planning a road trip for 3 weeks next year in August, and i could use a little advice on how it could be better or if i'm trying to pack too much in. We are heading over from the UK and we know it's going to be sweltering in August, but it's the only time we can take off 3 weeks in the year. I'll give you the break down:-
Day 1 & 2 ARRIVE - New Orleans
Day 3 New Orleans to Lafayette (pick up rental car
Day 4 Lafayette to Natchez
Day 5 Natchez to Vicksburg/Jackson
Day 6 Jackson to Fort Walton Beach
Day 7 Fort Walton Beach to Tallahassee
Day 8 Tallahassee to St. Augustine
Day 9 St. Augustine to Amelia Island
Day 10 Amelia Island to Savannah
Day 11 Savannah to Charleston
Day 12 Charleston to Asheville
Day 13 Asheville to Knoxville (and back)
Day 14 Asheville to Roanoke (Blue Ridge Parkway)
Day 15 Roanoke to Chesapeake Bay
Day 16 & 17 Chesapeake Bay to Washington D.C
Day 18 Washington D.C to Baltimore/Philadelphia
Day 19 & 20 Philadelphia to New York - (drop off rental car)
Day 20 Explore New York
Day 21 SPARE DAY, IN CASE WE FANCY STAYING ON ANYWHERE AN EXTRA DAY
Day 22 FLY HOME
What do you think, am i being totally over ambitious, or is this do-able? Our main objective is to eat as much delicious food as possible (we are total Man v Food addicts), see as much gorgeous scenery as possible (hence the Blue Ridge Parkway - see i've done my research) and meet as many totally eccentric, wonderfully unique people as possible, and to hopefully get ourselves caught up in strange, memorable, funny little non-everyday kinda situations along the way.
I could also use a little advice on the best rental car to go for - i'm thinking cos of the heat a convertible is probably out of the question - No Fear and Loathing for us!!
Massively grateful for all your great advice.
Thanks,
Danielle
We're in the process of planning a road trip for 3 weeks next year in August, and i could use a little advice on how it could be better or if i'm trying to pack too much in. We are heading over from the UK and we know it's going to be sweltering in August, but it's the only time we can take off 3 weeks in the year. I'll give you the break down:-
Day 1 & 2 ARRIVE - New Orleans
Day 3 New Orleans to Lafayette (pick up rental car
Day 4 Lafayette to Natchez
Day 5 Natchez to Vicksburg/Jackson
Day 6 Jackson to Fort Walton Beach
Day 7 Fort Walton Beach to Tallahassee
Day 8 Tallahassee to St. Augustine
Day 9 St. Augustine to Amelia Island
Day 10 Amelia Island to Savannah
Day 11 Savannah to Charleston
Day 12 Charleston to Asheville
Day 13 Asheville to Knoxville (and back)
Day 14 Asheville to Roanoke (Blue Ridge Parkway)
Day 15 Roanoke to Chesapeake Bay
Day 16 & 17 Chesapeake Bay to Washington D.C
Day 18 Washington D.C to Baltimore/Philadelphia
Day 19 & 20 Philadelphia to New York - (drop off rental car)
Day 20 Explore New York
Day 21 SPARE DAY, IN CASE WE FANCY STAYING ON ANYWHERE AN EXTRA DAY
Day 22 FLY HOME
What do you think, am i being totally over ambitious, or is this do-able? Our main objective is to eat as much delicious food as possible (we are total Man v Food addicts), see as much gorgeous scenery as possible (hence the Blue Ridge Parkway - see i've done my research) and meet as many totally eccentric, wonderfully unique people as possible, and to hopefully get ourselves caught up in strange, memorable, funny little non-everyday kinda situations along the way.
I could also use a little advice on the best rental car to go for - i'm thinking cos of the heat a convertible is probably out of the question - No Fear and Loathing for us!!
Massively grateful for all your great advice.
Thanks,
Danielle
Jun 12th, 2012, 05:57 AM
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While I don't think the overall distance isn't doable... the part that gets me is that you are driving every day, sometimes long distances (Charleston to Asheville,Fort Walton to Tallahassee). You are not giving yourself much time to relax and take it all in. Please give yourself an extra day on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and be sure to visit Mt. Mitchell and Grandfather.
Having said that, I wish it was something I was planning for myself. Enjoy!
Having said that, I wish it was something I was planning for myself. Enjoy!
Jun 12th, 2012, 08:08 AM
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Wow, that does seem like a lot of driving! I'd be interested to know your thoughts behind some of the places you've chosen. Are you committed to "doing it all"?
I think I'd recommend cutting off Philly and NYC on this trip, so you can focus on the people, places and food in the south. (Besides, being a New Yorker, I'm not sure giving it only one day does it justice! And the city can be disgustingly hot in August, made worse by the concrete canyons. At least down south you'll be in an area where they know what to do for the heat!!)
As for the rental car, all will have a/c. In addition to seat comfort etc., you probably want one that has a big enough engine to make the driving easier. (My poor car is rather wimpy on the acceleration, and I'll confess that sometimes I have to turn off the a/c to get the most "oomph" uphill-!)
I think I'd recommend cutting off Philly and NYC on this trip, so you can focus on the people, places and food in the south. (Besides, being a New Yorker, I'm not sure giving it only one day does it justice! And the city can be disgustingly hot in August, made worse by the concrete canyons. At least down south you'll be in an area where they know what to do for the heat!!)
As for the rental car, all will have a/c. In addition to seat comfort etc., you probably want one that has a big enough engine to make the driving easier. (My poor car is rather wimpy on the acceleration, and I'll confess that sometimes I have to turn off the a/c to get the most "oomph" uphill-!)
Jun 12th, 2012, 10:04 AM
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This is not a road trip - it's a forced march. You will be driving the whole time and not seeing or doing anythng worthwhile.
You need to cut your destinations by half - to have even one day to see much of anything. And IMHO DC and NYC each desere at least 3 full days (well, really more - but 3 to see anything at all).
At the end of this trip I think you will find yourselves exhausted, poor and miserable - having spend all that time and money and seen nothing.
Believe me, I know how tempting this typeof trip can sound. But it's not. We are veterans of a ton of road trips in Europe - where distances are smaller and highway speeds higher - and we long ago learned to allow 5 nights (4 days) for big cities and 3 nights (2 days) for smaller ones.
I would get a good mapping website and find out the time (not distance, but time) for these days of driving. I thin you may be underestiamting traffic and overestimating how fst you can go (in much of the estern US the speed limit is 55 on highways - not 70 or 80 as in much of europe).
You need to cut your destinations by half - to have even one day to see much of anything. And IMHO DC and NYC each desere at least 3 full days (well, really more - but 3 to see anything at all).
At the end of this trip I think you will find yourselves exhausted, poor and miserable - having spend all that time and money and seen nothing.
Believe me, I know how tempting this typeof trip can sound. But it's not. We are veterans of a ton of road trips in Europe - where distances are smaller and highway speeds higher - and we long ago learned to allow 5 nights (4 days) for big cities and 3 nights (2 days) for smaller ones.
I would get a good mapping website and find out the time (not distance, but time) for these days of driving. I thin you may be underestiamting traffic and overestimating how fst you can go (in much of the estern US the speed limit is 55 on highways - not 70 or 80 as in much of europe).
Jun 12th, 2012, 01:52 PM
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It's doable, but I agree with other that you should cut all the stops after DC and then look at spending a couple of days in some key places. DC is one and Ashville, Smokey Mt. Nat. Park, Blue Ridge Parkway would be the other if I were making the choices. Sounds like a blast either way, but if you trim expectations a bit you might be happier (and less weary) at the end of the trip.
Jun 15th, 2012, 08:28 AM
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Hi Danielle,
I'm afraid I have to agree with my fellow Americans and say that your road trip is a bit too ambitious. I was fortunate to have some Aussies tell me the same when I visited there and was very glad I trimmed my trip accordingly.
Just to throw a wrench into the entire works..any reason why you're choosing to fly into New Orleans and work around the south? In August (as already mentioned), it is going to be disgustingly hot and humid. An alternative might be to fly into Chicago and work your way south. Certainly lots of "foodie" opportunities along the way as well. An absolute must is to make room for more days in DC. It will be VERY hot but it is the best city on your itinerary, in my opinion. And unless you absolutely have to see NYC, I would skip it in August.
If you really love the idea of driving through the south, I'd skip New Orleans and fly into Atlanta directly and start there to trim time off your travels. Enjoy!
I'm afraid I have to agree with my fellow Americans and say that your road trip is a bit too ambitious. I was fortunate to have some Aussies tell me the same when I visited there and was very glad I trimmed my trip accordingly.
Just to throw a wrench into the entire works..any reason why you're choosing to fly into New Orleans and work around the south? In August (as already mentioned), it is going to be disgustingly hot and humid. An alternative might be to fly into Chicago and work your way south. Certainly lots of "foodie" opportunities along the way as well. An absolute must is to make room for more days in DC. It will be VERY hot but it is the best city on your itinerary, in my opinion. And unless you absolutely have to see NYC, I would skip it in August.
If you really love the idea of driving through the south, I'd skip New Orleans and fly into Atlanta directly and start there to trim time off your travels. Enjoy!
Jun 15th, 2012, 09:33 AM
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As food is the first priority you mentioned, I strongly suggest you modify and or cut so you end up with 3 days each in New Orleans and NYC.
When you are traveling up the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, stop in the town of Crisfield, MD for some seafood and a look around.
When you are traveling up the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, stop in the town of Crisfield, MD for some seafood and a look around.
Jun 15th, 2012, 11:13 AM
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Do you have a deal on the rental car without a drop off fee?
My thought would be to fly to and rent the car in New Orleans. See New Orleans for a full day and then head for Florida and Amelia Island. Return to New Orleans by another route and turn in the rental there and then take the Amtrak Crescent from NOL to Washington DC and rent a car there to drive Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive and maybe Knoxville. Turn in the car in Washington and take the train to New York City.
You have a variety of airports to fly back to the UK in the New York/Newark area.
Save the Chesapeake Bay for another trip where you fly to the east coast.
My thought would be to fly to and rent the car in New Orleans. See New Orleans for a full day and then head for Florida and Amelia Island. Return to New Orleans by another route and turn in the rental there and then take the Amtrak Crescent from NOL to Washington DC and rent a car there to drive Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive and maybe Knoxville. Turn in the car in Washington and take the train to New York City.
You have a variety of airports to fly back to the UK in the New York/Newark area.
Save the Chesapeake Bay for another trip where you fly to the east coast.
Jun 23rd, 2012, 11:51 AM
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You have way too many one night stops in your trip plans. Spend two nights or more in NOLA. Skip Lafayette. If you are going to the FL coast I would skip Natchez and Vicksburg. Spend 2/3 days on the beach. Skip Tallahassee. Drive from FWB to St. Augustine for lunch and skip staying there. Spend a couple of days at Amelia Island. Head N to Savannah and Charleston for 4/5 days. Skip Asheville and Knoxville. Head N to DC and Philadephia for 4/5 nights. Then head to NYC. You should be able to spend 21 days and not drive all the time.
