lynnss1

Parents and 2 preteens planning a 4 week loop trip from SE PA, to NM, AZ NV, CA, OR. WY, SD, WI. Have 7 days to get to Phoenix for a ballgame with friends, 2 more to make reservations at the North Rim. Then one day/nite at Hoover Dam. On to Sequoia, across central CA, up the coast, then to Crater Lake for a day or 2. Will spend 3 nites in a cabin in Cody WY (once I can figure a reasonable amount of time to get us there) Then head home through Badlands, WI, etc. Realize it's a lot, don't mind hard driving days to get us west of the Mississippi (through St Louis maybe?) Will camp in state and national parks whenever possible, but need to get cracking on reservations soon. Any and all comments (where to go, what to see/avoid) most welcome! Thanks

utahtea

I used Pittsburg, PA as a starting/ending point for my calculations. I came up with at least 6,700 miles. It works out to be 10 days of just driving 12 hours per day. IMHO, that's WAY to many miles and points of destination you want to do, for so short a time. I would really consider cutting out California & Oregon and go from the Grand Canyon up to Cody and make it a more leisurely trip.

Why 7 days to get to Phoenix? From PA to Phoenix it's 2100 miles. If you could do that stretch of the drive in a shorter period of time, you could probably fit the rest of your destinations in.

Other notes: Why Cody, WY? If you plan to see Yellowstone it's 80 miles from Cody to the first point of interest (being the Lake) in Yellowstone over a road that is constantly under construction. Plan on spending 1 1/2 hours one way to get to the park. If you can't get lodging in the park then I suggest W. Yellowstone.

You don't mention how much of the Coast you want to drive in California or where. The very northern part is VERY slow driving!

Utahtea

ellen_griswold

Wow, you're in for the time of your life! We did eight (8) cross-country trips out-west of approx. 3 weeks each, the longest just under 4 weeks. We logged between 6,000 - 8,000 miles each summer. And we still haven't seen everything! (altho close!)

So yes, it can be done. Having said that, it took us 8 years to see it all, even with short stays in each place. For example, we've been to yellowstone 3 times, with 4 nights as the longest stay. Nat'l Parks such as Glacier/Waterton NP, Sequoia NP, Redwoods NP, we'd spend about 2- 3 nights each, Saquarro Nat'l Park, Organ Pipe Nat'l Park, Mt. Rainier, Crater Lake, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, Badlands/ Mt.Rushmore, Mesa Verde, ususally 2 nights each. Bryce and Zion are faves and we've been there many times, but usually only 2 nights each. Same with the Grand Canyon. In major cities such as Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego we'd spend about 3-4 nights each visit, and usually 3-5 nights in the LA area, MANY times (not counting Disnyland!!). Cities such as Santa Fe, St. Louis, Denver, Vail - Glenwood Springs areas, Col Springs, Phoenix, usually only 2 - 3 nights in each area.... One summer we worked our way down to Texas seeing things, spending a total of 3 weeks when we added Albuquerque, Taos, Tucson areas (and Tombstone, don't bother!). I know i'm forgetting LOTS and LOTS of places - i'll get out my travel journals

In other words, our philosophy was to see as much as we could each trip (nat'l parks, major cities, major league ballparks, presidential libraries), but usually for only a short stay in each. We never had just ONE major destination, like "we're heading to Wallyworld or the grand canyon" ; Then the following years we'd explore more new areas and also return to areas we wanted to further explore.

It worked GREAT for us and i'd do it again the same way if i could. So yes, you can do it but IMO, you can't do it all in 4 weeks. I would love to help you plan in more detail, and there are many others here who also have great experiences to share. Give us more details of your interests. Also be sure you do a search under "Trip Report" for an amazing assortment of experiences!

You'll have a great time planning!

GoTravel

lynn, please schedule time right after trip for breakdown you are sure to have LOL!

With a marathon trip like that, just go into it knowing that at times it will be exhausting.

Syv

I agree with utahtea about why 7 days to Phoenix. With 12-hour driving days, you could probably get there in 3-4 days.

Perhaps you can go to Grand Canyon (south rim) enroute BEFORE Phoenix ??

I've done crazy driving trips like this too --- will look up a few details and look into your route further for more suggestions.

Of course - I didn't do all this driving with two pre-teens. Are they good at sitting in the car for a long,long time? Do you have one of those little televisions for videos in the car/van?

Syv

also - WHEN are you making this trip?

Reservations will be a BIG problem in some areas already if this summer.

lynnss1

Thanks for the insight. Here are answers to your ?s We're taking the whole moth of August. Why 7 days to get to Phoenix? We want a few days camping in NM before we hook up with friends for a Friday night ballgame in Phoenix. Have reservations at the North Rim because it's much less crowded and more beautiful than the south rim. Want to see the Hoover Dam because it's there. Want the kids to see the giant sequoias, redwoods and the Pacific Ocean because they are awesome Figure on cutting across CA near Sacramento. We have friends to visit near Crater Lake, and chose Cody WY because there is a ranch there that offers a reasonable 3-day package. It's actually 1/2 way between Cody and Yellowstone. Yes. we have a DVD player in the mini-van and the kids do well in the car. Yes, we do think we're crazy for doing this big of a trip, but it will be a once in a lifetime thing... before the kids get too big and busy! With insight from you folks, maybe we can wittle it down to a manageable craziness! Thanks and keep those ideas coming!

utahtea

OK, I can understand trip of a lifetime before the kids get to old kind of trip. The whole month of August does help too. It sounds like you know what you are getting yourself into.

Where in New Mexico were you thinking of? Carlsbad Caverns National Park would be a neat experience but there is no camping in the park. Or in the opposite direction I would suggest Mesa Verde National Park in SW Colorado, which has a nice campground. It never fills up so I wouldn't worry about getting in. They also have showers there.

When you drive from the N. Rim to Hoover Dam, take the route thought Zion National Park. Maybe get out and stretch your legs on a short hike.

Camping in the Badlands National Park, SD is pretty desolate. You feel like you're camping on the moon. It is first come first serve. Custer State Park is also another good choice for camping and you can make reservations there.

Also, get a National Park Pass for $50. It will save you a lot of money!

Please come back and give us a trip report!

Utahtea

Syv

I second Carlsbad NP, NM. Also Custer State Park, SD.

Boy, I envy you. Would love to be able to take 4 weeks at once. You are going to some of my favourite places. The kids will love this trip. Happy planning!

Gardyloo

Well I had a long windy (as in blow, not twist) post drafted, then life interceded and in the meantime you addressed many of the questions I had raised. I've still got a couple, though. Let the wind blow...

HOT! Damned hot! I fear you may find your time in NM, AZ and Vegas, and also very much at Sequoia, is spent in the car or indoors way more than you or the kids want, because the combination of August, desert, altitude (think SPF infinity sunblock), national park parking lots and traffic queues, will send you there. Okay, you know it's the desert southwest in the hottest time of the year, so you can say I know, I know... Just don't be like a bunch of Brits I know and decide to throw in Death Valley while you're in the neighborhood.

Or maybe this is all some yin and yang thing and you're huge sauna fans, only so you can go jump in the snow. In this case, the Pacific coast.

Frankly, as a kid who was taken, and as a parent who took, I can only say that Sequoia NP had limited appeal for those too young to read Ken Kesey. Yes, the Sequoias in SNP are bigger around than the coastal Redwoods up north, but the distinction is lost on many young people, and the price you pay is hours of really boring (IMO again) driving to get there. I would seriously cutting out that national park and reallocate the time to something on the coast. If you don't need to detour through the valley to get to Sequoia/Kings Canyon, you can beeline it to the beach, cool off, then maybe head up the California coast via Monterey, where one of America's great aquariums (okay, aquaria) is located. Stop en route at Point Lobos State Park where the kids can see the sea lions doing their noisy thing. Then save up your tree ogling for the north coast Redwoods, the groves of which are plenty worthy of extra ogling.

Having friends near Crater Lake justifies going there I suppose. I personally don't think the view is worth the effort, but friends changes the picture. Or perhaps they could rendezvous with you at some nice motel with a pool (necessary in August because southern Oregon has temperatures not too different from Phoenix) in Ashland. Throw some Shakespeare in for the kids so they don't grow up thinking everybody out here in the west eats varmint and caint spel.

Here's my suggested route back: north through Oregon to I-84. Don't miss the Columbia Gorge - see the windsurfers at Hood River, waterfalls along the "historic highway" near Bonneville, monster sturgeon and salmon at the Bonneville Dam hatchery (baby Godzillas); then hit the Maryhill museum just west of US 97 near Goldendale, WA, then continue up that road to the junction of I-90. Take I-90 home. It's convenient to Yellowstone, Cody (ugh), Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood (see Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's side-by-side graves), the Badlands NP (one of the very best IMO), the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD (you have to throw some weirdness into the trip) then on to Chicago where they may actually have a contending baseball team in late August. Sure.

Anyway, that's this blow blown. Happy planning.

xxx16

I predict a visit with Dr Phil will be necessary after a 4 week family road trip. I'm curious to know how much of your travel budget will be spent on gasoline. Please post a trip report with an approximate gas expense.

utahtea

To: xxx16

Our family of 4, took 8 road trip vacations that were 4 weeks and 2 road trip vacations that were 37 days long.

We didn't need to see Dr. Phil, in fact we looked forward to our road trip vacations each year. The other years we only took 3 week trips....only because we didn't have enought vacation time built up in those early years.

When we did long vacations like lynnss1 is doing we were gone 37 days.

Utahtea

ARKANSASNURSE

As a child, my brother and I were "forced" into these mega trips. Now as adults, we cherish these memories and understand that DAD was trying to show us the world. My kids got hauled all over the country too. Now my eldest, married with kids of his own, but not yet able to handle this kind of trip gets teary eyed when we head out. Start now and ask the kids what they want to see, have them watch Nat'l Geographic DVD's of the areas you plan to see. Give em each a video camera and they can record memories they want to keep.
Now recommendations: If you plan to visit Carlsbad, NM travel on to Roswell, visit the UFO museum, and eat alien tacos (they're green). In S Dakota, while near Badlands visit Wall Drug, I liked it. SW SDakota has Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Byway, Bear Country. While here go to the chuckwagon dinner on the Dances with Wolves set, travel on into WY and see Devils Tower, then into Montana to see Little Big Horn Battlefield.
This is basically our last year's major trip in reverse.
My next goal: Alcatraz and driving over the Golden Gate. PLEASE post a trip report. Good luck and have a safe trip!

Jayne1973

The kids would probably love Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico -- just make sure you plan enough down time there to take the tour. Check with the rangers about the evening bat flight out of the mouth of the cave -- can be awesome but it may vary depending on the season. They would probably also like Roswell, as suggested. You can easily make that a quick pit stop and go on. Be aware that the drive between Roswell and I-40 towards Arizona is pretty desolate. There are a couple of places to stop and stretch, get gas or a snack in Vaughn. Caution: Clines Corners mega tourist trip on I-40 can be a big time sucker. You may not be able to pass it up, but be warned. They do have a good selection of Minnetonka shoes that are worth checking out if you can't resist stopping. However, DO NOT EAT THERE! Trust me on this one.


If you are going a more northern NM route, camping at Bandalier National Monument (Between Santa Fe and Taos) might be awesome. There are some good cave dwellings for the kids to explore, too.
If you drive through Santa Fe on the way to Interstate 40 from the north, take at least a little time to drive into town, park the car, and stroll around the beautiful historic Plaza, where the Native Americans are always selling their handemade jewelry and artwork.
I also agree with other posters' recommendations for Custer State Park in South Dakota.
*We love family road trips and have taken mostly three-weekers. When my middle daughter graduated from high school, she wrote us a thank-you letter and one of the things she was most grateful for was those trips. She's now almost 20 and still wants to take a road trip with us every year.

illusion321

How about this one, and amd my boyfriend were thinking about doing the cross country thing from centeral pa, and back again. We were thinking baout heading up north, see the rock and roll hall of fame, then we want to check out mount rushmore, the mall of america and head to scaramento (to see family), then LA and Sanfransico. Then we want to ago to Az (to visit a friend,Vegas New Orleans, and finially destin fla to visit some more family. Is 3 weeks long enought to do this if we stop every night to sleep adn maybe spent 2 nights in some places? What type of budget should i look for? We already know we will have about 1,000 for the rental.
thanks

rkkwan

illusion - 3 weeks is more than enough for the trip, as long as you don't stop for too long at each place. You can definitely sleep at a hotel/motel each night.

Your trip will be head NW to Cleveland, then along I-90/94 to Minneapolis, then head WSW to Mount Rushmore (via some smaller roads). Then head down to I-80 and across to Sacramento and San Francisco. Go south to LA, east to Vegas, then across AZ, NM, TX to New Orleans, and finally Destin, FL.

From home to San Fran will take you about 4-5 days of driving, leisurely. Then 2 days to head down to LA. And another 4-5 to FL. 2 days to get home. So, that's only 2 weeks of actual driving time.

Motels in most of the US are about $50-60 a night. A lot more if you need to stay at a hotel in San Francisco. Food prices is about the same all over the country. Gas price is about $1.80 across the plains, but over $2 in California. Check the total mileage of your trip (via Mapquest), and find out the fuel economy of the rental car you're going to get.

Not difficult to figure out how much you need to budget for this trip.

illusion321

Because me and my boyfriend are fairly young (24) we want to stay at hostels as mush as we can, can you reccommend any good one

rkkwan

There are few hostels outside the big cities in the US, unlike in Europe. And with hostels in the bigger cities, it'll be a problem getting/finding parking.

The cheapest places to stay are no-name motels that are not part of a chain. They can usually be found on the older highways leading into town, and NOT along the interstates. Expect to pay ~$25-30 for a room. The main problem with these types of places is the safety of your vehicle. They are often in poor areas, and your rental car with a out-of-state license is a magnet for thieves.

illusion321

we were also thinking about renting a truck with a cab and sleeping in the back, do you think cops would give us a hard time if we did this?

rkkwan

You don't want to sleep at rest areas. That's totally unsafe. However, it's very safe and totally okay to sleep at truck stops. That's where I slept for 2.5 years.

Check out the locations of the big ones, like "Flying J", "Petro", "TravelCenters of America" (i.e. TA), and park there overnight.

Or go to campsites for RVs, though those you have to pay.