Cameron_Albert

I am going to be traveling with my girlfriend from southern California, Inland Empire, to Richmond, Virginia during the second week in August. We have just under a week to get across and we're taking the I-40 route across. We're taking a brand new sedan so we're not too worried about car issues but we are limited to what we can bring since she is moving out there to go to school.

What I am looking for is some useful advice, information, or tips for taking this route or some great destinations along the way. We're both totally up for little kitschy things like the world's largest ball of yarn. The one place we both agree we have to stop at is the Grand Canyon.

Any help would be great! Thanks so much.

sf7307

I guess you won't be going through Elko, NV? If you were, you could see the "Worlds Largest Dead Polar Bear". I'm not really sure where Elko is though.

Placename

As you will need to drive about 400 miles each and every day, your scenic stops are going to be gas station bathrooms and motels.

tomfuller

Sorry but Elko is on I-80 in northern Nevada.
Decide if you want to travel I-40 or I-15 to I-70 from Barstow. Decide if you want to go to the North Rim or South Rim of the GC. The largest hot spring fed swimming pool in the US is in Glenwood Springs Colorado (on I-70).
Anything you want to see in Las Vegas?

utahtea

I-40 is great for kitschy things because you can find a lot of the old historic Route 66 between California and Oklahoma City! http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2489/travel.html

Oatman, Arizona is a little detour but you really get a feel for the old route 66 here.

Kingman, AZ has a great Route 66 Museum

Stop in Seligman, AZ to see Elvis's Pink Cadillac.

Walnut Canyon National Monument also just east of Flagstaff, AZ http://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm

Meteor Crater east of Flagstaff, AZ http://www.meteorcrater.com/

Standin' on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona from the Eagles song. http://www.standinonthecorner.com/

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Parks in eastern Arizona. From Holbrook take Hwy 180 to the park entrance and then take the scenic drive back up to I-40. http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

Petroglyphs National Monument just west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. http://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, Texas. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2220

Utahtea

janisj

Utahtea has given you great advice/suggestions for the I-40 route. As Placename mentioned, you will be moving pretty full on . . .