Long Distance Car Trip
 

Anyone know of good websites for long distance car trip planning?

I am thinking of perhaps driving cross country, or at least through a few states and would like a website that can help me to navigate which roads to take, as well as possible suggestions for lodging and roadside food.

Google Maps will do all of that. You can type in "Chicago, IL restaurants" and get suggestions for the area. Once you know your destinations and general route, you'll be able to ask for restaurants, etc. here or from other sources.

Doesnt AAA have that service?

This is a good site for scenic byways:

http://www.byways.org/

Order a free brochure form them:

http://www.byways.org/map_request.html

My favorite is freetrip.com which will give mileage to go and miles driven, the amount of time required to drive and time driven, and hotels of your choice from start to finish in your price range.

Once you have your main route planned, you can work out your side trips the same way. 

wow! so much good information. thank you everyone. I am going to check out the sites you mentioned.

Because I'd want paper maps for the car trip I'd probably go the old-fashioned way & get a "Trip-Tik" from AAA, and their guidebook for lodging and roadside food.

Suze, thank you for the recommendation. I looked at the trip tik online and I can just print out the various places I want to go. Now all I need to do is get a friend to go with me, and voila!

Have a look at Jamie Jensen's book Road Trip USA - full of great long distance drives on 2 lane blacktop where possible.