MD to AZ
 

Me and a friend are planning a 9 day trip from Baltimore, MD to AZ and back. She doesn't think that we can do it with just the two of us, but I think that we could. Is there any advice that anyone can give me? Can we make it there and back in 9 days with two drivers? Is this not an ideal time for this trip?

>Is this not an ideal time for this trip?Is this not an ideal time for this trip?<

No idea, you don't say when you are going.

>Can we make it there and back in 9 days with two drivers?<

DH and I once did a drive between San Francisco and Columbus, OH - a similar distance. It was 3 days non-stop driving, no sleeping, each way. We had to turn around and come back a few days later. I had driving nightmares for a long time afterwards.

So - it's probably physically possible, but grueling. It was pure misery for us.

The question for you is - why would you?

Does it have to be done with one of your own vehicles?
Would you consider taking the Capitol Limited to Chicago and the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Albuquerque? Rent a car in Albuquerque to see whichever parts of Arizona and New Mexico you want to see.
Either fly back from ABQ or take the train back to Chicago and fly home from there.
Some parts of AZ can be quite warm while other parts (like Flagstaff) can have snow.

It's 2264 to Scottsdale. I don't like to drive more than 500 miles a day. That's 4.5 days there and 4.5 days driving back. So "yes" it's possible to do it but why in the world would you want to drive that much and not have time there?

sudlick: >>>Is this not an ideal time for this trip?Is this not an ideal time for this trip?<

No idea, you don't say when you are going.<<

I <i>think</i> The OP was asking about 'duration' time, not 'season-of-year' time.

Tori_Woodard: Why do you want to do this? Do you have to get to Arizona on a specific date? If this is a vacation -- it is a horrible idea. If you are just being a courier and delivering something - take two friends and rotate the driving between the three of you . . . then it is 'possible'.

But to see things/do things/sightsee -- no, 9 days is NOT and 'ideal' time for this drive - you'd want 2.5 or 3 weeks minimum . . . if it is a vacation.

You don't mention if there is a purpose to this trip but if it is just to see the USA...then I'd say leave me HOME!

Yes you can make it but why would you want to? You are looking at constantly being in the car for 9 straight day.

I think the reason for asking when they planned this trip is because in the winter you could have weather delays with snow.

Utahtea

>> . . .because in the winter you could have weather delays with snow.<<

That's a given, but I just got the sense the OP was asking whether this could be done in 9 days - not about the winter driving. But we really don't know til s/he comes back and clarifies.

IF the question is whether this is a good time of year for this -- NO. If the question is whether 9 days is enough -- NO.

We are going in mid-march. It is a vacation but we are trying to be "loose" about plans. We want to be somewhere warm and I've never been west, so that was the point. I do want to take time to visit places and if this length of time isn't ideal, then we may find something else.

>>if this length of time isn't ideal, then we may find something else.<<

. . . Find something else . . . Or better yet, FLY to the southwest. If you fly out and rent a car you have time for a nice holiday.

It is 2,187 miles one way
You want to 'see the west', but most of your driving is in the east and central US.
Very small percent in the West (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, New Mexico)

Amarillo, Tx. to Flagstaff is 608 miles
And that is on an Interstate where very little is to be seen (been there done that)

Confused
Agree with above: Fly to the 'west' and then rent a car.

Vaga

Do the math. Going to AZ and back will probably cost $600 in gas without doing any side trips to see things. You could probably find flights from one of the nearby airports - Baltimore, Dulles, Phili, to one of the places "out west" - Las Vegas, Phoenix, Albuquerque, ets -for two people that comes close to that. You will need to check Southwest, Jet Blue and one of the travel sites like Travelocity or Kayak and use one of the functions like "finding low fares" on Southwest, to pick flights.

Sometimes you can get a package with lodging and/or a car too.

Instead of doing 9 days of driving through the middle of the country you could do 5 to 7 days "out west" for about the same cost as driving and not being there.

Thanks Everyone. I am an inexperienced traveler, so I really appreciate this. Flying anywhere is not an option, this is specifically a road trip. We may just go visit through the south and plan a different trip to AZ another time. That being said, any suggestions for national parks and the like in the south?