Hi there!
I am moving from Indianapolis to San Francisco in 3 weeks. I am going to drive my car out as i have researched it will cost $2000 to ship my car. So this leaves me with a wide open plan for a fun trip out west. I have some time to kill and don't mind making a few detours to see some lovely new places. The mapquest outline has us traveling through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah,and making our way through California.
We are open to suggestions of any kind. I welcome any help or advice as well.

Kindly,
Tiffany

You could stop in Kansas City and see the Plaza for one night. It's a surprising nice city...at least to this bi-coastal gal. Also, Maybe you have time for Jackson Hole and a peek at Yellowstone.

If not, you will certainly have some time in Utah to see some of the most spectacular sights in the country....the skiing in the Park City area and/or Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

I'm sure you will have tons of suggestions coming your way! Be safe and smart while traveling!

Thank you so much! I hadn't thought of Yellowstone!

Kindly,
Tiffany

I failed to include Wyoming and Nebraska as well.

We are traveling in I-70 until to Denver and then I-80 to the 101.

We have made a noted stop to stop in Denver and Salt Lake City.

THank you kindly!
Tiffany

What a great adventure! I'm in Sacramento, so you'll pass through my neck of the woods on I-80. Lake Tahoe is spectacular. You could drive around the lake (beautiful) and if you want to gamble there is South Lake Tahoe. There are lots of great things to see in our "Gold Country", the foothills on our side of the Sierras. Lots of quaint towns, wineries, etc.

Sac'to has a touristy but fun Old Sacramento area by the river with wood sidewalks and shops. The train museum in this area is excellent. The Capitol Bldg is a cool thing to see, plus you might see Ahhhnold. The park surrounding is nice.

After you go through Sacramento there is a town called Fairfield (almost to Bay Area). This is the home of the Jelly Belly factory - a great tour!

If you REALLY have time to kill you can change your route to include Yosemite, approx 3 hours south of Sacramento. I wouldn't skip I-80 and Lake Tahoe, but you could head south from there. A meandering cruise through the foothills would be very pleasant, if you aren't in a rush. (Those in a rush take our major N/S arteries of I-5 and Hwy 99, very boring, flat freeways through our disrespected valley towns.)

There is still snow in the mountains and I know some of the smaller passes can be closed in early spring so maybe check on that if you do the meandering deal.

A Bay Area poster can correct me on this, but from Vallejo, you could head Northwest to the Napa area, check out the fabulousness there, pass through hip Sausalito, and enter your new city going south on the Golden Gate Bridge!

If you really want to see some of the country on your trip get off the Interstate Highways. Stop by your local Wal*Mart and pick up a 2007 Rand McNally Road Atlas ($5.97). That will help you plan your trip as well as give you some ideas... Also keep in mind it still winter in many areas of the high country in the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Some of the Parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite will not have all the roads open. Services are also limited that time of year. Always check locally for road conditions, better safe than sorry.

Thank you so much! Sacremento sounds lovely.

Thank you as well for the Walmart purchase tip!

I am so excited to go already!!!

Cheers,
Tiffany

Check and see if the roads are open in Yellowstone in early April. To get there and not be able to drive through could represent a very long detour.

We are doing a roadtrip from Michigan to California at the end of April.

The south entrance of Yellowstone does not open until early-mid May. You can go around to the west entrance, or to the north entrance (through Montana)--we decided that would take too long, though.

The main road through the middle of the Grand Tetons is also closed (I think)--but, it sounds like you can see a lot by driving on the highways which go around the outside of the park.

Similar problem with the Grand Canyon--the north entrance is closed until later--so you have to go all the way around to the south rim.

We ended up deciding to go from Detroit, through Chicago and St. Louis to Kansas City, through Denver--then down to Moab to see the Arches National Park--then to Bryce Canyon and on to Zion National Park. We'll also spend a night in Vegas and finally end up in the Bay Area. The south Utah Parks should be crowded in the spring--but at least we'll avoid the summer heat.

For Yellowstone check this site.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

For Yosemite.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Thanks so much for everyones input! I truly appreciate it!

Cheers,
Tiffany

Lake Tahoe is a must. Salt Lake City would be interesting. Save some time to travel around California, too.