Road Trip USA
 

Hi,

Im in need of help!! Trying to plan a trip starting in Las Vegas then on route to Montreal, after that bit of New England and then finishing in Boston.

IS this too big a trip for a month. Just not sure on how or what to do for best!!
Can anyone give advice before i pull out my hair... ta very much.

Go to www.mapquest.com or use google maps to enter destinations and get drive times and distances.

How much ground you cover depends on how you like to travel.

A month is more than enough time to drive that route.

It should be great as long as you avoid winter months. Sounds like plenty of time, and a great trip!

Ta very much. AS for when we are going... fingers crossed should be in March - April time.

At that time of year you need to watch weather reports and be prepared to avoid Minnesota and Wisconsin. We sometimes get dumped with snow at that time of year.

Try to make it April or even a bit later. Its still fairly cool and it could be down right cold up north that time of year... If you have a full month for your travels and plan on doing any driving try and plan some of your travels off the Interstate Highways. That way you will see something of the country besides all the big trucks. Getting there can be half the fun..

At that time of the year, I'd take a more southernly drive across to the East Coast and then head north to Boston, New England and Montreal depending on weather reports.

Maybe Las Vegas to Washington, DC and then head north?

It would be better to plan a trip to those destinations a couple of months later.

Ta very much one and all....

I will def double check on weather... although i would rather go when its colder than too hot... not good in heat plus places are always better when its chilly!!!

Isnt going too far off beaten track a dodgy idea in some places?? or am i being blonde agaiN!?!

Ta very much for help.

"Isnt going too far off beaten track a dodgy idea in some places?? or am i being blonde agaiN!?!"

~~

Only in the larger cities. Most natives in the country side are civilized and don't eat the tourist. A scalp or two our west is sufficient.

haha... i didnt mean for that to be rude!! very sorry....

although just incase i will make sure i keep my hair short!

In March or April the devil may be in the details. From Vegas you could go north through Utah up to Montana, then east; probably you'd avoid too much late snow in the Rockies (as opposed to going via Colorado) but the rest of the northern tier (Dakotas etc.) might be chilly or have some weather challenges.

I'd be more inclined to go south initially, see the Grand Canyon and some of the red rock country around the "4 corners" - Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley etc., then make your way north more gradually. Maybe even go as far as Memphis then follow the Mississippi north before cutting over to New England. You could also go all the way to the Atlantic coast (see Savannah and Charleston, for instance) then north to New England/Quebec from there. Many choices.

However the high rockies and places like Yellowstone may well be wintry still that early, so you probably should develop some contingency plans for various parts of the trip.

As for off the beaten path, no such thing.

Ta very much for help.... weather seems to determin alot of trip.... maybe should re think. Would May be better?

Not keen on summer months... none of us keen on heat plus my little man of 2yrs is coming along.

Ta very much. most appreciated.

May much better

It rarely snows more that a few inches in northern Minnesota in May and usually melts in a day or 2. Yes, May is a better time to travel.

It took us 16 days to do about 3/4 the distance you propose to cover in a MONTH! Yes I think you could easily pull it off. See what you want to and move on. (Milwaukee to Tadoussac north of Quebec City and back to Milwaukee in 16 days)

Get a big 3-ring binder and clear plastic pouches. It is a fantastic organizing tool to prevent getting overwhelmed. Reorganize, insert new data etc. Every detail of every day of a trip can eventually gel and come together in a very clear and fool proof itinerary.

You need to establish some guidelines or parameters.

The primary guide line should be The max hours you will drive and then take a break. (short or long break)
Then you look on a map and find sights to see at that general distance. I also type in the search engine every town I will pass through. It is quite a surprise what pops up now and then that would have otherwise been missed. I then fit in my stops to accommodate those things.

The second is an acceptable kind of attraction guideline. For my trips it is common to avoid museums. They are static displays requiring mental effort to appreciate etc. Usually not in harmony with my teenage companions desires. Exceptions are for those like the Henry Ford near Detroit. Figure out what type you will allow, prefer.

Next I prioritize on the basis of common or unique. Some are the only one like it in the world. Such as the Grand Canyon etc. One of my always rejected is "good restaurant in city xyz" I can get good restaurants at home. But if it is the birth place of the worlds greatest chicken dinosaur burger then I am interested. I always try to make each meal an attraction itself by seeking out the local or uncommon "thing" For example eating at the place with bumper cars and go carts. Or the "Cozy Dog", birthplace of the Corn Dog.

After compiling the attractions print outs in the 3-ring binder pouches I weed out those that just can’t be fit in. What I am left with is an itinerary of every detail of everyday (providing it was properly researched on the web)

Establish parameters and intentions then surf surf surf to fill in the gaps of the basic plan.

Ta very much... i dont think im all that organised to do that!!!

ok new idea... bought some new maps and books today!!!

what about starting in Las Vegas and doing a full circle - incl. Utah and Colorado. Dropping car back to where we started then flying over to Montreal and having a tour of there and New England?? IS that easier than driving all that way or would we just be better off with driving?!!

Plus in the areas of Utah and Colorado and those surrounding areas.... which are the best Indian Reservations to see, if any?!? only one of the people going would love to go....

Sorry for being a pain... just a big trip and i dont wanna get it wrong!

Ta yet again one and all.

Natalie.

Great plan. Two week traveling in the SW and then two weeks traveling in the NE out of Montreal.

GREAT plan!

jesus... didnt expect such a quick reply... ta speedy!!!

i might have to speak with my parents who are the other people coming with me... well its a surprise trip with my divorce settlement!! haha seems husband was good for something....

anyhow ta very much.

If you are traveling with your parents, I STRONGLY recommend the flight between the SW and NE. Gives you more quality sight-seeing time!

yes def think its best option... esp as its only my dad that drives! what with my mini monster coming along for the trip as well.

Last trip we did was easier as 2 drivers... but we didnt cover as much distance.

is it best to book internal flights before we go or once we get there?

Ta very much for help.

I think the 2-base plan is very sound, but a couple of comments...

First, I'd suggest including Utah, (parts of) Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona in the "southwest" portion of the trip. Anti-clockwise (in this country "counter-clockwise") route - LV to Grand Canyon to Monument Valley to Canyon de Chelly (the whole 4 Corners area is Navajo country, biggest res in the US) to Santa Fe (New Mexico) to Taos to Durango (Colorado) to Mesa Verde, then back past Monument Valley and into Utah, seeing Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks before returning to LV. If this is too much, then you can cut out the New Mexico and Colorado portions if you choose.

One big note about the area you'd be visiting is that it's at very high altitude for the most part; 1500m/5000 ft up to 2500+m/8000+ ft in places. If your parents have any respiration or cardio issues, they'd best check with their doctors before traveling - might be awkward to arrange if it's a surprise, so advance planning... you get it.

For the northeastern part of the trip, I'd really recommend that if time permits you include a drive from Montreal (via wonderful Quebec City) down the St Lawrence to the mouth and the Gaspe Peninsula. Beautiful country, interesting towns, and very much the heart of French Canada. From there, the drive south through New Brunswick into Maine, and zig-zagging through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine itself into Boston, is very enjoyable. My special recommendation goes to Portsmouth NH - a lovely old town, walkable and scenic as well as very historic. Great time of year for that part of the continent as well.

Happy planning!

If you use the suggested route that Gardyloo posted, consider adding Moab, Utah to your route and stop at Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, then on to Bryce Canyon by way of Capitol Reef.

Big plus to plan B is no huge one way drop off fee on the rental car!

“Ta very much... i dont think im all that organised to do that!!!”

“Sorry for being a pain... just a big trip and i dont wanna get it wrong!”

Sounds to me like you are fixing to have one heck of an expensive and frustrating\eye opening road trip.

wow...big thanks for all that help and advice!! No wonder this site was recommended!!!

Although it wasnt recommended for putting a dampner on anything... so as far as expensive goes... not an issue either way.... money comes and money goes - why die rich. AS for frustrating.... life is so why not do it while seeing something beautiful.

Ta very much to everyone

I'm going to disagree with Plan B. By doing plan be, it will be nothing resembling Road Trip USA. It will simply be a trip to two different spots.

Between Vegas and Montreal, there is a beautiful northly route you could take, through Montana (Yellowstone is great), the Dakotas (the Badlands), MInnesota and Wisconsin (Lake Country), the great city of Chicago, and on over to the northeast.

There is also a southerly route, which I shall call the BBQ route, through Texas, New Orleans, up through Applachia, and into the Northeast.

There is alot more to the US than the southwest and northeast. With a month, why not see the country?

very good point... i just wondered if it was all too much... didnt want to sit and just see the view from the car windows.... only i know the US is big.. so didnt wanna push too much into the time frame.

I wouldn't worry about the time factor. Last year we took a sort-of-circular drive of NW USA and W Canada starting and finishing in San Francisco which added up to almost 9,000 km (I'm assuming you're English and won't have a problem with my use of kilometres) in 5 weeks. That included side trips, drives to the supermarket and whatnot.

We stayed between 1 and 3 nights at each stopping-off point and aimed to drive no more than 500 km in any one day. Overall it was pretty easy and relaxed driving.

And despite being Australian and therefore used to long-distance driving there were a few days that dragged, mainly towards the end. I think we just started to suffer from the cumulative effect of spending a lot of time in the car and living out of a suitcase.

Having said all that, it's easily the best way to see the real America, particularly if you stay off the interstates and wend your way along some of those secondary roads. At no time did we feel any less safe than we do at home. Trust me, the natives really are friendly.

We are, aren't we? :-D

haha i hope they are...

as for using km... not a chance in hell... miles makes much more sense!

1. You do know that most rental car agenies will tack on a "one-way" fee of several hundred dollars if you do not return the car to the original rental city?

2. A two year old is not going to tolerate as long a drives as you may want to do. Plan much shorter days.

3. If I understand, you will have 3 adults and one child, plus luggage. You will need a larger vehicle than an economy car, so there will be additional cost. And a proper child carseat is MANDATORY to drive in the USA. The rental car place may have one, but you need to factor the cost into your rental.

ta very much... i already took into accounts those factors.... last road trip we did we just bought a car seat then dumped it (cheaper than hiring one)... estimate of costs for one way drop off is $500... so not a problem with that also....

ts for advice though!

As for the drive-all-the-way option (v. two nodes) I think a reality check is needed. To drive from, say, central New Mexico to, say, Montreal, is probably around five days on the road, depending on your pace. Freeway/motorway all the way, plentiful roadside accommodations, etc. - so if you want to take the time to experience the continental scale of things, there's no reason whatsoever not to do so.

People will argue over the relative merits of one route over another, or where to stop or sightsee or detour... fine. Get some guidebooks and plan away.

In March/April, some places will be either relatively inaccessible or relatively unattractive - high country still in snow (or worse, "breakup") or spring floods in some areas... you'll need to be aware of local conditions, just as you would anywhere else.

But the full drive can be great fun. See, for instance, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/index.html. Now how can one <i>really</i> pass up the world's largest ball of twine (Cawker City, Kansas) or the Mitchell (SD) Corn Palace?

In 10 days' time my brother in law and I are driving coast-to-coast (retreiving some un-flyable personal effects from a late relative) and while we'll be pushing the pedal to some extent, we'll still have time to get some good diner food in Ohio (&quot;No, no, honey - we just had salads...&quot;) and visit Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's graves in Deadwood... how can one not carpe the diem?

Happy planning!