Seeing the country from Chicago to LA
Jun 26th, 2009, 05:50 AM
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Seeing the country from Chicago to LA
Hello
I have relatives coming in from Europe who want to see some of the US heartland. We live in New England so i was thinking of flying with them to Chicago, renting a vehicle, driving it cross-country to LA and dropping it off there. They'd see the real heartland of America. I did a 1-way rental from LA to Seattle recently and there was no extra charge for the privilege. Well, it seems one-way rentals from the Windy City to the West Coast carry a huge drop-off penalty charge (like $1000) which makes the rental costs too prohibitive unless I can find a rental agency without such a premium.
Or any other suggestions? i've considered train but haven't looked into that yet. Please don't suggest a bus line as I can't see bus travel as part of a pleasant vacation! I know there's been movies made about people going cross-country to deliver someone's car---and they get paid for it---but usually those are horror movies!
I have relatives coming in from Europe who want to see some of the US heartland. We live in New England so i was thinking of flying with them to Chicago, renting a vehicle, driving it cross-country to LA and dropping it off there. They'd see the real heartland of America. I did a 1-way rental from LA to Seattle recently and there was no extra charge for the privilege. Well, it seems one-way rentals from the Windy City to the West Coast carry a huge drop-off penalty charge (like $1000) which makes the rental costs too prohibitive unless I can find a rental agency without such a premium.
Or any other suggestions? i've considered train but haven't looked into that yet. Please don't suggest a bus line as I can't see bus travel as part of a pleasant vacation! I know there's been movies made about people going cross-country to deliver someone's car---and they get paid for it---but usually those are horror movies!
Jun 26th, 2009, 07:39 AM
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Wow. Interesting undertaking.
With Amtrak, you've got 2 choices. Southwest Limited from Chicago to LA via NM and AZ or California Zephyr from Chicago to SF via Denver. The Zephyr is the scenic of the 2 IMO since it goes through Glenwood Canyon. I wouldn't do if your budget won't allow buying sleepers (which includes meals). You'll get comments all over the place about Amtrak. There have been seveal trip reports on here - do a search and see if that interests you.
Wouldn't even consider a bus.
As for driving, I'm surprised the drop-off is that high to LA (maybe more people leaving LA these days than going?). You've got several good options: northern route using basically I80 & 70 or more southern route using I44 & 40. Which one you decide would really depend on what you want to show them - the Rockies or more of desert Southwest. Both would give you lots of good choices of things to see and do.
I don't know how much of the midwest you want to show them, but, as nice as it is, frankly it's rather monotonous from Chicago to Denver. But maybe they want something different than they're used to (?).
You might consider flying to Denver rather than Chicago and driving (or taking the train) from there, and drive the northern or southern routes.
Just some preliminary thoughts.
With Amtrak, you've got 2 choices. Southwest Limited from Chicago to LA via NM and AZ or California Zephyr from Chicago to SF via Denver. The Zephyr is the scenic of the 2 IMO since it goes through Glenwood Canyon. I wouldn't do if your budget won't allow buying sleepers (which includes meals). You'll get comments all over the place about Amtrak. There have been seveal trip reports on here - do a search and see if that interests you.
Wouldn't even consider a bus.
As for driving, I'm surprised the drop-off is that high to LA (maybe more people leaving LA these days than going?). You've got several good options: northern route using basically I80 & 70 or more southern route using I44 & 40. Which one you decide would really depend on what you want to show them - the Rockies or more of desert Southwest. Both would give you lots of good choices of things to see and do.
I don't know how much of the midwest you want to show them, but, as nice as it is, frankly it's rather monotonous from Chicago to Denver. But maybe they want something different than they're used to (?).
You might consider flying to Denver rather than Chicago and driving (or taking the train) from there, and drive the northern or southern routes.
Just some preliminary thoughts.
Jun 26th, 2009, 08:56 AM
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Thanks for the info.
I've done this ride in the past both southern (OK-TX-NM-AZ-CA) and middle (IA-NB-CO-UT-NV-CA) routes and they both have some nice scenery. Utah is particularly spectacular in spots and there's nothing like crossing the Rockies. My cousin is enamored of Route 66 from the old TV shows but he doesn't realize there isn't much left of the original '66.
Europeans never seem to understand the size of the United States, until they've spent 30 hours driving across just part of it. We're still weighing other options.
I've done this ride in the past both southern (OK-TX-NM-AZ-CA) and middle (IA-NB-CO-UT-NV-CA) routes and they both have some nice scenery. Utah is particularly spectacular in spots and there's nothing like crossing the Rockies. My cousin is enamored of Route 66 from the old TV shows but he doesn't realize there isn't much left of the original '66.
Europeans never seem to understand the size of the United States, until they've spent 30 hours driving across just part of it. We're still weighing other options.
Jun 26th, 2009, 09:53 AM
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<Europeans never seen to understand the size of the US>
Quite true. We met a couple on a flight from Munich to NY who were going on the LA and they were having a hard time grasping that the flight to LA was about as long as the transatlantic flight.
That was one reason I thought flying to Denver then driving from there might be appealing. Also it may depend on the time of the year. I will say many Europeans we've met have been fascinated with the southwest and particularly Death Valley, CA all of which is certainly different than what they're used to seeing.
Good luck with your planning and keep us updated.
Quite true. We met a couple on a flight from Munich to NY who were going on the LA and they were having a hard time grasping that the flight to LA was about as long as the transatlantic flight.
That was one reason I thought flying to Denver then driving from there might be appealing. Also it may depend on the time of the year. I will say many Europeans we've met have been fascinated with the southwest and particularly Death Valley, CA all of which is certainly different than what they're used to seeing.
Good luck with your planning and keep us updated.
Jun 26th, 2009, 10:31 AM
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They are meeting friends in LA on a specific date so we can't go west->east, alas.
I toyed with the idea of BUYING a used vehicle in Chicago and selling it in LA, figuring then I don't pay any rental costs and any loss I take on the sale might be much less than the rental plus the drop-off surcharge.
But then I put down the beer bottle and realized this was a nutty idea.
I toyed with the idea of BUYING a used vehicle in Chicago and selling it in LA, figuring then I don't pay any rental costs and any loss I take on the sale might be much less than the rental plus the drop-off surcharge.
But then I put down the beer bottle and realized this was a nutty idea.
Jun 26th, 2009, 11:33 AM
#7
You could get your kicks on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica.
"Well it goes through St. Louie down to Missouri,
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty.
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino."
http://www.historic66.com/
"Well it goes through St. Louie down to Missouri,
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty.
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino."
http://www.historic66.com/
Jun 26th, 2009, 11:35 AM
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Here's a thought. The car rental people might not charge much or nothing, if the drop off point is say one or two days away from the initial location. Then you could go across the country in several segments, each one in a different car, and maybe with a different agency. Brilliant, right?
Jun 26th, 2009, 04:40 PM
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Another idea would be to drive your car from home via Niagara Falls and on I-80 to Chicago - stopping off at Shipshewana Indiana and visiting this community of Amish. Many farms, Amish buggies, stores etc.
There are many things to do in Chicago. You can take day trips from Chicago - for instance Milwaukee -especially their art museum in Milwaukee, House on The Rock in WI which is popular with our guests. Depending upon the time of year there is usually an ethnic festival going on at Summerfest grounds.
Leave your car in Chicago long term parking and fly to Las Vegas (our European guests all want to see Las Vegas) If you rent a car in LV you could make a round trip and drop off the car in LV and fly back to Chicago. You can go to the Grand Canyon in hours, Death Valley, Yosemite and the other parks, LA (Huntington Library is fantastic) and all the other great things to see and do in LA.
I would never take my European guests across the state of Nebraska!!! I dread driving through that state whenever we go west. Iowa is better but not by far. Unless you would be in Des Moines for state fair, Living History Farm, Adventureland etc.
There are many things to do in Chicago. You can take day trips from Chicago - for instance Milwaukee -especially their art museum in Milwaukee, House on The Rock in WI which is popular with our guests. Depending upon the time of year there is usually an ethnic festival going on at Summerfest grounds.
Leave your car in Chicago long term parking and fly to Las Vegas (our European guests all want to see Las Vegas) If you rent a car in LV you could make a round trip and drop off the car in LV and fly back to Chicago. You can go to the Grand Canyon in hours, Death Valley, Yosemite and the other parks, LA (Huntington Library is fantastic) and all the other great things to see and do in LA.
I would never take my European guests across the state of Nebraska!!! I dread driving through that state whenever we go west. Iowa is better but not by far. Unless you would be in Des Moines for state fair, Living History Farm, Adventureland etc.
Jun 26th, 2009, 05:11 PM
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I did the Amtrak Zephyr in November and loved it, despite the early darkness. If you make the trip in summer it will be even better becasue it stays light so long.
Then just last month I drove the most of the Amtrak route of the Southwest Chief, Chicao to LA, crossing Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, NM and AZ. Driving I would take the Southwest Chief route becasue of the stops and sidetrips, on the train I agree with dfr4848 that the Zephyr is a more scenic route. Even better, IMO is the Empire Build from Chicago to Seattle. But if you need to end up in CA it would add time and cost to get from Seattle to LA.
Have fun!
Then just last month I drove the most of the Amtrak route of the Southwest Chief, Chicao to LA, crossing Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, NM and AZ. Driving I would take the Southwest Chief route becasue of the stops and sidetrips, on the train I agree with dfr4848 that the Zephyr is a more scenic route. Even better, IMO is the Empire Build from Chicago to Seattle. But if you need to end up in CA it would add time and cost to get from Seattle to LA.
Have fun!
Jul 16th, 2009, 12:46 PM
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We decided to fly to Denver, where we can get a rental van with NO drop-off charges to LA. We figure they'll still experience the Rockies, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Grand Canyon and southern California. That's plenty for a week! Thanks for all the advice.
