Dear Fellow Travelers, Help! Cross country from New Orleans to L.A. My girlfriend and I are taking the ultimate road trip with the dog. Even our husbands are left behind. I have driven from New Orleans to Dallas with complete boredum. I am hoping the trip will be more fun thereafter. Any ideas on what route to take to make this fun and interesting? This trip can take anywhere from a few days to one week. Mid December is the itinerary. Wish it was on a Harley, but the SUV will have to suffice. It will not be a low budget trip, but I don't want to go to the extreme on spending either. Can anyone help out on the excursion of a lifetime?
Thanks!

Are you planning on driving interstate or backroads? If I am correct I-10 is a direct line.

Thelma...one suggestion...stay away from the rim of the Grand Canyon...It's a long way to the bottom! And don't go to So. America!

Butch and Sundance

PS "Who ARE those guys?"

I am planning on taking the slow route of the interstate. Maybe Route 66 picking it up in Oklahoma. A day of hiking maybe. Veering off towards Vegas before final approach into L.A. Are there any stop between Dallas and L.A. other than the Grand Canyon?

Thelma, Maybe you can swing up north a bit and go thru Santa Fe and Taos and maybe go thru Durango and work your way back down to LV and LA?

December time frame and this driving distance may be a prob, tho.

Either way, good luck girls!
Should be one true T&L trip!

Mahalo,
Kal

Mid December is really close to snow season from I-40 north. I hope your SUV has 4WD. Since my wife,of 47 years, is from Los Angeles we have made the trip many, many times and we have gotten into trouble from November through May 7. on 66 and now I-40. For the last 15 years we have had a 4WD pick-up and I still check road conditions and forecast before we leave. New Mexico and Arizona can get bad. So check the forecast before you leave.

Thanks Everyone for the ideas. I didn't even think about the time of year and the possible weather conditions. Being from the south, we never experience snow but maybe a couple of times every 5 years. Since the weather is a factor is there anyone who can recommend routes along I-10 with fun things to do. My SUV is not a 4WD.
Thanks-
Thelma

You could always cross the border and come up to L.A. from the South. I am jealous. There is nothing like a girls trip! Have a blast!

Have fun, but watch out for the Cliffs!!!

First thing you do is pick up a hitchhiker that bears a striking resemblance to Brad Pitt...

Hey Thelma:

Since you'll already be on I-10, why not stop in San Antonio for a night? The Riverwalk is fun in any season. The funky towns in the Hill Country outside San Antonio have some local (touristy) shopping, but are fun to visit. You could cut up and catch Route 66 in Oklahoma City or Amarillo.

OR--you could stay on I-10 and skip over to Juarez for an evening when you get to El Paso. I-10 also goes through Phoenix, which is beautiful that time of year.

Hey Thelma!
My suggestions would be San Antonio, Vegas, and San Diego. There are a ton of National Parks all along I-10 that I'm sure you could find day trips to take. Enjoy! I'm envious!!! Driving x-country is a blast!!