I want to drive across America (9262 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.06 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by landyuk (View user info) at 2004-11-10 05:43:33 EST
Me and my girlfriend are planning to drive across America next Summer taking about 3 weeks.
Has anyone got any useful tips and places to go?
I was thinking New York to Los Angeles?
Or maybe just down Route 66....
knowing my luck it'll turn out like Jeepers Creepers though!!
Also, does anyone know a website that will help you plan the trip and estimate costs etc.?
User Reviews
Submitted by InkyFingers (user info) at 2004-11-10 14:04:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah, you should check out read-a-map.com, they have all the informaation you'll need.
Submitted by PissedOffRightWingerWithAGun (user info) at 2004-11-10 13:44:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sounds like fun...while you are at it why don't you go visit Canada as well, then you can say you've been to a foreign country.
Submitted by titmouse (user info) at 2004-11-10 11:32:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
yeh i did that last year, here is a photo of me and my mate when we were on route 66 http://www.dragonsdenuk.com/reviews/cannonball_run_2-3.jpg
Submitted by Seralena (user info) at 2004-11-10 11:08:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I drove North/South across America (from Chicago to New Orleans and back, with some wide side trips to look at colleges). Louisiana and Arkansas are pretty amazing; it just feels so different from anything I've known, especially Louisiana.
Don't don't DON'T drive across North Dakota, South Dakota, or Nebraska. It's boring as hell.
And if you're going to do this, don't take interstates if you can, take state highways. You see a lot more of America that way. Who the fuck wants to live right off an Interstate besides people who own motels and souvenir shops?
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2004-11-10 10:57:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Route 66 is called another name now..I cannot remember what it is.
I have made two round trip east coast to west coast trips it was great both times. It would have been better with human company rather than amphetamines.
I took the southern route the first time. Triple a recommends this route. Triple a obviously doesnt take scenery into consideration there were some great stretches but there were also some very long stretches of boring bullshit. I would travel 1k miles out of the way just to avoid Oklahoma. It is so fucking ugly and depressing. Not to mention the ass end of Texas that route takes you through.
The Northern route was awesome in so many ways. I could write you an essay on each state to explain how great that part of the country is...I could but I wont. Just believe me, the northern route kicks ass on the southern.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2004-11-10 10:54:23 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
How the fuck is anyone gonna estimate "road costs" without your intinerary, dipshit?
Don't worry about it...map out NO specific route, and have a blast with it. Stop at every greasy spoon to eat...hit a bar or saloon in every town you stop to piss in, and stay only in quality hotels or motels, unless you camp out a few times in a secure, official campground.
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2004-11-10 10:49:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I drove cross-country alone three-four years ago. I was the best experience of my life
and everyone should do it at least once. My suggestion is to take route 66,
as there is so much to see and do while driving.
Also, get AAA (Triple A) and order the travel books. They are free when you are a member.
These books provide information on lodging, dinning and site seeing. They helped me tremendously while traveling.
Take a tone of pictures and if your friend can, take video of the drive as well.
Have a blast!! It was an awesome experience.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-11-10 10:26:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Route 66 does exist, you just have to know where to look.
When I did this, what I did was list out where all I knew for sure that I wanted to go and then mapped it out. What you actually do is a matter of personal preference so it's hard for someone else to plan a trip like this for you. Some people are willing to drive a half an hour out of the way to see the world's largest ball of string, and some people would rather not. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNDARtwine.html
If I were you, I would hop online and start requesting maps and travel information from the different state departments of tourism. You could probably throw out a few state specific questions on here.
Here is a road trip planner:
http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/road/rtgHome.jsp
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2004-11-10 10:15:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Do it, you won't regret it. I've made the trip a couple times, and it's always been well worth it.
If you've got three weeks to make the trip, just get a good road atlas of the country and plot a loose course and then play it by ear. Bring $500 cash and a credit card with around $1000 and you'll be good to go. You won't spend that much, but it will provide some backup security.
Make sure you hit the Grand Canyon if you've never seen it, and I highly recommend stopping in the desert or the high plains at night and just lying on the roof of your car to check out the stars. It's amazing.
Route 66 definitely still exists, but like BlitzkriegBob said it's been usurped in places. Taking Route 50 all the way across the country is pretty cool too.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-11-10 09:59:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Route 66 is still around in places. But our transportation infrastructure has evolved past the two-lane rural road. I'm sure that a travel agency like AAA could make arrangements to give you the best routing. Although you would have to become a member.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-11-10 08:58:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
my boys and i drove to LA (from boston) to get on the price is right.
we did.
i won a car.
and drove back.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2004-11-10 08:43:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
New York, NY to Chicago = 790 miles
Chicago to St. Louis = 295 miles
St. Louis to LA = 1829
Total miles = 2915
Average 20 miles per gallon = 146 gallons
$2.05 gasoline average = $300 or around there.
Add in a hotel for 3 weeks.
Route 66 is not easily driven on. It no longer exists in many areas (replaced by an interstate) so you have to hit various patches of the road here and there.
I lived just off Route 66 for a few years and it isn't that great unless you are very much into that type of era. (Hotels are dumpy now, souvenir shops all have the same merchandise, etc.)
But in 3 weeks you should be able to see the best of the USA from NYC, Chicago, St.Louis (Go to the arch then get the fuck outta that dump), the Grand Canyon, Vegas, L.A.
Personally, I'd be checking out all the old west towns because that's what I'm into. But, hey... to each his own. Figure out what you like and do it.
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2004-11-10 08:19:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Why not just kill yourself?
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2004-11-10 08:16:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
drive to hawaii
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2004-11-10 08:05:21 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
good for you
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2004-11-10 06:58:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i've always fancied that myself.
although route 66 no longer exists i have been reliably informed.
Submitted by landyuk at 2004-11-10 06:52:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
because it's meant to be a holiday - not a challenge...plus I've only been to America once and that was Disney Land years ago, and I've always wanted to do it.
Submitted by hairycoo (user info) at 2004-11-10 06:44:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
why dont you do something a bit more challenging?
Submitted by landyuk at 2004-11-10 06:13:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
All useful suggestions.
thanks.
Submitted by funk_boy (user info) at 2004-11-10 05:56:21 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
dick
Submitted by triple_optics (user info) at 2004-11-10 05:48:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.helpplanatripacrossamericaandhowmuchwillitcost.com/tostartyouwillneedacar
Submitted by landyuk (user info) at 2004-11-10 05:47:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
GOOD POINT....but I'd probably be in bed cos im fucked!!
Submitted by cheesedick (user info) at 2004-11-10 05:46:36 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
If your going to post a question to the americans, do it late in the afternoon when they arent all in fucking bed.