3 week driving trip in USA

North America
Topic Type: Help

Need advice on driving distances and visability

Richie Holland
Post Count: 1

Msg: #1 754 days ago, October 30th 2006

Hi,
I'm planning a 3 week driving trip to US next summer. Here's what I want to do:

Fly into NYC and stay there maybe 4 days, then rent a car and drive to Vegas, stopping at a few places along the way. I need to know is this do-able? How long would it take? How many stops would be reccommended, and where?

Then onto Grand Canyon for a few days, and end up in LA with maybe a stop in San Diego.

Would it be possible to do all this in 1 car? Rent it in NYC and leave it in LA?

Need all the advice anyone can muster up!!

Thanks in advance :)

wolohojian

dennis
Post Count: 2

Msg: #2 753 days ago, November 1st 2006

DESASTRO,

I can offer only a general comment re: rental car. NYC auto rentals are costly. I suggest that you get away from the City and rent from a sub-urban or rural location that you can reach by bus, subway, rail, etc. Check to see if there's a drop off fee should you decide to return the car to another destination. Leasing may also be an option.

best wishes, dennis

SusanB

Susan Barbano
Post Count: 2

Msg: #3 748 days ago, November 6th 2006

Hello,

My advise is to fly into NYC and out again. I feel like you will see some amazing parts of the US if you do east coast and then get to the West coast. If you rented a car in LA or Vegas you could then hit the grand Canyon, numerous national parks,( Utah, CA, ) Vegas, and all the wonderful places between LA and San Diego. California is so diverse and amazing you could spend your whole trip in that one State. Unless, there is someplace in middle America you want to see I would forget it. It takes about 36 hours of solid driving to get from NYC to SF, CA.

If you are a hiker you must camp or stay at the lodge on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Reservations are tight, so do it soon for either option.
All the best, Susan

vibe

Mr. T.
Post Count: 1

Msg: #4 726 days ago, November 28th 2006

It's about 3000 mi from NYC to either SF or LA and that's going directly. To do it in 36 hours of driving time is to average 83.3 mph. Another option is to fly into Chi-that reduces the amount of the trip by approx 900 mi and all the good scenery is west of Chi. Plus a lot of the highways between Chi and NYC all seem to be one long "construction zone."

Poz

Jeff
Post Count: 41

Msg: #5 725 days ago, November 28th 2006

I'd suggest seeing the west for a road trip; maybe driving from San Diego to Seattle. This region is packed with things to see! Great cities, spectacular nature, and better driving conditions (outside of LA, of course).

In my opinion, crossing the mid-west isn't as picturesque for a road trip--lots of suburbs and flat expanses.... You'd have to have some serious time to see the best parts of it as the highlights are scattered (like Chicago, Isle Royale NP, Boundary Water Wilderness).

The east coast is nice too--NYC, Appalachian mountains, lots of low-key beaches. But I'd skip the east-west drive across the country.

Have fun!

poz

Alpaca

Free From Corporation
Post Count: 3

Msg: #6 688 days ago, January 4th 2007

We did a trip across the country for nearly 4 months last summer. At 3 weeks, it is probably not worth it as you will be doing a lot of driving and not enough relaxing and sightseeing. For our trip, see Our summer road trip USA/Canada Vacation

[Edited: 09:43 - Alpaca ]

travel_addicted

Alexina & Sarah
Post Count: 28

Msg: #7 626 days ago, March 7th 2007

We went from washington DC to los angeles by coach and that was 3 days and 3 nights of driving with food stops. You would get to see little inbetween. Plus the coach drivers changed quite frequently. I would imagine it would be a very tiring drive with only 2 drivers.

I agree with most people. Last September I went to New York then flew very cheaply to San Fran and drove down to LA. With 3 weeks you'd have plenty of time to go to places like Las Vegas, even Mexico for a couple of days!

Route 66

Scott Piotrowski
Post Count: 4

Msg: #8 604 days ago, March 29th 2007

I'm very into traveling on America's back-roads and byways, including Route 66, the Mother Road. That's the old path from Chicago to Los Angeles. The connection that many people make from New York to Chicago is either the Lincoln Highway or US-20, depending on how far north one travels. My preference would be the LH. In general, the people that I know that like to travel these ways allow for about 2-3 weeks just to follow 66 from Chicago to LA. I have not heard too many details of the Lincoln Highway trek from NY to CHI yet, but my expectation is about 10 days to 2 weeks for that, too.

The recommendation I would probably make is a mix of freeways and backroads - chosen purely by whim - from New York to LA or SF. See some of the big city landmarks and culture. See some of the small towns in the midwest, especially those that seem stuck in time. Journey through the beautiful deserts and red rocks of the Desert Southwest. There is so much worth seeing, but it all depends on your interests and desires. Enjoy the trip, and l look forward to reading about it.

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