Road Trip - LA - NY

Hi All,

Myself and a friend are planning on going from LA to NY around the beggining on October. We plan on starting off by soending a few days in Vegas, then heading up/across to Utah > Colorado > Kansas > Missouri > Illinois > Indiana > Ohio > Pennsylvania > NY. Has anyone here done anything similar?

I have a few questions,

1. Is driving through all these places safe? Ím not going to run out of gas in a small town and get killed by the local cop anywhere am I :P

2. Is this an ok time of year to be doing this?

3. Does this sound like a good route? Im not just going to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing to see for too long am I?

This route we have chosen is flexible so if anyone has any suggestions/places to see on the way please let me know

Thanks! Reply to this

Hey, thanks for all the info! really good to hear from someone who has done it before.

that would be great if you could give me a few things to do/see in each state. We are in our mid 20's so would like a bit of action along the way, but we really want to see as much as possible, rocky's, grand canyon, any nice national parks, old ranches etc.

We are planning on having about 2-3weeks on the road, will this give us enough time without being too rushed?

Im from New Zealand, and have been to the US before, but we just stayed in LA.. Reply to this

Hi Fraser, Dave and Merry,

Great Idea - would love to this as well at the end of our RTW trip. Can I ask what sort of budget you have for this trip?? I have never been to US and not really sure how to approach budgeting for it ;-)

Thanks,
B Reply to this

Are you planning to rent a car? You can get some good deals on long term car rentals in the US.
Make certain you get unlimited mileage and there will be a fee for dropping the car off in a city different from where you picked
it up.

Hotels- Inexpensive hotels -- Super 8 and Motel 6-- will cost $30 to $60 a night depending on the location.
Some will include breakfast (cereal and muffins)

Food- you can always eat junk food inexpensively in any country. Eat fast food or from vendors.

Gasoline currently is $3.50 to $4.25 a gallon depending on the state and if you are in a major city. Most rentals cars will get 25 to 30 miles per gallon. Coast to coast is a 3,000 mile drive.

I will send a suggested itinerary next week.
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This is some basic information and it is rather dry but valuable. I will create an itinerary next and it will be far more interesting.


President Eisenhower created the Interstate system in America in the 1950’s. We have some amazing highways that are safe and in good shape to travel from one coast to the other. Along these highways you will find “rest stops” where you can pull over to park, picnic and use the facilities. If you are on a tight budget you can sleep in your car. Technically it is unlawful to sleep in the rest areas but travelers do it from time to time to save money. If a highway patrolman came along and said anything you could move to the next one. Just tell him you were feeling sick and decided to pull over for a few minutes.

Along the highways in America are frequent exits where you can stop at hotels and restaurants. From my perspective, the problem or the downside of our Interstate system is that they bypass the towns and cities---which of course is the purpose of our Interstate system. It is intended to be the quickest way to travel across America.

That is my commercial for our interstate system. Now—with that said our state highways –which are different from out Interstate system go through the towns. They are far more scenic and take you through small towns. This is much slower and will take you twice as long to cross the country. Taking the state roads rather than the Interstate system you will see more.

Interstate 80 goes across America and will take you through— California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, you can then cut up to New York.

Interstate 70 goes across America and will take you through— Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, you can then cut over to New York.

Interstate 40 goes across America and will take you through— California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina

Interstate 10 goes across America and will take you through—California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida

Depending on the time of year may dictate which route is the best. In October, you should not have any trouble with any of these routes.

You do not have to stay on one interstate. It is easy to move from one to the other.

Most people who do not live in the US come to visit and stay in some of our major cities- LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami and New York city. If you are going to make the drive across America you must know that most of the United States is farm land. You are going to travel across a lot of wide open spaces.
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Fantastic thanks for all your efforts and explanation;-) looking forward to your itinerary Reply to this

Your budget should allow you to do everything you want.

Los Angeles to Las Vegas is a 4 1/2 hour drive along interstate 15. This part of the drive is all desert.
The only town of size that you will pass is Barstow. Historically is it a silver mining town. In October, they have Calico days which
is a festival celebrating their historic past. Small town festivals can be fun. (remember small town)
Scenic stop: Mojave National Preserve http://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm This National Park website will give you an idea
of what to see if you stop. Camping is available.

Las Vegas to I-70 is about 3 1/2 hours of driving. Again, a lot of desert.
On I-70 you will pass a town called Moab, Utah. It is world famous for mountain biking.
Once you get on I-70 the drive is 4 !/2 hours to the first city of any size in Colorado and that will be Grand Junction.

As I said you are going to be in a lot of wide open spaces. It is beautiful to watch the terrain change.
Once you hit Colorado you will experiece the amazing, and world famous Rocky Mountains. They are amazing.

There are a million places that I can recommend for you to visit on the drive from Grand Junction to Denver which is about 4 1/2 hours.
1. Glenwood Springs is a must stop. Hiking, biking, canoeing, and you must take a swim in the community hot springs! It will relax you from all of that driving. Nice restaurants, music and entertainment in this town.
2. Close by is the world famous town of Aspen-- you must take the time to go. It is a great town.

Hopefully you can spend a couple of days in the Glenwood Springs, Aspen area before you head on to Denver.

3. On your way into Denver stop for lunch in Georgetown or Central City. They are cute mining towns. Nice bars and restaurants.

Things to do in Denver.
If you want a brewery tour the Coors brewery is a nice one to take. It is located in Golden, Colo ( a suburb)

Lots of night life in the Larimere Square area and the Lowdo district (lower Denver)

The drive from Denver, Colorado to Kansas City, Kansas takes 10 hours. The only two towns of any real size are Hays and Topeka.
It is a lovely drive but I worry about it holding your interest. You'll see oil rigs, cows, and a lot of farm land. It is a beautiful drive if you have the right mind set.

Kansas City is a great town. Lots of restaurants and nightlife to be found. Lots of Jazz and Blues to be found.

Kansas City to St. Louis Missouri is only 41/2 hour drive. You may want to stop and go up inside the ARCH. It provides an amazing view of the city. Again, St. Louis offers a lot of music and nightlife.

As you drive through Missouri you will pass Independence, Missouri. It is a cute and clean city. Any way it was the home of President Harry S. Truman. I can't imagine that you have any interest in American History but it is a nice museum.


Next stop-- Indianapolis, Indiana and for my money one of the nicest towns in the mid-west. Good food. Go to a place called The Slippery Noodle.... a fantastic place to listen to music. Indianapolis is home to the famous speedway. They have a nice museum and you can ride around the track in a small van. It is hokey but kind of fun all at the same time.

Indianapolis to Columbus, Ohio is 3 1/2 hour drive.
Home to the famous Ohio State Buckeye football team. You may want to get tickets and watch an American Football game.
Hang out near the university-- lots of bars and clubs. German Village is a nice section to explore.

Columbus, Ohio to Philadelphia, PA is a 9 1/2 hour drive and my least favorite part of the drive you are going to make. Many people love this area because of the hills and small mountains but just not my favorite. If you want to break up this drive you can go an hour north to the city of Pittsburgh. You will want to hang out in "The Strip District" Lot of food and bars. A lot of fun.
Have dinner at Roland's grill or leave the Strip District and go The Church Brew works. A cute bar and restaurant that used to be a church and is now a brewery. Good food in Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia is full of history. You can stop to see the Liberty Bell. Lots of bars, restaurants and nightlife!

Philadelphia to NYC is a two hour drive. You will encounter a lot of traffic.


You will never be bored in NYC.

Let me know if you have other questions or decide to take another route.

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Should I drive my own car or should I take Greyhound bus? Reply to this