The best roadtrip of your life?

Moab for sure!
Check out Canyonlands and Arches national park. Amazing.
Santa Fe is awesome too.

arches

canyonlands

moab

 

Semi-O/T... cranking up the way-back machine to 1970, I put myself on the road in southern Germany in my then new Alfa coupe, pointed towards France. I drove that little car as fast as it would go for 18+ hours on mostly 3-lane roads (try it some time - you can only p*** in the middle lane!), munching on a stash of cookies I got at the PX and Cokes, until I got to LeMans for the 24hr race. I camped out for a week, met all sorts of great people, and got to see Steve McQueen's cars and crew around the track while they did some filming for the movie. Even got the Alfa on the track one evening. Rain during most of the race ****ed, but it cleared towards the end.

Moral of the story... pick a big event you'd like to attend and haul *** to it! The most important thing on the road is enjoying your ride! You can always take snap shots of the scenery on the way home. Gary

 

There are so many options in the US, especially the west. I think you need to ask yourself a few questions first. How much time do you have? How far do you want to go? Do you only want to take back roads or some hiways ok? What time of year will you be doing this? Is there an event or destination you would be interested in along the way? Will you be travelling alone, what type of overnight accomodations do you want, etc? Anyway, sounds like a blast and when I get back, I'd love to do this as well.

 

I-40/ RT.66. Best Trip in my life so far... Drove my '56 Oldsmobile from Chico, CA to Detroit. San Fran down the Golden Coastal Highway to LA...No power steering, no power brakes, just a 5000lbs '56 Olds powered by a bored out 324 Rocket. Then cruised along to Vegas, then jumped on Rt 66 and I-40 for the rest of the trip back to Detroit. Even plowed through a blizzard through most of New Mexico.. scary stuff, 30 MPH or less... but worth every minute. I can't wait to do it again. The sights, the people you meet alongthe way when your filling up on gas, etc. Awesome awesome trip. Cali was a blast! As was St. Louie. Doing again when I finish my car!!!

 

I'v driven a [small] truck over the road for several years [untill a few monts ago], so I might be qualified to make some suggestions...

Utah- probably not a bad road in the whole state! Some amazing sights. Moab is a must. If you go there, see if the ratty '59 dodge is still for sale on the far end of town across from the grocery store

Nevada- LOTS of desert, but still pleanty to see. Vegas can be cheesy, but it's worth a day trip. The Sahara [across from the stratosphere] has the best buffet IMHO. A few years ago, I did something called the "ghost town trail", that followed several back roads thru about 20 abandoned ghost towns. That was ***s!

Route 66- You absolutely can not go wrong following what's left of the mother road. I'm proud to say I'v traveled over 80% [of what's left] of it. Petrified forest is cool.

S. Dakota- is a beautifull state. There's a town called Hot Springs that is almost un-discovered, but it makes an excellent staging area to see the majority of the sights. Right on the border of Windy Cave park that has lots of buffalo and prarie dogs. Less than an hour from Custer, Sturgis, Crazy-horse, Rushmore... And if you can hook up with a local, there are a handfull of ghost towns lost in the weeds that no tourist book can tell you about. [I got a friend, PM me if you want a contact]. Dont forget Wall Drugs if you go

States like Minesota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri tend to be a little boaring, but there are some pretty sights, a few tourist traps.

Arizona- Grand canyon... Gotta see it at least once in your life Also, toumbstone and a few ghost towns.

Texas- Personally I hate texas... Not that I got anything against it, but it's sooooo friggin big! Following I-10, it's over 1000 miles untill you cross another state line DFW is the city that never ends, and rush-hour is a fuggin nightmare.
Yes, there are some things worth seeing, but when your forced to drive thru it, well... I'm sure you understand.

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas- [I'll also include east Texas and west Tennessee in this bunch] From the beaches to the bayou, up into ozarks country and straight into hillbilly hell. There is tons to do and see in this region. NOLA is uber-cool and takes about 4 days to do right. Bring your appe***e, them cajun people can cook! Memphis is cool also, about 2 days to see it all. Graceland is worth the trip IMHO.

Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio- The scenery is pretty bland. At least it is for me because I live in this part of the country. The great lakes have their good moments. Chicago is a beast to drive in, Indy is mecca for a motorhead.

Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia [and W. Va], N. and S. Carolina- This is where you get into the knobs region, over to the apalachian mountains, all the way to the eastern beaches and the outer banks. IMHO, there's more to do in this region than any other, and some of the BEST scenery to be had anywhere!

Florida- Yea, right... Look in the travel book, it's all been covered

New England- The scenery rivals the Tennessee area. The apalachians continue north all the way to canada, and there are some spectacular drives. Maryland has the BEST maintained and most scenic inerstate highways in the world IMHO. From Washington D.C., all the way to Boston, you can drive 450 miles thru nothing but city! It's cool in it's own right, but not really vacation material... But it can be EXPENSIVE!!! The pennsylvania turnpike costs $30 to travel thru the state, and $175 a night hotel rooms are the norm in new england.

Once you decide on a route, I'll fill you in on all the details and sights you will p*** close to.

Also, a GPS is gods gift to the traveler. If you dont own one, get it NOW! When I'm traveling, if I see something interesting, I can just hop off the highway and have a look, and the GPS will always route me back to my destination, no matter how far off the track I go exploring.

Here are my personal all time favorite drives:

#1, U.S. A1A from Miami to key west

#2, I-40 from Knoxville Tn., to Asheville N.C.

#4, Zion and Bryce canyon

#5, Snake river canyon

#6, Almost any road in Utah

#7, Route 66 from Chicago to Cali

#8, Natchez Trace parkway from Nashville Tn. to NOLA

#9, 441 from Gatlinburgh Tn., to Cherokee N.C.

#10, Hwy 12 from Kitty Hawk to Beaufort

*** And I'v got to giva an honorable mension to I-68 thru the entire state of Maryland!

 

My roadtrip to Bonneville was the best trip i've been on in awhile.

 

In 1970 went out West in a 68 Corvette, with my friend Tony, Alburquerque was our destination, from there went into Mexico, then home to NY.

 

There is some awesome scenery in those parks. You will have the best time when staying off of the interstate.

Check this site out also.

http://www.byways.org/

 

Took a drive a couple years ago from Michigan to Alabama the long way. Went through Pennsylvania just to see Frank Loyd Wrights Falling Water, then back roads to D.C. It was the first time for me in D.C. and we only spnt a day and a half, we have to go back for several more days to see more. From D.C. it's only a couple hours west to Skyline Drive, a beautiful, extremely senic drive through Virginia. There's only a couple ways on or off Skyline Drive in the entire length which is several hours. Skyline Drive at some point becomes The Blue Ridge Parkway which is stunning! Look on a map and see where it goes. At the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway you're near the Dragons Tail which is undescribable, simply fantasic! Once you're at the end of the Dragons Tail find Franklin NC. and then go up the mountain to Highlands, the drive up the mountain is almost scarey!

 

I took US Route 50 from Cincinnati to Pueblo in my A coupe and enjoyed every mile. US 50 goes east from Cincy to Washington DC I believe.

 

GOOD ! We hate you too... haha j/k

Well~
the weather is interesting. This is a transitional time for our climate. It could be cold and clear one day and Warm and muggy the next. Be prepared. At least that's the case down here in Houston near the Gulf.
In the Hill Country there's less swing in the weather, but still... be prepared.
It's true that this state is big. Lots of ground to covor, but nothing about that spells hate to me. I do agree with Darryl however, when he talks about I10. It's long and boring in many areas.

 

i like this thread, there is so much info! i love road trips and daydream about them all day!

i dont know if you'll come up all the way to minnesota but the drives around the state arent too bad, actually not now.. its all a frozen tundra hehe.

 

I forgot a good one....'The Blue Ridge Parkway' in the Great Smoky Mountains is one of my favorites....Part of what makes it great is the lack of services along the way keeps the traffic down...except during the Fall Color Season when it's a madhouse...but for most of the year, it's thoroughly enjoyable and simply beautiful...I might suggest you use Asheville, NC as a base...

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/

http://www.blueridgeskyline.com/

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

 

I am in the middle of it right now.... working on 3 hours of sleep with my friend Dan. A room full of flammin hot pork rinds and a tour of a great early drag car shop...oh yea more spent rubbers than I can count.

later

nursing my wounds....
Chris

 

Texas weather
If you don't like it where you are at any particular time you got 2 choices.

1. Drive a few hundred miles and it will be totally different.

2. Wait a couple of hours and it will be totally different.

Today in Austin area it was in the 80's.

For road trips in Texas you can't beat the area west/southwest of Austin.

As well the coast in Texas is not bad this time of year, all the tourist are gone just a few snowbirds and the locals, hotels and cottages are way cheap. I am partial to Port A, Shorty's is a great bar with a cool history and a cab ride is $5 bucks anywhere on the Island.

Johnboy

 

That's because once you drove these roads ("the 15" and "the 40") for awhile they take on more of a meaning than just a route number. They become old friends beconing for return attention......that is cute.

 

From SoCal to Bonneville last year we drove via Bryce Canyon in Utah. Beats Grand Canyon hands down,....especially going *******!

 

I like Hwy 33 right out your Back Door towards Maricopa, North on Hwy 33 to McKittrick. See the Penny Bar there. Then over across the valley to Oakhurst out of Fresno. North on HWY 49 as in " 49er " it runs thru all the old Gold Rush Towns all up thru Calif. About 2500' elevation so not to hot not to cold. Every little town still has the old downtowns.
I recommened this trip to one of the Magazines a while back and they used the Hwy 49 on way to Bonneville. Lots of the old Hotels are restored with the Bars right down stairs

 

I agree with US 50 across NV. Back in '06 I rode my old '84 Goldwing from FL to CA and back. I went out on I-10 to just beyond Mobile and then up to I-20 to just outside of Dallas then up to I-40 to Barstow. That was relatively un-eventful other than stopping at the crater at Winslow AZ. However I came back from Carson City to CO on US 50. Across NV was fascinating. Only thing was I really had to be careful and get gas at every place I could get it. I remember stopping at the Cold Springs Pony Express station. I had the best piece of blueberry pie there I have ever had.


I spent the night at Elly NV. Quite a town for sure. I didn't much like UT. Some people think it's fantastic but I'm not one of them. I was glad to get to CO. I stayed on US 50 to Gunnison and then went down 49 to Lake City where I used to go on vacation every year when the kids were little. That is a very scenic ride. Creed is an interesting town. The last time I had done it was like '74 and it was a gravel road all the way. It's paved now and has been for years.


I went west on US 160 to Walsenburg, where I spent the night and then caught up with US 50 again. The wind was so strong I went across KS at about a 30 degree angle. Only in KS would one see a sign that says "Scenic Landmark Ahead" and it turn out to be a feedlot! I stopped at Dodge City for awhile. Old west town for sure, the Longbranch, Marshall Dillon, Miss Kitty etc.I stopped at Greensburg to rest a bit not knowing that at a later time it would be blown off the map by a tornado.

On to Wichita for the night. The city of aircraft manufacures. Another neat old downtown from by gone days on the wayward west. After that across MO and to Memphis "The home of the Blues". Downtown, the Peabody Hotel with the ducks, the Rendevous Rib place, Mudd Island, Dinner on a river boat, Elvis etc .. After that US 78 to Birmingham and on home. Ahhh, what a trip. I was 65 at the time so I though I needed to do this before I and my old Goldwing got too old. I'd do it again in a second although I'd have went a month earlier. It was hottern' hell from Texas on westward.

There are just too many places in this great country to ask on here "What should I see, what should I do, what route should I take". Search the net, get brochures from the states you would like to explore. This endeavor could take a lifetime. Photo below is Dodge City

 

My 2 favorite road trips have had one thing in common, NO SCHUDLE!! Without a schudule you can go as fast or slow as you want and not be hurried at a stop or have to stay too long at any one place.

 

Best? the next one.

I'm blessed to live in the 4 corners (durango, co) . . . check out "San Juan Skyway"

 

The best one hasn't happened yet. I'm hoping to hit a few of the Las Vegas events this summer if at all possible. I'm hoping my latest build will shake down well enough to make a several hundred mile run like that.





Just made my 900th post . God, do I feel relevant!

 

The problem with being older is so many trips. Numerous parts hunting trips to MT. Wy. SD ND. Neb. even up into Manitoba. Trips with the rod include, 2 runs to Ca. one with BobK riding shotgun. The other trip to Ca. was 8000 mi by the time I got back home as I returned by way of Fl. The trip with BobK included visits with Vern Tardel, Joe Balion, Bluto, Kennedy Bros, **** Dean and Gene Winfield. Also 2 other trips to Fl. A trip east included Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Many trips around the mid-west such as, around Lake Mi. Hamb drags etc.