Cross country road trip

[bluue13]

Hey All,

Thinking of possibly taking a cross the US road trip with my wife this summer. We have some family out in CA and want to head out there but figured maybe we'd do it up old school. So we'd essentially be heading from RI to CA and back.

Just wondering if anyone has ever done this sort of trip before and if you might have any tips or suggestions such as places to see, best way to do it, etc. We already know we want to hit Napa Valley once we get out to CA but everything else in between is up for grabs.

Thanks in advance!
-Greg

 

[insight]

I have done it many times, can answer a bit. I also know some guys that live near the napa valley

 

[Wolfie]

I've done the coast to coast round trip Ironbutt style twice now, once northern and one southern, and numerous times in a cage between Ohio and Seattle. Do you have a proposed route in mind or must sees between you and your wife?

 

[BlindedByScience]

If you make it up as far as the Pacific Northwest, rumor has it there's this shady guy with a borked mailing address that might have a smoke laying around.....:whistling:

 

[JHolmes763]

I'm on a 6,000+ mile trip right now. So far we've seen Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Vegas, Redwoods, Napa Valley, northern California beaches, Seattle, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore and Wall Drug Store. All depends on what route you're going and how much time you have to see things. Plenty to see, just watch for the signs. Amazing scenery in the southwest and northeast. Midwest was kinda blah, but I'm sure if you dig around enough or ask, there'll be plenty to see. Have fun!

 

[LarryH]

My friend Tricia and I flew out to Oregon a few years ago and did an 8 day road trip around the state. The highlight for me was seeing the giant redwoods in Northern California. I believe this photo was taken in Jedediah Smith State Park. I think we spent less than a day there which was too short for me. I hope to get out there again someday.

 

[bluue13]

I think it might be kinda fun trying to convince my wife that we need to make a stopover at all of the BsOTL residences as we go along. Might make for a much longer trip haha! I would actually like to try and herf with some of you though as we make our way. I'll have to firm up those kids of plans when we have a route figured out.

In any case, the only specifics we have right now are definitely wine country and perhaps Yellowstone. Like I said, its in the planning stages now so it's all open.

Thanks for the input so far, guys!

ETA- Larry that picture is really cool!

 

[insight]

Yellowstone is awesome, Mt Rushmore/Deadwood is pretty neat and on the way as well. Plus if you go in August you can visit Sturgis

 

[kann]

I've done the coast to coast round trip Ironbutt style twice now, once northern and one southern, and numerous times in a cage between Ohio and Seattle. Do you have a proposed route in mind or must sees between you and your wife?

I was planning the JAX-SDO trip a few years ago. Some circumstances put a halt to that, though... I'm still pretty proud of my SS1K. Put just under 1,300 miles on my Triumph in about 22 hours going from Little Rock -> OKC -> STL -> Memphis -> Little Rock.

As for the x-country trip, my advice is that with so many large 24-hour interstate truck stops and gas stations, there is no reason to have to stop at a state rest stop, even in broad daylight.

 

[JHolmes763]

Yellowstone is awesome, Mt Rushmore/Deadwood is pretty neat and on the way as well. Plus if you go in August you can visit Sturgis

Devil's Tower, WY is in that same area. We skipped it trying to get to Rushmore at a decent time, though. Lots to see and fun driving through the Black Hills area in east WY, west SD.

 

[rob300c]

Love the parks in Utah - Bryce, Zion, Goblin Valley, Moab, Canyonlands.

One year I did Vegas->Flagstaff->South Rim of the Grand Canyon->North Rim->Bryce->Zion->Park City->Goblin Valley->Vegas
Took 90% scenic routes and car camped.
It was awesome!

-Rob