Planning Los Angeles to Indianapolis and back starting July 6-8

[eurotechmotors]

I am doing a road trip from Los Angeles to Indianapolis starting at some point next week and coming back by the end of July. If I have time I would like to reach New York but that depends on how long I spend in Indianapolis. I have never done this before I have never been gone this far from California so I would love to make the most of it. If you guys have any suggestions on routes, lodging, sites to see PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I am a little nervous so any advice would be great! I was thinking of going down starting down south (Pheonix, Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans then up to Nashville and Indianapolis) It would be great to meet up with any other road trippers around this time as well!

[Lifemagician]

Hi and Welcome to the great American Roadtrip Forum.

The best way to get started is to get some good maps of all the States through which you plan to travel, or a road atlas such as Rand McNally. Then look at all the options available to you. In fact here is a paragraph which may help you.

Start with maps. Not GPS, not software, not Google, but real honest-to-god paper maps that show you your entire route, that you can mark up (and erase), that you can stick pins in, and that show something about the land you'll be driving through. Those are your essential tool in any RoadTrip planning process. Start by marking all the places you know you want to visit. Then connect the dots. Then look for more places of interest and scenic routes along the lines connecting the dots. Repeat until you've got as many sites and roads as you think you want.

This is a four day trip, without anything much in the way of sightseeing. If you want to stop over at any places which interest you, add extra time.

There is absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Have your car checked by a trusted mechanic who knows where you are going. Limit your driving to a distance with which you feel comfortable, but definitely less than 600 miles per day. Be sure to get a good night's sleep each night, and try to keep off the junk food. Drink lots of water, rather than sweet drinks.. Have a roadside assistance package such as AAA (where you can also get good maps) for any emergencies which may happen.

Having driven close to 200000 miles on my own, there has never been a time that I felt threatened by anyone, or anything.

Drive safely and enjoy.

Lifey

[eurotechmotors]

Thank you! Will do, the car is brand new so thats good to go. I will probably get myself a map ASAP

Thanks!

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

It's a long 4-days by car to go from LA to Indianapolis by the most direct route. You definitely need a map. If you're a AAA member, you can get them (Monday) from AAA, free. If not, take yourself to your nearest Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, or other bookstore, and get a good Rand McNally atlas. There's a US map in it for planning, and the state maps inside it. Stop at every state information/visitor center and pick up a map of that state -- there is usually a big blue sign announcing it. (I have a AAA membership, but we still like to pick up the state's own map. Oft times, there's things on their map that AAA or the atlas didn't put on theirs.)


Donna