Around the US in 30 Days!

Hello everyone! This is very new to me, and I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. My husband and i are beginning to plan a month-long road trip this summer with our 2 pre-teens (13 and 11), and we are first-timers!

I would like our kids to see some of the major highlights in our country, and memorable places I think they would enjoy. We will be taking either our Explorer and staying in hotels or perhaps a friend's motorhome (any preference or recommendations?)

We will begin in Souther California and would like to take a northern route maybe through CA, then OR and over to Yellowstone. From there, we would head East through the Dakotas (stopping to see Mt Rushmore) and over to Chicago, Pittsburg, NYC, and head on down the coast making stops in historical places and our nation's capital. Then on to Florida to visit Disneyworld (not necessarily Disneyland, since we're all born and raised in Southern Ca), but some of the other cool places for teens. After that, we thought we would take a short trek thru New Orleans, Texas (don't know what to see there), to Colorado (some friends in boulder), then on to the Grand Canyon, (maybe Death Valley, time permitting)...and fianlly home again!

I know this sounds very ambitious, and perhaps not the best route, but perhaps you could help me find out how to plan this so we can get the most out of our trip (this may be the only time we take a road trip around the counrty as a family, so it's gotta be worth our while!). Any books, sample trips (with approx. mileage per day, timeline and cost info) would be a great start. We are planning to go mid-July to mid- August, and we are open to exact dates (if that helps...)

One more thing...we have 2 dogs...would you leave them with a pet hotel or take them?

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

As long as a month seems, the time will fly by, and you really are looking at a lot of things to fit into this trip. Since you will be on the go so much, this could be a fun trip to do in a motorhome. It would make it a little easier to eat your own meals and keep you from packing and unpacking everyday.

A motorhome might make it a little easier to bring your dogs. I don't know how well they travel with you, and they will put some restrictions on what you can do. Ultimately, it will depend if you feel comfortable keeping your pets in a kennel for a month.