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We're a couple of Brits intending on taking 3 weeks to drive from Miami to LA, hopefully via Alabama, Missisipi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada.
Any tips where to even begin in planning this trip would be brilliant. Mileage? Budget etc? We're hoping to do it in July 2010.
Welcome to the RTA forum!
3 weeks is certainly enough time for such a trip, but you really haven't told us nearly enough to even start guessing things like a budget.
I'd really recommend to start you simply look around this site a bit, both the forum and the many articles in the planning section. If you do a little work, you should have not problem finding lots of resources to help you get the fundamentals down.
Thanks for the advice. We've had a good look around and it appears the best thing to do is get a map and get planning!?
Perhaps some more simple questions, seeing as we've never done the great road trip malarky before...
Is sat nav worthwhile?
What is a good price for a motel and can we get one without booking in advance?
Is it possible to swing by Las Vegas on the way to Los Angeles or is that ludicrous?
Are there any good books that detail our route that are worthwhile buying?
Cheers!
Kat and Jonesy
SatNav is ok, but I wouldn't use it as a primary resource, more as something to add to maps. Over 3 weeks, you could probably buy a cheap one for about as much as a rental company will charge.
Cheap motels will usually run about $50 on average, with mid-priced once being in the 70-80 range. You'll also pay more to stay downtown in most major cities. You usually can find places without a reservation, but as always, it is a bit of a gamble. It depends on you personal comfort with not having a sure thing and possibly having to search to find a place.
Vegas would only add a couple hundred miles (at most) to your 3000+ mile trip, so its certainly possible in the three weeks you have available. Since it takes about a week to make this drive directly, your 2 extra weeks would let you detour to most anywhere in the US.
If you check out the planning section of this website, you'll find lots of book recommendations that will cover your route and many other topics of interest to a first time roadtripper.