Coast-to-Coast -- LA to Boston in mid August
Hello dear community of Roadtrip America! I have heard from people I met since moving to the US that you are the people to take advices from regarding planing a coast-to-coast trip.
The premiss as follows: I came to LA for 2.5 months to work, I bough and old car so I could survive LA (a well maintained 100k mileage 98' Volvo S-70 from someone I know) and thought 'Hi! I can use this toy as a film student in Boston and already spent money on the car (which I will lose substantial amount of it once I'll sell it again) — why not just drive it on. That is how came the idea for a coast-to-coast roadtrip, which I hope starts out of kind of a necessity (transporting a car) and will turn to a crazy fun times.
I want to share with you the little I got so far and use your wisdom and experience on if and how I should approach this trip.
So what I know?
1. I have 12-14 days — mid to the end of August — to get to Boston.
2. I will most likely will have 2 more drivers with me.
3. I started guessing a preferable route. As I'm trying to enjoy this trip I tried to choose places I wanted to go and see — but because I know nothing about roadtriping and little about the US, I might have chose unwisely. I thought building the stops and the route around this three cities: Austin, New-Orleans, Nashville ; and I thought I can try and find cool stops between LA those three and Boston.
4. I am traveling on a budget. I know roadtriping isn't a cheep thing. But as a student I will have to stay creative and find ways not to spend much. I thought I could skip big expensive big cities (except NO and Austin that I really like to visit and Nashville where I'll have where to stay if needed), but sure you have other good advices on how to travel economically smart.
So what I think I need to know?
1. I guess I have to first decide if you can drive 3500-4000 miles in less than two weeks and still enjoy yourself. I don't want only to do a roadtrip if it means only to drive all the time, and I want each day to include at least one cool activity besides car games.
* do you think that if I could get get out of work earlier and turn it into a 15-16 days trip, would this be a game-changer that would dramatically improve the quality of my groups trip?)
2. Do you have any suggestions about the route? Does south makes sense in the midst of August? (going south isn't set in stone, and we would consider other routes if they make more sense) How can I smartly fill the big gaps (for holes then cheese right now) I have in my current route. Do you have a suggestions for a reading that could help me decide? or any other creative way to research the matter? maybe any specific suggestions for stops?
We will try to at least partly avoid major touristic attractions and go through a more alternative route - to accommodate the nature of our group.
3. Any suggestions on stuff I would need to prepare for this trip? any technical stuff? maybe regarding my mature car for instance (and how to improve the chances for a smooth sailing)?
4. Again, on how to make this ride cost efficient?
I am only the first stages of preparations so really please I implore you to share any thoughts that can help me start planing the best trip possible.
Thank you all -- really appreciate you reading it, and I'm thrilled to join your lovely community,
Yuval
Start with some good maps.
Hi Yuva, and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.
What particular interest do you and your fellow travellers have, other than the places mentioned?
A good place to start is with good maps. If you are not already a member of AAA, it may pay you on this trip to have a membership. You will need it on the road, unless of course, you have some other roadside assistance plan. It's great insurance in case of breakdowns, especially with a 16 year old car. (I too have a 1998 vehicle and just turned over 120000.)
The extra benefits of AAA membership is that you can get maps free. I would start of by getting a State map of every State between LA and NOLA and up to Boston. In fact you could get a map of every State other than those you know you will definitely not hit, such as WA, OR, MT, etc.
On these maps you will see many options for routes which you could take, interstates, old highways and backroads. It will show you where all the great national parks are, state parks and forests, etc. You will note that these maps also have notations of historical places and touristy attractions.
Make a list of those which interest you, even if you don't think you can make it. The experts here will help you refine the trip, and make clear what fits and what could be stretching it.
LA to Boston can be driven by the most direct route in six days, so you have some time for sightseeing. Of course, more time will allow you to do more, but 12 - 14 days should give you quite a few options. Be aware though that having extra drivers does not mean you can do more.
For ideas on budgeting on the road, you might like to check out this forum.
LIfey
Coast-to-Coast -- LA to Boston in mid August - advices on a jams across our route
Dear people of Roadtrip America,
After I took your advice a month or so ago about actually taking this trip, now I'm getting ready for it and wouldn't mind getting help with the specifics of my journey.
I will be heading out of LA Wednesday night the 6th of August and plan on getting to Boston by the night of 16th. I planed our 10 days trip route I'll detail next basically through Lonely Plant's table of contents:
The 7th:
Getting to Phoenix (Will start driving there the day before)
Staying in Phoenix
Getting to Tucson
The 8th:
morning in Tucson
Driving to El Paso
Afternoon and night in El Paso
The 9th
late morning in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Driving towards Austin
A late drink in Austin
The 10th
Morning and lunch in Austin
Huston dinner
Start driving towards New Orleans
The 11th
A day in New Orleans
Start driving to Jackson, MS
The 12th
Jackson, MS
Montgomery, AL
Sleeping in Birmingham
The 13th
Morning in Birmingham
Getting to Nashville by noon
spending the rest of the day and sleeping in Nashville
The 14th
Late morning-early noon at Louisville
getting by night to Bluegrass region.
The 15th
Early wake up - driving to Monongahela National Forest
Getting there by lunch time and having half a day there
Driving towards Dutch Country (But where in specific??)
The 16th
Starting the Day at Dutch Country
early afternoon heading towards Boston
Dinner at Hartford, CT
Boston
I'd love for any kind of advice:
1. If there are cool places along those trails that you recommend
2. where to stay or where to eat
3. if there is something I should avoid (we prefer not to go too mainstream and boring sightseeing).
4. Maybe if in general this is a good route. I basically build this trail around Austin-NO-Nashville, and besides those city would love to get any ideas on good ways to explore Texas and southern US. I my father and my 98 Volvo can't be more excited about it. Please help a friend, maybe you can help me makes this trip the best it can be.
Thanks!
Yuval