Los Angeles to Virginia Beach April 2015

Hey road trippers!

My dog and I will be driving from Los Angeles to Virginia Beach in April to move with my husband who is in the Navy.
I am planning on taking I-40 and I would like to do it in a week or so. I would like to stop and see the sights along the way, but not take any major detours.

Here's what I'm thinking so far...

Day 1: Los Angeles to Flagstaff (437 miles)
Hit Grand Canyon South Rim either that afternoon or next morning.

Day 2: Flagstaff to Albuquerque (324 miles)
Petrified forest, meteor crater

Day 3: Albuquerque to Oklahoma City (541 miles)

Day 4: Oklahoma City to Little Rock (338 miles)

Day 5: Little Rock to Nashville (349 miles)
Check out Memphis on the way

Day 6: Nashville to Roanoke (438 miles)

Day 7: Roanoke to Virgina Beach (295 miles)

To those of you familiar with this route, does this look doable?
Any suggestions for sight seeing along the way? I'm more into outdoorsy stuff and food than I am into history, and I will be traveling with a dog.
Any military hotels you know of on this route with good rates for a traveling military spouse?

Thank you in advance for the advice!

Hi, and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.

You have laid out a nice plan, without any really strenuous days driving. If your budget will allow it, you might be better off staying in Tusayan that first night, to be close to the GC next morning. Then enter via the south entry and exit via Desert View Drive - east entrance - and south to Flagstaff.

If Tusayan is not an option I would suggest Williams, where you could take AZ64 north into the south entrance of the Grand Canyon.

Lifey.

Because you are active duty and on PCS orders, you will have priority at any of the bases along the way, for their Lodges. The ones I see on your route:

ABQ - Kirtland AFB - AFL is 505-846-9653, www.kirtland.af.mil

OKC - Tinker AFB - AFL is 405-734-5095 or 2822, www.tinker.af.mil

ARK - Little Rock AFB - AFL is 501-987-6753, www.littlerock.af.mil

Sorry, nothing in the Nashville or Roanoke areas that have a lodge of any sort.

If unable to secure lodging at the bases (we have never had any luck with that, but hubby is retired USN), you might ask if a given hotel/lodging gives a military discount to active duty. MANY do.

Military lodges may not have any problem with the dog. Pet-friendly chains include Motel 6 and La Quinta, but other places have individual policies.


Donna

I also think Tusayan will be a better place if you want to see a bit of GCNP. Afaik dogs are not allowed in the GCNP lodges. Tusayan to ABQ already easily will take 7 hours just driving so I don't think you'll have the time for Meteor Crater (1-1.5 hours) or Petrified Forest (2 hours) if you want to stop along the rim first esp at Desert View.
There's a lot to see for R66 between Flagstaff and OKC but no time I'm afraid. Suggest to have something to eat at the cafe in Glenrio at the NM/Tx border and at least have a "mud" pie. Glenrio is the halfway point for R66 between Chicago and LA. In OKC don't miss the Memorial. No time for one of the greatest western museums ther Cowboy and Heritage Museum though.