Across USA in a Mustang Convertible...

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04-09-2005, 06:51 PM
Intrepid

Across USA in a Mustang Convertible..

Hi,

We're 3 Swedes in our early thirties making a trip this summer we all dreamed of doing for quite a while. We're driving from the west coast (San Francisco) to the east (New York) and in between we have planned many stops, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, New Orleans to name a few.
We're all interested in taking scenic routes, but we also have to do this trip in 6 weeks (preferrably with a couple of days to spare in New York City) so I guess taking some interstates are inevitable. Please tip us off on routes to take, or not to take..

http://www.fotogalleriet.se/alb_showpic_id205623.html

this is our planned route...

Best Regards,

Magnus
Sweden
04-09-2005, 07:03 PM
Mark Sedenquist

The Southern Route?

Well, the Mustang sounds good -- why does your route seem to avoid the major mountains, especially the Sierras and the Colorado Rockies?

A cross country trip of this scale needs to include some 5000 foot passes!

Some of the cool things to check out in Las Vegas.

It does sound like a cool adventure!
04-10-2005, 05:04 PM
Bogart

Highway 50 over the Sierras:

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/18063677-L.jpg

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/18102592-L.jpg

I-80 over the Sierras:

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/18063196-L.jpg

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/18063207-L.jpg

I-70 through the Rockies:

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/17982062-L.jpg

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/17982015-L.jpg

Loveland Pass, CO (el. 11,992 ft):

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/17984375-L.jpg

http://nivek.smugmug.com/photos/17984413-L.jpg

So, yeah, go through some mountain ranges.
04-10-2005, 07:03 PM
Boston Wrangler

Driving cross-country in a rag top sounds great and I'm sure you would have a great experience and stories to tell, but take this from someone who has driven long hours in a Jeep Wrangler, your ears and hairstyles will suffer. Granted, a Mustang is a bit more refined than a Jeep, but the last time I sat checked, Mustang's don't seat three adults comfortably on local trips, nevermind a six week adventure.
04-11-2005, 10:12 AM
AZBuck

Two to Take

Your route looks both ambitious and well planned, so I'll keep my suggestions to a minimum, but here are two:

1) It looks as though you plan to hook around from southern Utah on US-89 and AZ-64 to go to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. Consider taking Alt-US-89 and then AZ-67 south from Jacob Lake to the north rim of the canyon instead. You will encounter far fewer tourists and still get a magnificent and under-appreciated view of the canyon. Have a relaxed and elegant lunch at the lodge and enjoy the view. You can still hike a ways into the canyon or take a burro ride - you just won't be shoulder to shoulder with all the tour bus patrons.

This route also affords you the opportunity to leave Arizona by going through Page and picking up AZ-98 to US-160 and US-163 through Monument Valley, which should be every bit the 'must see' that the Grand Canyon is. You can then continue over to Durango, CO (with a side trip to Mesa Verde National Park if time allows) and see some of the Rockies before taking US-550 south to rejoin your original route in Albuquerque, NM.

2) Between Memphis and New Orleans, try US-61 and MS-1 (the Great River Road) to get a feel for the Mississippi River. Take a tour of an old plantation in either Vicksburg or Natchez. This is a stretch where the side roads offer a completely different experience than the sanitized, homoginized I-55 route.

AZBuck
04-12-2005, 03:24 PM
Intrepid

I did not know about Monument Valley.. googled for some pics of it and it sure looks breathtaking, definitely something we will consider.

Actually, we've already changed our preliminary route to US-61 after reading about the "blues road".

Thanks for great tips.

Magnus
04-30-2005, 04:48 PM
Intrepid

US Road Trip Revised

Hi,

I asked earlier for tips on sights and scenic drives through the country and after consulting MS Streets and trips my coming 40 day trip across the US looks like this:

Day 1: San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Yosemite NP
Day 4: Sequoia NP
Day 5: Highway 1 / Hearst Castle / San Luis Obispo
Day 6: Solvang / Malibu / Los Angeles
Day 7: Los Angeles
Day 8: Ridgecrest (only to get an EARLY start into Death Valley HOT HOT)
Day 9: Death Valley / Las Vegas
Day 10: Las Vegas
Day 11: Zion NP / Cedar City
Day 12: Bryce Canyon NP/ Panguitch
Day 13: Grand Canyon (north rim) / Lees Ferry / Page
Day 14: Mesa Verde NP / Cortez
Day 15: Santa Fe
Day 16: Fort Sumner (Billy the Kid grave)
Day 17: San Antonio (The Alamo)
Day 18: San Antonio
Day 19: Dallas
Day 20: Dallas
Day 21: New Orleans
Day 22: New Orleans
Day 23: Tallahassee
Day 24: Lake Placid
Day 25: Key West
Day 26: Key West
Day 27: Miami Beach
Day 28: Miami Beach
Day 29: Orlando (Disneyworld)
Day 30: Orlando
Day 31: Savannah
Day 32: Ashland
Day 33: Washington DC
Day 34: Niagara Falls
Day 35: Niagara Falls
Day 36: New York City
Day 37: New York City

Days to spare: 3

As you can see I have a few days to spare ..

Am I missing something special on the way or something nearby these places that I should see or maybe something I should avoid? Personally I could give Dallas a miss but one of my friends who are coming with really wants to go there (the Dallas tv show was huge here :)).

Regards,

Magnus - Sweden
04-30-2005, 05:15 PM
Mark Sedenquist

There are some logistical challengs therein

Quote:

Hi, I asked earlier for tips on sights and scenic drives through the country and after consulting MS Streets and trips my coming 40 day trip across the US looks like this:

Day 1: San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Yosemite NP
Day 4: Sequoia NP
Day 5: Highway 1 / Hearst Castle / San Luis Obispo

I dunno -- I don't think it will be physically possible to drive from Yosemite to Sequoia to Hearst Castle in that time frame.

Quote:

Day 6: Solvang / Malibu / Los Angeles
Day 7: Los Angeles
Day 8: Ridgecrest (only to get an EARLY start into Death Valley HOT HOT)

Coming from LA -- the fastest route would be via Baker and north on Highway 127. But an overnight from Ridgecrest does make sense!

Quote:

Day 9: Death Valley / Las Vegas
Day 10: Las Vegas
Day 11: Zion NP / Cedar City
Day 12: Bryce Canyon NP/ Panguitch
Day 13: Grand Canyon (north rim) / Lees Ferry / Page
Day 14: Mesa Verde NP / Cortez

Again, this is pushing it a bit. But does sound fun.

Quote:

Day 15: Santa Fe
Day 16: Fort Sumner (Billy the Kid grave)
Day 17: San Antonio (The Alamo)
Day 18: San Antonio
Day 19: Dallas
Day 20: Dallas
Day 21: New Orleans
Day 22: New Orleans
Day 23: Tallahassee
Day 24: Lake Placid

Lake Placid? Lake Placid is in New York...

Quote:

Day 25: Key West
Day 26: Key West

Hey, spend more time here. A week is good!

Quote:

Day 27: Miami Beach
Day 28: Miami Beach
Day 29: Orlando (Disneyworld)
Day 30: Orlando
Day 31: Savannah
Day 32: Ashland
Day 33: Washington DC
Day 34: Niagara Falls
Day 35: Niagara Falls
Day 36: New York City
Day 37: New York City

I really think you have too many locations to try and reach. If I were doing this route I would have passed 50 days easily.

But, maybe you can drive faster than I do...

Mark
05-01-2005, 02:20 AM
Intrepid

PHP Code:

I dunno -- I don't think it will be physically possible to drive from Yosemite to Sequoia to Hearst Castle in that time frame.

-- We're basically only driving through Sequoia and climbing Moro Rock, spending
the night in Visalia , from there MS Streets says it's about 6 hours drive to Hearst Castle (going up north to Monterey first)? Is this not correct?

PHP Code:

Lake Placid? Lake Placid is in New York...

-- Actually there is a Lake Placid in florida too, and this is only a stopover going to the Keys.

-- I was also surprised to see that there's a Bagdad in Florida aswell :)

PHP Code:

Day 25: Key West Day 26: Key West Hey, spend more time here. A week is good!

-- I'm torn between Key West and Miami Beach, if I skip Miami Beach I can have 4-5 days here.. would you rather go to the Keys than Miami Beach?

PHP Code:

I really think you have too many locations to try and reach. If I were doing this route I would have passed 50 days easily. But, maybe you can drive faster than I do...

-- Basically, I'm trusting MS Streets to give me a timeframe and I've set the program to "moderate driving speed" and the driving days from 0800 - 1800 with 60 min rest stops every 3 hours.

Thanks for your tips..

/Magnus