Miami-SF. Whats the timeframe???

Motels: When I did my last major cross-country RoadTrip a couple of years ago, I was staying in what I consider mid-range, name brand chains and they were running me around $60 a night. Now because I was on a somewhat fixed schedule and knew roughly where I'd be staying on any given night, I had the luxury of doing the pre-planning that let me scope out what was available, read the reviews, and book ahead which will generally save you 10% or so over the drive-up or 'rack' rate. It also meant that I didn't have to worry about finding a place each night, just drive up, ask for my reservation, shower, check the weather and news, and go to bed. I also tend to stay outside of large cities even if the city is my destination, partly for the price, but mostly for the noise. Prices are probably up a bit since that trip, but if you've got $100/night you should be able to do very well. Major chains generally worth considering in your stated range would include Days Inn, Comfort Inns, La Quinta, Holiday Inns, Ramada Inns and Jameson Inns. There are others, but those are pretty much everywhere in America and will give you something to compare others with.

Rental Cars: Besides the outfits that Larrison mentioned, Alamo, Thrifty, and Dollar have all proven useful to me at one time or another. There really isn't much to choose from between any of the major or mid-major companies, so just check the price and fine print (mileage and geographic restrictions especially). The one company that probably won't work for you is Enterprise as they tend NOT to cater to the one-way rental customers.

Food: Absolutely - ASK! And Larrison is right again on the differences in "Mexican" cuisine. I can name at least three distinctly different varieties available here in Tucson.

Weather: June in the southwest desert will be "warm", but not as bad as it gets. Once we get to July and we start sucking in moisture from the Pacific to begin our monsoon season, and it's no longer a dry heat, is when it gets really bad. Lots of water; light colored, light weight and loose fitting clothing; long sleeves and slacks; wide brimmed hats; good sun block; and don't push it. If you can survive the southeast on your way here, you'll be fine.

Parades: Memorial Day is May 26th. That will be your best, but not only, chance to find a parade during your trip. Keep your eye out. To find the local festivals and such, be sure to ask at the Welcome Centers as you enter each new state, but also make a point, as it seems you plan to, to go into the centers of small towns for the local eateries and while there see if you can also find a local information center which will know what's going on in the area.

AZBuck

Another aspect of this is that if you "enjoy" negotiating a rate -- no hotel/motel manager likes to have less than 100% occupancy every night -- in fact, most chains offer bonus incentives to their employees to ensure that they achieve 100% rates and so if you roll in at 9:00 pm or later and there are rooms available, you can ALWAYS offer 60% to 80% of the listed "rack rate" and often get them. The downside is that often times the chains fill up. But if you are willing to risk the chances that the motels are full you can beat the best discounted rate on the at least 75% of the time by just being there.

The first time you offer $35 for a room that the desk clerk has jut said was $85 you are going to feel kinda silly -- but believe me, if they have a room available, they would rather rent it than not. There is usually a little back and forth haggling over the price -- but usually the desk clerks just roll their eyes and take your credit card. If you offer $70 for that $85 -- usually there is no haggling.

The other thing is that you have to be prepared to "walk" if they don't want to bargain. Sometimes that is not real fun.

Another good time to arrive is 4:00 pm, most of the online deals will be "done" for that day -- and there is about an hour window when the day manager would like to be able to "fill rooms" before then end of the shift. The advantage here is you can often secure better rates and still have time to go and explore the area a bit before the business travelers start checking in. You do not want to be trying to negotiate a new room rate at the same time as someone paying full boat from a business package.

Mark

I have nothing to add to the great advice you're getting so far but I just need to say hello to a fellow Norwegian. My dad immigrated from Stavanger in 1948. My mom's parents from the Stavanger area in 1905. Pure coincidence they came from the same area. I still have many relatives there mainly in Oslo, Haugesund, Tronheim, and Stavanger. My one trip there is a highlight of my life. I hope to return some day.

I think I have a bit of the Viking traveler gene in me as well because any trip, no matter where it takes me or how I get there, is great!

I'll just say that you can do this in 14 days if you keep moving along, however, if you can talk Grandma into a few extra days, you won't regret it. After the long flight just to get here, you might as well squeeze in as many days as you can.