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03-18-2006, 08:06 AM
pmteet

Going half way across country. NEED pionters

This is my first time posting so I hope I do it right.

This will be my families first MAJOR roadtrip. My kids are 14, almost 10 and 8.
We live in St. Louis and are going west. I am more of a fly by the seat of your pants type of gal. But want to make sure we see some fun stuff and get everything in. We will be seeing Arches, Bryce, the Grand Canyon, Vegas, Sequoia and Kings canyon, Monterey, San Francisco. From there IF we have time we will see Yosimite and back through Nevada. We will then hit the Rocky mountains and back home. We will be gone for 18 days.

I am a little concerned with HWY 12 in Utah. :)

I have read and gotten info from books and this wonderful site. Any other suggestions would be great.

Thank you

Michelle
03-18-2006, 09:06 AM
AZBuck

You Need Almost Nothing More

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

You are doing great as far as I can see. And your kids are going to eat this up. 18 days is probably an ideal amount of time. It will give you all time to enjoy the drive as well as actually experience some of the great locations you're going to be visiting. You're already hitting most of the absolute best the southwest has to offer, so I can only offer a few pointers. You don't give your route, but I suspect that you plan to use I-70 through the plains. If so, make sure that you make a couple of good length stops each day. They don't have to be elaborate, a picnic lunch at a state park, a visit to an old cavalry fort, a stop at a small town playground. I'm sure it's not news to you that your kids have more energy than you do, so let them burn it off outside the car. For other tips on travelling as a family, check out these hints.

As to specifics. UT-12 is an absolutely gorgeous road, not to be feared at all!. In Monterey, be sure to see the aquarium, and head down the coast a ways on CA-1 so that the kids can see real sea lions basking on the shore. In San Francisco hit the Exploratorium. Otherwise, I think flying by the seat of your pants is a great way to travel with kids, and they're all going to have wonderful and memorable time.

AZBuck
04-20-2006, 10:21 AM
pmteet

Is this a realistic trip?

OK I got most of the details worked out and I would like your guys opinions.
Since we have a child with health issues the time we spent at the national parks will be limited to maybe 4 hours. Some days will be long in the car but we've got pleanty of games to play. The stops are not writen in stone, if everyone is up to going further certain days that will be great.
I am also NOT planning on staying two days in Monterey. But we will be going whale watching and I want to give us an extra day incase of bad wheather.
Any suggestions would be great. We are leaving the Middle of May

We will be leaving Wends. night. St. Louis -Kansas City KS.

Day 2 Kansas City- Denver
Day 3 Denver- Moab
Day 4- Moab- Cainville We will see Arches on this day
Day 5- Caineville- cannonvile (Capital Reef and Hwy 12)
Day 6- Cannonville- Cameron Az (Grand Canyon)
Day 7 Cameron Az- Las Vegas
Day 8 Vegas- Three Rivers Ca
Day 9 Three Rivers- Monterey Ca (Sequoia Park)
Day 10 Monterey
Day 11 Monterey- San Francisco (SiteSeeing)
Day 12 San francisco- Reno OR however far we get.
Day 13 Reno- However far we can get
Day 14 We need to be in Salt Lake City by this day
Day 15 Salt Lake City - Vernal
Day 16 Vernal- Craig Co (Dinosaur Monument)
Day 17 Craig Co- Cheyenne Wy. (Rocky Mountain)
Day 18 Cheyenne- Ks
Day 19 Ks- Saint Louis

I know we will all be tired by the time we are done but it will be fun.
I would LOVE to be able to fit in Yosimite Park but I do not think it will work out.
Thanks

Michelle
04-20-2006, 10:51 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Weighing in

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmteet

Since we have a child with health issues

You are probably already a total expert on these issues -- and even though you are not going to Disneyworld this trip -- I wanted to recommend a book I reviewed earlier this year -- I learned alot and there might be some helpful tips in there for you too. Here is the link to that book.

Quote:

the time we spent at the national parks will be limited to maybe 4 hours.

If this were a summer trip, I would say this would be very tough to arrange -- (traffic in the parks) but leaving this week, it might be possible.

Quote:

We will be leaving Wends. night. St. Louis -Kansas City KS.

So, you are going to drive 4+ hours the first night and then have a killer day the next day? How many drivers?

Quote:

Day 2 Kansas City- Denver

600 miles -- with stops for fuel, rest and food this will be a minimum of 11 hours on the road -- and you only got about four hours of sleep the night before?

Quote:

Day 3 Denver- Moab

355 miles or about 7 hours of travel (this will be a slower over-all day, because you will HAVE to stop and enjoy the views!

Quote:

Day 4- Moab- Cainville We will see Arches on this day

Do you have a reservation at Cainville -- or how did you choose this as a destination? It is gorgeous country -- I just can't remember anything there.

Quote:

Day 5- Caineville- cannonvile (Capital Reef and Hwy 12)

Gorgeous day of driving!

Quote:

Day 6- Cannonville- Cameron Az (Grand Canyon)

This day may be pushing the envelope a little bit -- distance is short but there is much to see and do.

Quote:

Day 7 Cameron Az- Las Vegas

This day is only 304 miles, but it will take 6+ hours of driving -- more if you stop and enjoy places along the way.

Quote:

Day 8 Vegas- Three Rivers Ca

390 miles -- should be a fun day

Quote:

I know we will all be tired by the time we are done but it will be fun

. You have certainly spent some quality time planning this adventure -- I just hope you budget sufficient time for the drivers to rest and recuperate -- lots of long days here.

Let us know what you find out there!

Mark
04-20-2006, 11:12 AM
pmteet

Thanks for your replies. My Hubby will be driving most of it. He loves to drive and long stretches do not bother him. He would rather drive than ride. Which is good because I would rather ride. LOL

We are only going four hours the first day because we will be picking hubby up from work and leaving. Since he gets off at 5, four hours seemed reasonable. If everyone is up to going further we can. Not much is set in stone.

I made a mistake we are not stopping in Cainville but Torrey. My original thought was Cainville, but as you said. I couldn't find a hotel. LOL Makes sleep a tad harder.

Hubby is one that does not like waisting daylight, so 11 hours is not that big of a deal for him. We also have a DVD player for the kids and games to play. If it still light out he wants to be on the road. We both average about 5 hours of sleep a night anyway, and due to medicating my middle child we MUST get up at a certain time.

I must say I am a little shocked Mapquest (which I hate anyway) shows a tad shorter time frame. I may try and rethink a few things

Thanks for the link

Michelle
04-20-2006, 11:43 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Mapquest -- in an alternate universe

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmteet

I must say I am a little shocked Mapquest (which I hate anyway) shows a tad shorter time frame. I may try and rethink a few things

Michelle, Mapquest "lives" in an alternative universe where all roads can be driven at 75 mph and there is no need to stop for fuel, food or views. The time-tested rule-of-thumb we live by is: In the western states on Interstates and most highways you can average 57 mph (assuming that when you are driving you drive at or near the posted speed limit of the roads) and about 53 mph on all eastern highways over a day's travel. You can sometimes increase this average speed -- but you would need to attain triple digits over an 5-8 hour period to do it. I just drove 640 miles in the Nevada desert and I averaged a tad over that 57 mph (but rarely dropped below "a factor" of the posted speed limit)....

Mark
04-20-2006, 12:41 PM
pmteet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

Michelle, Mapquest "lives" in an alternative universe where all roads can be driven at 75 mph and there is no need to stop for fuel, food or views. Mark

Is the TravMatix site fairly accurate with driving times? I am not worried about stopping for gas and such. I usually figure that out myself.
Thanks for all your help. Like I said this is our first REAL roadtrip. The trips we had before were for the kids to have surgery. I want to make it special for them.

Michelle
04-20-2006, 02:48 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Algorithms

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmteet

Is the TravMatix site fairly accurate with driving times?

All of the mapping programs use complex algorithms, most actually adjust the optimal speed for known construction and weather slowdowns -- even with all of the sophistication and believe me it is complicated, (we tried to writing our own RTA software), using the 57 or 53 mph average speed works out the best.

Quote:

The trips we had before were for the kids to have surgery. I want to make it special for them.

Just being on the road as a family will make it special -- it is never about the place -- it is always about the journey.

Mark
04-20-2006, 03:37 PM
pmteet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

All of the mapping programs use complex algorithms, most actually adjust the optimal speed for known construction and weather slowdowns -- even with all of the sophistication and believe me it is complicated, (we tried to writing our own RTA software), using the 57 or 53 mph average speed works out the best.
Mark

Thanks I will do that.
05-06-2006, 06:44 PM
pmteet

One More Question

I hope you do not mind one more question.
We really want this "fly by the seat of our pants" on this trip. But I am getting nervous. I am afraid we will not have a hotel room.

What do you guys think? Again most of the stops are not set in stone.

Thanks again

Michelle

will be leaving Wends. night. St. Louis -Kansas City KS.

Day 2 Kansas City- Denver
Day 3 Denver- Moab
Day 4- Moab- Torrey We will see Arches on this day
Day 5- Torrey- cannonvile (Capital Reef and Hwy 12)
Day 6- Cannonville- Cameron Az (Grand Canyon)
Day 7 Cameron Az- Las Vegas
Day 8 Vegas- Three Rivers Ca
Day 9 Three Rivers- Monterey Ca (Sequoia Park)
Day 10 Monterey
Day 11 Monterey- San Francisco (SiteSeeing)
Day 12 San francisco- Reno OR however far we get.
Day 13 Reno- However far we can get
Day 14 We need to be in Salt Lake City by this day
Day 15 Salt Lake City - Vernal
Day 16 Vernal- Craig Co (Dinosaur Monument)
Day 17 Craig Co- Cheyenne Wy. (Rocky Mountain)
Day 18 Cheyenne- Ks
05-06-2006, 07:02 PM
RoadTripper Brad

Motels

I've never had to set up a reservation, and I usually don't because I'm never sure where exactly I will be when I start to get run down. On several trips I aimed at making it to a certain city, and nearly made a motel reservation, but ended up having to stop quite a distance before hand.

However, I know a lot of people who gauge their travel for the day, and when they start getting close to the end of their days journey they begin calling motels and hotels in the next largest city ahead of them. It's worked for them.

But, again, I've always just stopped at the nearest motel 6 or super 8 when I start to feel tired, and its always worked for me.

-Brad
05-06-2006, 07:04 PM
PNW Judy

I wouldn't sweat it!

I really don't think you'll have much of a problem. Unless there is some huge festival or some other event going on in town drawing lots of tourists, most towns have places to stay.

However, if you want good lodging that is also inexpensive, then this will limit your choices. San Francisco area hotels are quite pricey. I think I'd want to research a hotel there to find one with a good price and location and make reservations there. I really think you can wing the rest.

Or, how about this solution? Go ahead and make reservations ahead of time and then type of a list with your reservation information. Make sure you write down a phone number to contact and carefully note the cancellation policies. Then, if you find that you either are behind schedule and can't make it to that hotel that night without rushing or missing something, or you are ahead of schedule and would rather press on, you can cancel the reservation without any penalty if you do it according to their rules.

I've done that when I'm traveling through areas where I expect finding lodging might be a problem for some reason. This gives you the best of both words. The security that there is a hotel for you if you need it and the flexibility to change your plans.
06-05-2006, 11:32 AM
pmteet

Thank you!!

I wanted to thank everyone for your imput. Our trip was fantastic, only a couple hiccups. BUT that only makes things more interesting.

My daughter was in the hospital a week before we went and this may be our first and last LONG roadtrip in a very long time. You guys helped make it great!
We loved hwy 70 in CO. except for the roter problem. :)
Our car was attacked by Prarie dogs on the Utah Colorado border.

Thank again
Michelle
06-05-2006, 11:35 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Our car was attacked by Prarie dogs on the Utah Colorado border.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmteet

Our car was attacked by Prarie dogs on the Utah Colorado border.

Hey, you have to explain that!

Mark
06-05-2006, 11:52 AM
pmteet

Prarie Dogs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

Hey, you have to explain that!

Mark

LOL It was AWFUL. The Prarie Dogs were EVERYWHERE!! On the road, Off the road, the park ranger said it was the worst she had NEVER seen.
Paul kept trying to miss them. I told him to HONK. Squirrels.. you honk, they run. NOT so with prarie dogs :( They ran Too only TOWARD the van!
Our middle child kept scolding Paul like he was TRYING to take out the prarie dogs. You can only swerve so much before you risk getting hurt, ya know.
Then with EVERY blessed bump my youngest would ask him if he got another.
Poor Paul felt SOOOO bad.

Other than that no animals were harmed. Missed a deer by a couple milliseconds. Luckily we were going all but 5 mph. I could have reached out and touched it.

Michelle
06-06-2006, 12:03 AM
PNW Judy

Oh, my....

That's very sad and hysterical, both at the same time. I'm sitting here chuckling out loud! But feeling bad for dead prairie dogs. What was wrong with them? Mass hysteria? Were they sacrificing themselves to save others? Teenage lover suicide pacts? What the heck?

I sure hope your kids remember this with a smile. And I hope that you get another roadtrip with your family sooner than you think you will.

We'd love to hear more about your trip. Take care.