First Cross-Country Road Trip: New Jersey to California and Back

I just completed my first week on this trip, which still has quite a few weeks of fun and exploring ahead! So far I've traveled a total of 2,530 miles.

That's definitely a lot and it's going fast, but I knew the trip out west would, because I have many more stops I want to make on the more southern route headed back east. Plus, I love to drive - I love being on the road! When I want or need to stop, I do - everything I've wanted to see and everywhere I've wanted to go, I've made good use of the time I spent doing so - but otherwise, I just drive with my music on and dig the ride and the scenery. It's every bit as amazing as I dreamed it would be.

Day 1: Left New Jersey, taking 78 to 81 to 83 to bypass all the tolls of the Jersey Turnpike and I-95. Hit just one toll on the Pennsylvania side after crossing the Delaware River. Spent the night in Falls Church, Virginia. Koi Koi has really good sushi and Natalia's Elegant Creations has delicious baked good made on the premises - even the plain bagel I had was perfect and fresh.

Day 2: Followed 81 south to Knoxville, Tennessee. Hit a 3-hour delay midway down when a bad accident closed down the highway for a while - so naturally, I was stuck on a stretch where there were no exits until immediately after the closure point.

Day 3: Enjoyed a quiet day in Knoxville, seeing Old Town, Gay Street, the 1800s cemetery at the First Presbyterian Church, the World's Fair Sunsphere and grounds, the University of Tennessee, and the Tennessee River.

Day 4: Drove north through Kentucky and across the Mississippi to Metropolis, Illinois. Stopped in Superman Square to see the Superman statue in front of the County Court House and the Superman Museum and Super Store - loved the Christopher Reeve memorabilia they had there, but the exhibit is probably only worth the $3 admission price if you're really a devout fan. Waved to the arch as I passed through St. Louis, and stopped in Columbia, Missouri for the night.

Day 5: Had lunch in Lawrence, Kansas, which I admit is so much more beautiful than I imagined! Downtown is bustling with business and life and seems very much a fresh college town. Also, the Kansas River is gorgeous from the park near the Visitors Center. Ate at Milton's Cafe, which has really thick, fluffy French toast, and the root beer was served in the bottle with a nice clean pint glass! Loved it! Continued on to Dodge City, Kansas. Lots of construction on the rural U.S. routes which close one lane on two-lane roads, so a pilot car has to lead lines of traffic to the other side after they've been waiting anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes for the car to return from leading alternate traffic through the work zone. Got into Dodge and ate at Montana Mike's Steakhouse, which wasn't too bad, and I wandered a bit of modern Front Street (Wyatt Earp Boulevard), which is nothing like it was in the 1870s during its Old West Cowtown days, but the train station is restored and there is a statue of Wyatt across the street.

Day 6: Visited Boot Hill - I didn't know Ed Masterson isn't there, and that was kinda disappointing, as was the fact that most of the buildings were recreated as opposed to being restorations, though there are a couple buildings left in tact that are restored, including a colonel's house and the school. Got the heck outta Dodge and drove rural U.S. routes into New Mexico. Stopped in Las Vegas (NM) to see the Historic Town Plaza and grabbed a bite at Charlie's Spic and Span Cafe. Drove into Santa Fe for the night.

Day 7: Walked around Santa Fe's Historic Town Plaza and shopped a bit. Saw St. Francis Cathedral, and most amazing of all, the Miracle Staircase at Loretto Chapel, which is truly awe-inspiring. Hopped over to Albuquerque and wandered Central Avenue a bit and Old Town, which was a bit too touristy for me, but then again, I really liked the Route 66 Diner!

Now I'm in Gallup - by the way, on I-25, it seems like every 15 to 20 miles there's road work right now, and it looks like they're repaving the southbound section of the highway because traffic is diverted to take up lanes on the other side of the divide (which means the road work is affecting traffic flow both ways).

I'm planning for Monument Valley next, followed by the Grand Canyon. Not sure how possible it will be for me to do those in one day, but I'll pace myself and see where I am and how I feel tomorrow. I'm not sure how much there is along the northern route to the Valley and then the Canyon in the way of accommodations and gas stations. I'll stay fueled up as much as possible, of course, and I've heard about Mexican Hat and Kayenta being good overnight stopping points, but I may get well beyond those and stop just before the Canyon. This part of the trip I'll have to plan as it goes.

Of course, any input, questions, or comments you guys have on any of this are more than welcome!

Hi Serra,

Thanks for dropping in, it sounds like your trip is going along nicely.

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I'm planning for Monument Valley next, followed by the Grand Canyon. Not sure how possible it will be for me to do those in one day, but I'll pace myself and see where I am and how I feel tomorrow. I'm not sure how much there is along the northern route to the Valley and then the Canyon in the way of accommodations and gas stations. I'll stay fueled up as much as possible, of course, and I've heard about Mexican Hat and Kayenta being good overnight stopping points, but I may get well beyond those and stop just before the Canyon. This part of the trip I'll have to plan as it goes

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In case you look in again, the Cameron trading post has lodging, food and gas as well as some very cool shopping.
It is located just south on the 89 from the 160 and is an ideal spot to set you up nicely for a short trip to the east entrance of the Grand canyon.

Have a great time and we look forward to hearing more.

Thanks for the suggestion, Dave! Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to check back in, but I had an amazing time! And I still am!

Here's Week Two with a cumulative 4,602 miles on the odometer so far:

Day 8: Saw Monument Valley early in the morning and the Grand Canyon in the late afternoon - two incredible sights in one day. Swung by Flagstaff and grabbed some hotdogs from the Dog Haus, which is a really neat little place with really good food! Stopped in Kingman, Arizona for the night.

Day 9: Drove to the Hoover Dam, and then on to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lost some money to the Hard Rock Casino and even more to their hotel and cafe gift shops - I collect the pins, and they had some cool ones. Crawled up and down the Strip in the 5 mile per hour traffic, and saw many happy couples walking out of insta-wedding chapels.

Day 10: Ran all over a couple hundred miles of Death Valley National Park - Mark, thanks for suggesting Twenty Mule Team Canyon, as it proved to be one of my favorite parts of the day. Always wanted to see Badwater, and the salt flats were even more unreal than I imagined! Those killer curves going around and around the sides of the mountains and climbing 6,000 feet on the way out of the park were incredible, but quite a driving-adrenaline rush for an East Coast woman whose used to the smoother Appalachians! Breathtaking in every way with such diverse landscapes all in one gigantic area. This was one of the best days of my trip so far - seems that most people marvel at the Grand Canyon as the epitome of America's natural wonders, but Death Valley is my Grand Canyon. Also, I was really amused to have to stop for a coyote crossing the street in the middle of nowhere - deer and cats I'm used to, but coyotes? And ravens everywhere! Poe would've had a field day! Gotta love it all! Spent the night in Bakersfield before heading up to the Bay area.

Day 11: Had lunch in Napa at Bounty Hunter, which has the best beef brisket sandwhich that isn't even close to being a brisket - it's sliced brisket, like a Sloppy Joe made of brisket only ten times as tender and tasty. Enjoyed an afternoon of wine tasting in Napa Valley - I was the only one spitting out the wine after a few sips at the first winery, and that's when I realized that most of the people standing around drinking it down and having a good old time were part of a tour or had transportation of some kind. I actually explained to someone: "Drivers spit." Without a doubt, every wine I tasted was exceptional - the best wines I've ever had in my life! I had the will power to walk away with just one bottle of 2004 white port from Prager Winery, which is a hidden but very shiny gem!

Day 12: Visited Muir Woods first thing in the morning, but just missed seeing it in a nice thick fog - that would have been wonderfully atmospheric. Drove into Sausalito and soaked up a little of the local Bayfront scene, and then crossed the Golden Gate into San Francisco. Drove to all the places I've never had a chance to go in San Francisco before, including Grace Cathedral and Golden Gate Park. I completely forgot to hit the Hard Rock to see what pins they had, and I kicked myself later for this. Drove to Colma and visited the graves of 19th century SF legend Norton I (Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico) and Wild West legendary gunslinger and lawman Wyatt Earp.

Day 13: Staying in Palo Alto, I just sort of relaxed for the day before meeting some friends in town for dinner and ice cream - for which I highly recommend Rick's! All kinds of awesome flavors including but certainly not limited to Cherry Chip, Pumpkin, and Computer Chip (chocolate orange with chocolate chips - like a frozen Tobler orange). I've been here before and Stanford is worth seeing as is the Rodan sculpture garden at the museum. Hoover Tower is well worth the admission fee.

Day 14: Hit the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot - and yes, my wallet does feel quite a bit lighter after that costly little curiosity. It's all optical illusions and small little anomalies that I'm certain are explainable by scientific means, if not now, then eventually. Wasn't expecting much though, so I wasn't disappointed. Drove around Monterey and Carmel, and did the 17-Mile Drive, then went down Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur where I turned back and headed down 101 in search of cheaper accommodations halfway between SF and LA. Under lessons learned the hard way, the wind at Hurricane Point is no joke - before I found out it was called that, I opened my door a little and the wind ripped it right out of my hand bending the frame so it wouldn't close properly at the top. I was able to bend it a bit to close right, but now there's a larger dent where it was rubbing against the door frame. For the rest of the trip, I will getting in from the passenger's side.

That's all the news thats fit to report from the field right now. This is definitely an experience I will never forget and I can't believe it's taken me so long to actually finally do it! I don't think I've ever done anything this rewarding and invigorating. I'll check back in soon!

Hi Serra,

Great to here from you, thanks for sharing your trip with us.

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Here's Week Two with a cumulative 4,602 miles on the odometer so far:

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Wow, that's some serious mileage you have clocked up, well done.

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t's all the news thats fit to report from the field right now. This is definitely an experience I will never forget and I can't believe it's taken me so long to actually finally do it! I don't think I've ever done anything this rewarding and invigorating. I'll check back in soon!

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I am so pleased that you are getting so much from this trip, [apart from the bent door] and will look forward to updates.

Dave.

I had to do the same thing myself once, getting in-out via the passenger door all the way from New Mexico to Washington's coast. A bit of a hassle with the stick-shift and storage unit in the way, let me tell ya. So have fun with that.

I'm really enjoying your report. You've made me especially about the Hoover Tower. What is it and why is it worth a visit?

Dave, thank you for your comments! I really can't believe it took me so long to do this, but I'm so grateful that I'm finally doing it! And clocking up the miles has been no effort whatsoever! The bent door I will chalk up to another life's lesson.

Judy, I've had cars before where I needed to get in and out of the passenger side, and it's at least a lot easier with the minivan.
The Hoover Tower is on Stanford University campus right across from a really beautiful fountain. It's a fairly tall structure, and you can see most of the campus from the top. There is a small admission fee and there are Stanford students who man the elevator and stand at the top to answer any questions (at least they were there when I went), and the view if just a gorgeous 360 degree view of Palo Alto and the surrounding area of the valley and the mountains that enclose it. You can see Google Headquarters from the top too.
Here are two links on the tower:
The first one here
and here
I'd recommend it if you're ever in the area - as well as the Rodan sculpture garden on Museum Way where they have a cast of his famous "Gates of Hell."
I'm glad you're enjoying the reports - I'll have another in a few days.

Here's the report on Week 3, though I only logged about 400 miles the whole week since I spent most of it in the same city enjoying SoCal - I got very comfortable in LA, despite the incredibly random traffic crawls.

Day 15: Arrived in Los Angeles! I've been to the City of Angels before, so I've been down Hollywood and Sunset, seen the Chinese Theater, Hollywood & Highland to Hollywood & Vine, Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach and Marina del Ray, the Hollywood Bowl and sign, so when I got to LA, I was wondering what I was even going to do with myself. Didn't have to worry about it much right away, because I got into town late anyway after driving some of Pacific Coast Highway - the 101 was faster and had mostly the same amazing views, and I came in through Malibu. Point of curiosity: how do those houses not crumble downhill or collapse into the ocean? As a kid, I made sandcastles that looked more stable.

Day 16: Got brunch at Basix in West Hollywood. Did you know they can make pumpkin pancakes?! I didn't know such a thing existed, but they do it like they invented it! Went to Marilyn Monroe's grave, which couldn't be more hidden. Drove around Griffith Park and visited the Autry Western Heritage Museum - worthwhile if you are a fan of westerns, as it compares the Hollywood versions to the real thing. Walked around City Walk at Universal - Popcornopolis makes some wicked concoctions, like White Chocolate Pumpkin Popcorn, and Saddle Ranch has some drinks and steaks worthy of Texas. You can even ride the mechanical bull for $4 - I only lasted 15 seconds.

Day 17: Went to the Peterson Automotive Museum and the Paley Center - not enough '60s and '70s cars at Peterson and Paley's archives were fun to explore, but it really wasn't what I thought it would be.

Day 18: Toured San Fernando Mission, and discovered that Bob Hope is buried in a garden there. Grabbed a chili dog at Pink's Famous Chili Dog stand where dozens and dozens of celebrity autographs adorn the walls.

Day 19: Took the VIP Tour at Warner Brothers Studios - expensive but worthwhile. Attended a "live taping" of Jay Leno. The Palm Thai Restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard had a Thai Elvis impersonator.

Day 20: Explored the Getty Center, which has a beautiful view of the city during the day, and then hit the Griffith Observatory after sundown, which has a beautiful view of the city lit up at night - also got to see Jupiter and two of its moons through the telescope.

Day 21: Went to It's a Wrap in Burbank where they sell used clothes from the studios at bargain prices, and then left LA for San Diego. Drove around La Jolla and then into downtown to the Gaslamp District, where there is a lot of nice restaurants and a serious shortage of parking.

That's my third week on the road, and this is actually the halfway point of my trip, though there are still many stops to come.

Thanks for the latest field report -- looks like a pretty ideal LA trip thus far.

Mark

Personally, I must see The Mouse and ride the rides at all the theme parks when I go to LA but, gosh, what an ideal list of things to do once done at the parks! I think this is one to bookmark.

I would have loved to see that Elvis impersonator!

Keep it coming... :)

Thank you, Mark and Judy! I definitely tried my best to do as much as possible. I went to the two major theme parks (Disney and Universal) when I was 14, and though I was tempted to hit Universal up this time, if only to go on the Simpsons ride (which I've been really eager to do), I just couldn't justify the cost. I'm willing to splurge occasionally on this trip, but I do have to watch my budget and I'm trying to do the things that make the most sense and will be the most fun/rewarding. I was definitely pleased with the way I spent my week in LA.

Now, onto the rundown for Week 4:

Day 22: Having arrived in San Diego the previous night, I walked La Mesa Village, which is a small town center with local boutiques and shops. I've been to San Diego's Old Town and Gaslamp District before as well as La Jolla, and while they're great tourist spots, I found nice places in La Mesa to spend time away from the tourist track, though it's not teaming with things to do. Moving on to Coronado, walked the beach where the sand is super soft and sparkles with pyrite dust, but the water is pretty cold. The Hotel Del Coronado is historic and majestic, and there's a tree outside marked for its famous appearance in a Marilyn Monroe photo, because this is where she filmed "Some Like It Hot." There's a fantastic sushi place just across the street called Yummy Sushi, and I ate on the patio and watched the sunset over the Pacific.

Day 23: Went out to Bates Nut Farm in Escondido for Fall fun and their pumpkin patch. Got to see lots of beautiful California hills and towns on the way there, and on the way back, stopped at Encinitas on Pacific Coast Highway. Ate at Roxy's, which had a pretty good falafel, and then spent time on the beach by the bluffs. Taking PCH part of the way back, stopped in Del Mar to watch the sunset over the Pacific for the last time.

Day 24: Had breakfast at Mimi's, which seems to be a California chain, and they excel at breakfast foods! Explored a local farmer's market before hitting the road and heading for Phoenix. Got up to 101 degrees while I was on I-8, and I took the 347 north to Phoenix and it was a much more scenic and beautiful ride than the Interstate.

Day 25: Explored Chandler a little bit, which is mostly shopping area and has some nice little plazas, but mostly it's typical urban shopping centers, so I just took some time to relax.

Day 26: Hit downtown Phoenix, which is the quietest downtown area I've ever seen in my life - and Phoenix is one of the quietest cities I've ever visited in my life. Ate lunch at Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe, which is a small, hidden place, but the food is home-style Southern cooking, and I had the absolute best fried chicken and homemade mac & cheese I've ever had eating out! Toured the Heard Museum, which chronicles the Native American cultures of the region - very nice museum, but the gift shop is mostly overpriced.

Day 27: Spent some time in Historic Chandler and ate at SanTan, where they have soft pretzels as appetizers and a nice spicy cajun chicken pasta.

Day 28: Headed out to the Superstition Mountains, and drove out to Tortilla Flats, ate at the little restaurant inside the shop and sat at the counter/bar where the seats are saddles. Hit several vista points around Canyon Lake, which is beautiful and serene. Toured Goldfield Ghost Town, which is definitely a nice little tourist trap where much of the old mining town has been built up for the tourists, but it was a real mine and there is a tangible history there that felt worthwhile. Ate at its Mammoth Saloon restaurant, which had a nicely done flat iron steak and very fresh corn.

I'm taking it easy in the Phoenix area, just to take a break, especially since I'm sick right now, but I'm still doing my best to enjoy my time out here. The weather has cooled down since I arrived - it's really beautiful with no humidity and lots of sunshine. Now I'm just sort of pacing myself, because it'll be a few days yet before I'm back on the road.

Today wraps Week 5 on the road, with 6,328 miles clocked on this trip so far. Here's the rundown:

Day 29: Toured the Mystery Castle nearby South Mountain in Phoenix - a neat little local curiosity. Went back to the Golden Rule Cafe, because it was impossible to stay away - I had to have that incredible homestyle fried chicken one more time. Then for dinner, Had some nice, fresh sushi at Shimogamo in Chandler.

Day 30: Hiked a bit around South Mountain - like the "Mystery Castle," there are really great views of Phoenix and the whole valley. Walked around Arizona Mills - excessively busy on game night for ASU, but a new pizza restaurant, La Bocca, was worth the visit.

Day 31: Explored Tonto Natural Bridge, climbing all over some slippery rocks - the formation was beautiful as was the ride up there from Phoenix.

Day 32: Drove on to Tucson, and visited San Xavier de Bac Mission - a stark white building on red desert. Then, took a quick trip to Tubac - the little arts/shop community was deserted at the time, but it was worth it to find a gift I'd been keeping an eye out for at a local store that was sadly going out of business.

Day 33: Walked the natural preserved paths of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, and then traveled down the road - slowing so a snake could cross - to Old Tucson Studios where many old westerns and some modern ones have filmed. If you're a western fan, it's worth the admission price, but others might find it too much of a small scale theme park - I personally really liked and was glad I got it in before leaving. I also squeezed in an oil change before leaving.

Day 34: Drove into Tombstone, walked around the OK Corral gunfight site and saw the Historama - most of which I knew already so I could have skipped it. Shopped in the stores on the main street of the historic district. Continued on, eventually heading into the forested mountains to the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway through lower Lincoln County, and on to Roswell. Ate a nice juicy steak at Cattle Baron and I was set for the night with a satisfied appetite.

Day 35: Ate a really good, freshly made egg & sausage sandwich at the Not of This World Cafe on Main Street in Roswell - imagine a Parisian-decor cafe with touches of a space theme. Walked through the International UFO Museum - went through pretty fast and there weren't nearly as many "scene recreation" exhibits I expected, leaving me kind of disappointed actually. There really is UFO obsession everpresent through the main drag as you might think - even the street lamps have little almond-shaped alien eyes. Moved north to Fort Sumner. Saw Billy the Kid's grave behind the Fort Sumner Museum - the grave is free, the museum is cheap and small, but worthwhile if you're a real wild west buff. Hit the Billy the Kid Museum in town too, and that was actually really extensive and you get to see a lot for the price of admission - and they're very upfront about what is and is not traceable to Billy and associates.

I'm feeling a lot better this week - I'm still a little congested, but doing much better than I was last week, so that's good.

I'll have another update next week - same Bat time, same Bat channel.

We'll be waiting for the next dispatch!

Mark

Hi Serra,

Thanks for the report, I am enjoying your "live" updates and they have so much useful info. Looking forward to the next one already.

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I'm feeling a lot better this week

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Pleased to hear this.

Dave.

Thank you, Mark and Dave! I've really enjoyed the last several weeks, and now as I wrap up Week 6, it seems I'm in the final stretch - this week ahead should see me home or nearly home at its end. Now at Week 6, I've clocked 7,872 miles.

Day 36: Stopped at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX, which is looking its age, but is still worth stopping for over its historical value as an art sculpture and landmark curiosity. Had genuine Texas BBQ at the Railhead in Fort Worth, TX.

Day 37: Rode around Dallas and Fort Worth - the Stockyards is a cool shopping/restaurant district and the Water Gardens in downtown Fort Worth are lit up nicely at night. Saw Dealey Plaza and the Empty Tomb last time I was in Dallas, and didn't go this time.

Day 38: Stopped in Austin on the way down to San Antonio. Saw the Capitol building, but the street was blocked off for a fair. Ate lunch at the Hickory Street Cafe, which had a great and simple cheeseburger and live music on the hip streetfront patio. Walked Alamo Plaza and the Riverwalk once I arrived in San Antonio - been to both before and they always feel so welcoming in their historic and engineered beauty. Got a soda at Pat O'Brien's to just sit and relax inside before calling it a night.

Day 39: Walked around Friedrich Park. Had some good Tortilla soup and cherry sweet tea at Jim's Cafe and Coffee Bar, then saw the Lourdes Grottos at Oblate Seminary, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Basilica of the Little Flower, and then visited San Fernando Cathedral, where Crockett, Bowie, and Travis lie - contrary to popular belief that their tomb is at the Alamo.

Day 40: Saw the springs at San Pedro Park, and Espada Aqueduct in the well preserved and breathtaking San Antonio Missions National Park - I've been to San Jose and Concepcion before and everything in this park as well as the nature preserves surrounding the missions and river is amazing. Went to the Witte Museum and the San Antonio Museum of Art after 5 p.m. during the free admission period on Tuesdays.

Day 41: Took a daytrip to Corpus Christi and continued to Padre Island National Seashore - this national park was just good for my soul. Walked about a mile of Malaquite Beach where cars aren't allowed to drive. I've never seen a man-of-war in my life, but walking this beach that afternoon, I saw 9 washed up on the shore!

Day 42: Headed for Houston, specifically for Space Center Houston - the whole place is geared towards kids, and though there are a couple interesting things around, the only reason I went was to take the NASA Tram Tour, which was totally worth it. Saw Historic Mission Control, part of the astronaut training facility, and Rocket Park where the Saturn V is on display in a hanger. The Johnson Space Center NASA stuff was worthwhile, but the food and souvenirs were as overpriced as Disneyland - I've never paid so much for a soft pretzel (that wasn't so soft) and a Pepsi in my life. My recommendation? Take the NASA tour and call it a day at this family tourist trap.

This next week is going to be tricky because I'm trying to watch my budget and my time, and I have friends and family who want to see me on my way back, so we'll see how things go.

Otherwise, that's all for now.

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Originally Posted by Serra

TWalked around Friedrich Park. Had some good Tortilla soup and cherry sweet tea at Jim's Cafe and Coffee Bar, then saw the Lourdes Grottos at Oblate Seminary, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Basilica of the Little Flower, and then visited San Fernando Cathedral, where Crockett, Bowie, and Travis lie - contrary to popular belief that their tomb is at the Alamo.

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I didn't know that.

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I've never seen a man-of-war in my life, but walking this beach that afternoon, I saw 9 washed up on the shore!

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I would like to see one in person too someday.

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My recommendation? Take the NASA tour and call it a day at this family tourist trap.

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Excellent advice and duly noted.

Thanks for the latest dispatch -- pleasant and informative as ever.

Mark

Hey Serra, I've been planning a very similar roadtrip for myself. I had a quick question, how much cash should someone put aside for a cross country trip? Furthermore do you have any tips for a first timer?

Mark, thank you again! I'm really enjoying posting from the road, so I'm glad it's helpful! These stops are all things I've wanted to see for one reason or another - I have way too many interests - and have finally gotten to visit.

Seems it's a big misconception about Travis, Crockett and Bowie's resting place, and it's quite debated, but I've got a picture of the tomb, and it's just inside the vestibule of San Fernando Cathedral.

P.S. In San Antonio, I highly recommend Sam's Burger Joint and the original Rudy's - both are great stops for awesome Texas BBQ!

Nowhereman, first let me just say that this forum is full of great advice for planning your first roadtrip.

In my first post here, many of the people here provided me with great links to some basics. And everyone here is so helpful and full of great advice! So if you haven't already, I highly recommending doing searches using the Google Search bar on the left of the page (set to search RTA) for lots of information on the forums and in articles.

As for my trip, I budgeted for $5,000, but the cost will vary greatly depending on where you stay and what you want to do along the way - I've stayed with many friends over the course of this trip and found a lot of cheap motels using a budget travel guide, and both of those things have helped a lot.

Last but not least, the best advice I can give is take care of your car before, during and after the trip. I also suggest bringing necessary fluids with you - motor oil, transmission fluid, coolant/antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, and of course lots of water. And on a long trip like this one, make sure you get the oil changed at least once.

Another point is to keep track of everything - I've been keeping logs of my miles and my expenses, which keeps me accountable for my spending and lets me track exactly how much mileage I'm putting on the odometer each day and between stops.

Finally, I would say that having a general plan is a good idea and then you can build upon it as you go.

Okay, I've rambled enough now. Good luck planning your trip! I'm certainly by no means an expert, but if there's anything else you'd like to ask, please don't hesitate.

I'm home! I have completed my trip at a total of 7 weeks and 1 day (50 days in all), and it was the most amazing time of my life! I'm so happy I finally embarked upon this adventure, and I owe a great deal of thanks to everyone here at RTA who offered such great advice and encouraged me along the way, so thank you, everyone!

I traveled a total of 10,139 miles in my 50 days on the road.

As an additional note to my post above about my budget, I should mention that I budgeted an emergency fund of $1,000 for whatever might have come up in that time, and it turned out that I wound up needing that reserve in my last week because the pulley on my air compressor gave out right after my last big stop in Atlanta - the timing was perfect, actually, and I'm extremely grateful that I was nearby a Goodyear and they were able to put in a new one at the end of the work day so I could get back on the road by sunset.

That having been said, here's Week 7 - the last 8 days of my trip:

Day 43: Arrived at Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, LA - toured the grounds once during the day for the history and took the mystery tour at night for the ghost stories since it's one of the most reputedly haunted locations in the country. (It's also a B&B, and yes, I stayed the night.) Their Carriage House Restaurant has delicious, authentic chicken and sausage jambalaya and great sweet tea - I'm now addicted to sweet tea thanks to my travels through the entire southern half of the country.

Day 44: Stopped in New Orleans because it would be so wrong if I didn't have breakfast at Cafe Du Monde - beignets are the most simultaneously sinfully delicious and coma-inducingly sugar-laden treat imaginable. Walked around the French Quarter on a busy Saturday morning taking pictures and soaking up the New Orleans atmosphere - I've been there four times and every time has been full of bohemian romance and historical enchantment. Moved on, all the way to Georgia, and ate at a place called Austin's Steakhouse in Valdosta that had fresh pumpernickel bread and hearty burgers topped with the right amount of non-greasy cheese and crispy applewood smoked bacon.

Day 45: Had breakfast at a Waffle House before getting on I-95, because, like Cracker Barrel, the freshly made food (especially the breakfast selections and the sweet tea) at this southern staple is too good to avoid! And we have none of those within a 60-mile radius of my home in Jersey. Drove into Savannah and parked at the Welcome Center since it's free on Sundays. Took the Oglethorpe Trolley Tour, which I chose because for the price of a $10 ticket, you get the tour and unlimited on/off service from their shuttles throughout the historic district during the course of the day. At night, I took the Oglethorpe Ghost Tour, which is also one of the trolley-shaped buses - we drove around and got off at several places, including the cemetery (ie. Colonial Park), which is open until 8 p.m. Saw Jim Williams' house (from "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") and the home he had moved into the historic district, wandered the squares during the day, and ate the famous honey pecan fried chicken at the Pirate's House Restaurant. (Forget about getting reservations at Paula Deen's Lady & Sons Restaurant if you arrive the day you want to dine anytime after 9:30 a.m.) Left Savannah with the sense that this is a place I would love to return to one day and explore even more.

Day 46: Hit my last stop on my cross-country must-see list - the Georgia Aquarium. I love sharks - love them! I've been diving with them in a tank in Sydney and a cage in Hawaii, and I've always wanted to see the whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium's One-World Ocean tank, which contains other species you won't see most other places, like hammerheads and sawheads, and a juvenile Manta Ray they just adopted from a South African Aquarium. The whale shark is an endangered species that is completely harmless (feeding on plankton) and can grow to be 40 feet long, and the Georgia Aquarium has 4 that it's raising, the largest being 23 feet long - these peaceful and stunning creatures can't be found in any other aquarium outside of Thailand, which I'm sure they believe justifies the unfortunately steep admission price of $27. The aquarium is also currently hosting Titanic Aquatic, an exhibit of items raised from the sunken wreck of the Titanic and never before displayed. The exhibit is, again unfortunately, an extra $7 on the ticket price - since I've always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic (I've even visited the graves in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which are very humbling and melancholy), I paid the extra cost. The price of these things is worthwhile if you are very passionate about these things or if you have children, because the giant picture window and the walk-through tunnel for the One-World Ocean tank stimulate the senses and overwhelm the childlike sense of wonder - in kids most of all, but in people of all ages too. About 40 miles after leaving Atlanta, that's when the air compressor forced me to make a very expensive emergency automotive attention stop.

Day 47: Returned to Knoxville, TN, visiting the same friend I had stayed with on my way out west. This time, we drove around the Smoky Mountains, and the leaves were just past peak. The colors, hills, lone roads, farms and animals along the way all reminded me of New England - only without the high-class colonial homes and mansions. This was a very relaxing drive full of tranquility and lovely views.

Day 48: Drove up to Falls Church, VA, stopping at Leno's Pizza Restaurant and Bar for dinner - the pizza is rectangular and the cheese is done just right with lots of appetizing options. I was disappointed though that I was so far north now that sweet tea (or sweetened iced tea as we northerners say) was getting harder to come by - especially good sweet tea.

Day 49: Traveled to Frederick, MD (and through Germantown), where I have family, and visited with them a while - Frederick has some beautiful homes in its historic district and its downtown conjures notions of the city being trapped in time that you won't get from passing the Golden Mile with all its superstores and strip malls from the highway.

Day 50: Rode around the Washington D.C. area through Bethesda and Georgetown. I've been to D.C. before, so I've seen the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, but this time I rode past the Capitol, the White House, FBI Headquarters, the Smithsonian, and National Cathedral. Then I took a route home through Pennsylvania, returning home along some of the same roads I had taken before, thus avoiding the costly tolls of the New York-D.C. inter-metropolitan commuting insanity.

I've been home a few days now, so it's taken me a while to relax, rest, and get some things done so I could catch up here.

Again, all I can say is thanks to all here for all the information and confidence that you gave me along the way.

This trip has been so good for my soul, and I hope it won't be another decade before I set out on another road trip, no matter how big or small.

Hi Serra,

What a great adventure and well done, give yourself a big pat on the back.

I have really enjoyed following your journeys [as so many others have with over 900 views] in which you have accomplished so much.

I'm not sure why you was a little worried to start with, I mean you swim with sharks ;-) Lol!

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This trip has been so good for my soul, and I hope it won't be another decade before I set out on another road trip, no matter how big or small.

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Make sure it isn't, you hear !

Regards Dave.

Amazing trip. A lot more liesurely than my trips have been.

Sykotyk

Dave, thank you! I take that as a great compliment, and I appreciate it! I had an amazing trip - journey of a lifetime - and I certainly don't intend to wait that long again before hitting the road for somewhere new. And hey, both of those shark dives were with trained professionals! This time, I was on my own all over this vast and varied land of ours, and it felt really good to be out there traveling everywhere - if I didn't need one of those pesky "job" things for money right now, I'd just randomly drive around the U.S. often for the rest of my life. So now as soon as I find work, I'll begin saving for the next trip. Don't worry, this isn't the last you'll hear of me. Thanks again!

Sykotyk, thank you! I did my best to take it easy, but I also tried to pack as much into every day as possible and seize as many of those precious minutes and hours as I could, putting them to good use. I definitely feel like it was one of my greatest accomplishments, and just an amazing overall experience. I needed it! And I feel different being home after it - I believe I've become a better person just through this journey.

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Originally Posted by Serra

As an additional note to my post above about my budget, I should mention that I budgeted an emergency fund of $1,000 for whatever might have come up in that time, and it turned out that I wound up needing that reserve in my last week because the pulley on my air compressor gave out right after my last big stop in Atlanta - the timing was perfect, actually, and I'm extremely grateful that I was nearby a Goodyear and they were able to put in a new one at the end of the work day so I could get back on the road by sunset.

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Thanks for sharing this tidbit and thanks for sharing your wonderful journey with all of us!

Mark

Serra, thanks for posting this!! I am a NOVICE roadtripper and will be heading trekking from LA to NYC in approximately 2 weeks. My best friend is joining me and splitting the costs and we are very excited. Would you be able to post or show your mileage log? I'd like to see how many miles you put on the car per day on your way out West. Thanks in advance!

Mark, thank you so much for your kind words and all your feedback on my trip! I enjoyed sharing the details of my time on the road here, and hearing from you guys along the way. And there's not enough I can say about being sure to have an emergency back-up reserve built into your budget for a trip like this!

Bluefeevah, your trip sounds exciting! It's awesome that you're taking it with your best friend. I'd love to take a cross-country trip now from coast to coast with good company, sharing the journey and experience this time around, since I've already done it solo hitting all the places I've always wanted to see. And of course, it always help to split costs! I hope you have a great trip! Just hearing about these kinds of trips now, just makes me so nostalgic and dream of hitting the road again, even though I only just got back two weeks ago!

I can't even tell you how happy I am that I logged so much of my trip, and it also means that I can give you a pretty specific breakdown of the miles I did each day to and from all these places, so here it is:

(Note that I separated the mileage for some stops, but not for most of them, so there were stops that may have taken me out of my way between many of these points and some include sightseeing around metro areas. It should also be noted that on days and in places where I didn't put on a lot of miles, I was often visiting family or friends who would be driving most of that time.)

Day 1:
295 - North NJ to Falls Church, VA

Day 2:
498 - Falls Church, VA to Knoxville, TN

Day 4:
312 - Knoxville, TN to Metropolis, IL
290 - Metropolis, IL to Columbia, MO

Day 5:
173 - Columbia, MO to Lawrence, KS
309 - Lawrence, KS to Dodge City, KS

Day 6:
388 - Dodge City, KS to Las Vegas, NM
68 - Las Vegas, NM to Santa Fe, NM

Day 7:
65 - Santa Fe, NM to Albuquerque, NM
132 - Albuquerque, NM to Gallup, NM

Day 8:
197 - Gallup, NM to Monument Valley, UT
161 - Monument Valley, UT to the Grand Canyon, AZ
24 - in Grand Canyon National Park
236 - the Grand Canyon to Kingman, AZ

Day 9:
102 - Kingman, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
108 - in the city of Las Vegas

Day 10:
131 - Las Vegas, NV to Death Valley, CA
217 - in Death Valley National Park
170 - Death Valley to Bakersfield, CA

Day 11:
302 - Bakersfield, CA to Napa, CA
45 - in Napa Valley

Day 12:
68 - Napa, CA to San Francisco, CA
33 - in the city of San Francisco
36 - San Francisco, CA to Palo Alto, CA

Day 13:
13 - in the city of Palo Alto

Day 14:
229 - Palo Alto, CA to King City, CA

Day 15:
293 - King City, CA to Los Angeles, CA

Days 18-21:
52 - in the city of Los Angeles
144 - Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA

Day 24:
343 - San Diego, CA to Phoenix, AZ

Days 29-32:
59 - in the city of Phoenix
101 - Phoenix, AZ to Tucson, AZ

Day 33:
10 - in the city of Tucson

Day 34:
524 - Tucson, AZ to Roswell, NM

Day 35:
200 - Roswell, NM to Tucumcari, NM

Day 36:
469 - Tucumcari, NM to Amarillo, TX

Day 38:
308 - Fort Worth, TX to San Antonio, TX

Day 41:
380 - San Antonio, TX to Corpus Christi, TX and back

Day 42:
387- San Antonio, TX to Lake Charles, LA

Day 43:
157 - Lake Charles, LA to St. Francisville, LA

Day 44:
579 - St. Francisville, LA to Valdosta, GA

Day 45:
215 - Valdosta, GA to Savannah, GA

Day 46:
471 - Savannah, GA to Knoxville, TN

Day 48:
526 - Knoxville, TN to Germantown, MD

Day 49:
53 - Germantown, MD to Frederick, MD and back

Day 50:
266 - Germantown, MD to North NJ

Total: 10,139 miles

Let me know if you have any specific questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. I love having so much information about the trip, because I look back at it and remember everything. And it just makes me realize exactly what I accomplished.

There were a lot of times that I packed a lot of driving into some days so that other days could be spent driving as little as possible and taking in the experience and sights - but driving was a huge part of the wonderful memories that was my road trip experience, so I always loved doing it. I'd say 500 miles a day was the most I was comfortable driving, but 5 to 6 hours (300-400) miles was my ideal - long enough that I didn't feel like the day's trip was too short for me to enjoy the open road, but short enough that I didn't feel worn down at the wheel at the end of the day. Stopping for a couple hours in certain places when going long distances (like New Orleans between St. Francisville and Valdosta) really helped too.

Thanks for sharing the experience!

Welcome to the RTA Forum Abhi!

We appreciate you looking at old threads, but I will note this thread is from 2008 and the original poster hasn't been active on the forum in more than a decade, so it's unlikely that they will see your response.