USA road trip May-June I-5, I-40, I-55/65/75, I-80, I-70, I-84

Hello, I'm new and thrilled to finally figure out how to post.

In mid-May, I will be starting a 6 week road trip. An overview is: Oregon to Sacramento to Sequoia/Kings Canyon to Flagstaff to Phoenix to Santa Fe to Oklahoma City to Dallas to Shreveport to Vicksburg MS to Saginaw MI to St Louis MO to Utah National Parks to Boise and back home to Oregon. Parts of the route is dependent on visiting family and friends. The trip is a gift from several friends. They were going to fly me out, but I asked for gas money instead.

I need lodging to be less than $100/night. Also, due to physical limitations, I am not able to take advantage of any of the wonderful hikes to enjoy the stops even further.

On the Sacramento to S/KC to Flagstaff section, I need some expert advice. I would like to only have one night on the road, but still be able to see as much as possible. I will be starting fresh in Sacramento have spending time with friends. It will be just myself on the road.

Would it be best to go Sacramento to Fresno to Hwy 49 and loop to Hwy 198 to Bakersfield/Barstow to Flagstaff? Or would it the same amount of time going a bit slower down Hwy 49? Or is there another suggestion?

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration to my questions.

Welcome to RTA!

In the interests of time, you need to go down 99 to Fresno and into S/KC on 180. This is about a 3.5 hour drive. You will need to get through S/KC and out via 198 to at least Visalia same day. Visalia/Tulare has a good selection of hotels in all price ranges. This also means getting out of Sacto very early in the morning if you want to enjoy the park at all. Visalia to Flag via 99, 58, and I-40 is a full day's drive - somewhere around 10 hours counting normal brief gas, food, and bathroom stops.

Sacramento to Flagstaff is a 2-day trip by the shortest route. You can add Sequoia-Kings Canyon to that, especially considering you don't plan to hike. Going via CA-49 is going to be very slow going, with the potential of more stops (as you realize how much history you're driving through, and you may want to stop and see some of it). It is quite possible that it would add an extra day into your travels. If you are determined to do this in two days, what I'd do is this: come down CA-99, then hang east on CA-180 (a gorgeous drive) into Sequoia. Then come out CA-198. Catch CA-99 again to CA-58 at Bakersfield, and take that to I-40. I'd do the Sacramento to Sequoia/Kings Canyon bit the first day, overnight around Tulare or Bakersfield, and drive to Flagstaff the next day.


Donna

Thank you. Since I visit friends in Sacramento and take day trips with them to surrounding area, I am not concerned about that part of the trip. I am wanting to add S/KC, since I have never been there. The Bakersfield to Flagstaff is also another road that I have taken frequently.... so no big stops planned this year.

Thank you Donna and GLC for your input. I did realize that it was a min of a 2 day trip, with having a rest at start and end.

Driving all the way to the end of Kings Canyon can take some time, and then all the way back. There is also a hike to go and see the General Sherman Tree. If you have a permit, the special permit parking spots are 300 metres from the tree. From the regular parking area, it is much further.

Lifey

I do have a permit... just don't prefer to use it if I don't have to. I can walk just not far.

I've done the regular path to the tree. Use your permit, trust me. The regular path is 1/2 mile long and has a lot of stairs. The walk back is all uphill. You can certainly walk down to the tree from the regular lot, then walk to the accessible lot and ride the shuttle back to your car - *IF* the shuttle is running. I don't think it starts till Memorial Day weekend. The accessible path is wheelchair-accessible so it doesn't have stairs to deal with. Remember you are going to be at 7000 feet altitude.

Thank you for the tip. Yes, stairs would be a problem.

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I do have a permit... just don't prefer to use it if I don't have to. I can walk just not far.

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Best you take gls's advice.

If you are concerned, as I often am, that you may be taking a spot when someone who needs it more might come along, I can assure you there are at least half a dozen parking spots... if not more. I did count them, but can't remember. However, when I saw '300 metres', I decided not even to attempt it. Way too far for me. (No idea why they use metres there.)

Lifey

Would the moderator please put the CA/AZ post into this one? Thank you.

The first 1/3 of the trip is beginning to take shape.

IF you see something is a “dont miss” that I missed, please let me know. OR if I have something listed that is a “SKIP THIS” or would be hard on someone with walking long distances or lots of steps or rough ground (ok, not really handicap, but this list makes it look like I am), please also let me know.

Albany OR to Sacramento CA. Visit friend 2-3 days (I have made this trip regularly, so will not stop along way.)
Sacramento CA to Bakersfield CA via Sequioa/Kings Canyon National Park (I have never been there. Long Day)
Bakersfield CA to Flagstaff AZ (have made this trip several times, not planning to stop unless I find something I can’t miss)

Flagstaff AZ to Phoenix
Museum of Northern AZ
Lowell Observatory ??
Walnut Canyon Natl Monument ?? (not sure-- I am not able to do lots of stairs or long rough hikes)
Sedona AZ driving tour

Phoenix--Will be staying with uncle. 1 night
Phoenix AZ Living Museum

Phoenix AZ to Albuquerque NM
Petrified Forest Natl Park/ Crystal Forest
Gallup NM Gallup Cultural Center

Albuquerque NM and Santa Fe NM
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
NM Museum of History and Science

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Loretta Chapel
Historic Santa Fe Plaza
Fine Arts Musuem

Santa Fe to Oklahoma City
Tucumcari--Mesalands Dinosaur Museum
Canyon TX--Panhandle Plains History Museum
Goodwell OK No Man’s Land Museum
Clinton--OK Route 66 Museum

Oklahoma City--Still working on this one. stay with friend
OK History Center
Natl Cowboy and West Heritage Museum (Ansel Adams and Madonnas of the West displays)

Oklahoma City to iwouldratherknit OK
Tahlequah Cherokee Heritage Center (Annual Trail of Tears Art Show)

iwouldratherknit OK to Royse City TX (visit brother)
Sulfer OK Chicksaw Museum
Arbuckle Mountains
YARN STORES

Royse City TX to Shongaloo LA (visit cousins) left open

Shongaloo LA to Vicksburg MS (stay with friend) left open

THEN THE NEXT PHASE WILL START

Like I alluded to previously, trying to see S/KC and make it to Bakersfield in one day will be too rushed. I'd be happy with Visalia for the night, there are plenty of reasonably priced hotels there. Visalia to Flagstaff in one day is quite doable if you don't stop too much.

Yeah, I know it's only an hour farther to Bakersfield, but an extra hour the next day will be well worth it, giving you an extra hour in the park.

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Originally Posted by justmemedia

... would be hard on someone with walking long distances or lots of steps or rough ground (ok, not really handicap, but this list makes it look like I am), ...

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I know what you mean. It is referred to as the invisible disability. Sometimes more frustrating than handicapping.

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... iwouldratherknit OK

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Is there really such a place? If so, Mr Google does not know where it is.

Lifey

I am staying with a friend who does not wish it be known where she lives, so I am using her ravelry (a knitter's paradise) handle. But I needed to know where her state was, so added OK.

Update: I will be leaving a week earlier than I first thought. My friend in Sacramento will do an overnight trip to Sequoia and King Canyon National Park. Then head back to Sacramento.
I will be leaving from Sacramento and will stop at Barstow CA (8hr driving time), with an early evening stop with a friend for dinner in Bakersfield. This will make the Barstow to Flagstaff section a shorter drive.

Update: will not be seeing Lowell Observatory nor Pueblo Heritage Center. But will use that time for longer doing the Sedona Drive Tour.

Rest of Trip: As of right now.
PHASE TWO
June 3-6
Vicksburg MS to Shongaloo LA 164 m 4hr stay with cousins

June 21-23
Vicksburg MS to Memphis TN 250 m 5 hr stay with cousins Verla and Tony
Pink Palace Museum $13
Tyronza, AR Southern Tenant Farmers Museum $5

June 24
Memphis TN to Nashville 215 mi 5 hr Hotel
The Hermitage (Jackson home and museum)
Country Music Hall of Fame
Bluebird Café—nightly talent

June 25
Nashville TN to Lexington KY 215 miles 5 hr Hotel
Greenville TN- Johnson President Museum
Hopkinsville KY Jefferson Davis State Historical Site
Lexington KY Abraham Lincoln Boyhood home

June 26
Lexington KY to Columbus OH
Cincinnati OH Natl Underground Railroad Freedom Center

June 27
Columbus OH to Mentor OH
Canton McKinley President Museum
Mentor Garfield President Museum
Cleveland – Cleveland Art Museum free
-International Women’s Air and Space Museum, Burke Lakefront airport free


Mentor OH to Findlay OH
Sandusky Merry Go Round Museum
Fremont Hayes Presidential Center
Findlay Mazza Museum: Children Book Museum

Findlay OH to Auburn MI Stay with Carol 2 weeks

Michigan sights
Saginaw- Marshall Frederick Sculpture Museum. May 23-Aug 29 Ansel Adams exhibit free
-Japanese Tea and Culture
-Saginaw Railway Museum
-Saginaw Art Museum
-Valley Naval Ship Museum

Midland
-Dow Museum of Science and Art
-Chippewa Nature Center

Bay City –Antique Toy Museum

Flint – Crossroad Village

Frankenmurth –MI Military and Space Museum
-Christmas Store

Dearborn
-Ford Rouge Factory Tour
-Henry Ford Museum
-Greenfield Village

Chelsea- Jiffy Mix Factory Tour

Lansing- MI History Museum

Grand Rapids – Ford President Museum

Grosse Point – Edsel & Eleanor Ford House



Phase 3 of the Road trip—heading home

Springfield IL Lincoln President Museum

St Joseph MO
-Pony Express Museum $6
-Jesse James House $4
-Remington Nature Center
-National Military Heritage Museum

Independence MO
-Harry S Truman Museum $8
-National Frontier Trails Museum $6

Lawerence KS Museum of Natural History free
-Driving Tour of city (get from visitor center)

Abilene KS
-Eisenhower President Museum
-Russell Stover Candy Factory

Underground Salt Museum

Goodland KS – Giant Easel –Van Gogh Project

Evergreen CO Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave
Chimney Rock National Monument CO
Mesa Verde National Park

Canyons of the Ancients Natl Monument

Moab UT Arches Natl Park
-Red Cliffs Ranch

Edge of the Cedars Museum Blanding UT

Green River UT John Wesley River His Museum

Logan UT American West Heritage Center

ID

OR--Home

Update.
Skipping S/KC for this trip. Friend and I think that early fall we will try and do it after she gets back from all of her vacation trips.

Question: What is an easy route from Sacarament to Phoenix bypassing the major LA metro area?

I will have a meal stop with a friend in Bakersfield.

Question: In Sedona, what are 2-3 eating places?

I am VERY open to different styles of food. Trout, or other local food would be a preference.

You are not planning on driving that in one day, are you? At around 800 miles, you need to allow a day and a half at least.

Take 99 to Bakersfield, then 58 to Barstow, and I-40 to Flagstaff.

Can't help with eating places in this part of the world.

Lifey

no. lol
1 1/2 to 2 day drive.

I know that Sacramento to Bakersfield is 5 hrs. and to Phoenix is another 9-10 hrs.

The route would be Sacramento to Bakersfield. Then down to I-10 heading to Phoenix. What would be the route to take? I am visiting my uncle before heading up through Sedona to Flagstaff and then staying on I-40.

I only know how to get to I-10 from Bakersfield by going through LA. Which is the route to take to avoid the most of the LA metro crazy? Would this be through San Bernardino?

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Originally Posted by justmemedia

The route would be Sacramento to Bakersfield. Then down to I-10 heading to Phoenix.

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No, no! As I said above, take 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow and then take I-40. If you head down to I-10 it will dump you right into the LA metro area, which I thought you said you wanted to avoid..

I take it you are using good quality paper maps. 58 is a pretty fast road, and not unattractive.

From Flagstaff you can head down to Sedona and Red rock country before continuing to Phoenix.

Lifey

If I am understanding you correctly, it would be faster to go from Bakersfield through Barstow and Flagstaff to Phoenix, THEN travel BACK through Sedona to Flagstaff?

I need to visit my uncle in Phoenix before doing the "fun" part of my trip. The dates I can see him have changed from the posted itinerary.

It's neither here nor there whether you visit Sedona on the way south out of Flagstaff, or northbound out of Phoenix. It is only a short detour, though it will take time to see the sights..

Lifey

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Originally Posted by justmemedia

If I am understanding you correctly, it would be faster to go from Bakersfield through Barstow and Flagstaff to Phoenix,

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If you want to cut off some miles, you could pick up 93 from I-40 to Phoenix, though this is not a divided road. Then visit Sedona on the way to Flagstaff from Phoenix.

Lifey

thanks for the info

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Originally Posted by justmemedia

Question: What is an easy route from Sacarament to Phoenix bypassing the major LA metro area?.

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Take CA-58 out of Bakersfield to US-395. Take that south to I-15 toward San Bernardino. At the split, take I-215 to CA-210. Take that east to I-10.

That's considerably faster than taking I-40 to US-93. Bakersfield to Phoenix can be done in about 8 hours.

If you want to avoid the Central Valley, you can take I-5 out of Sacto and cut across to CA-99 on CA-46.

Glc, thanks. Per the map that is what I was wondering.

Just an update:

I leave in 12 days, and getting so excited.

Beginning of trip
3 days in Sacramento with friend. 2 museums (Standford and CA Museum), and a sightseeing of different styles of buildings and art windows.

Then down to San Bernardino. Will stop at a farm. And have dinner with a friend.

Then I-10 to Pheonix. And see 3 museums in 2 days.

Sedona. Staying at a campground.

Then I-40 and lots of different sites.

3 days in Santa Fe.

3 days in OKC. 2 days in Davis OK, and 2 days in the Tahlequah area.

Will go through Ft Smith down to Vicksburg MS. Where I will be spending a month.

I am having trouble in trying to decide how to get from Vicksburg to Saginaw to Abilene KS and get to see everything that I want. My zigzaging trip is frustrating me on this point. So, back to the maps to see how to straighten it out a bit more.

Happy traveling to those who heading out soon.

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Originally Posted by justmemedia

I am VERY open to different styles of food. Trout, or other local food would be a preference.

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Along I-40 west of Albuquerque, you can get real good burgers at the 66 Pit Stop. (Two locations – one at the Rio Puerco exit and another near Laguna Pueblo)

A few places I can recommend in Santa Fe are:

La Choza

The Pantry

Santa Fe Bite at Garrett’s Desert Inn

Have fun!

WOW! Thank you for the recommendations.

I am posting my trip. It is titled Iris' 3 month road trip. I will be including driving times, and sights and places along the way. I have already seen some wonderful parts of the US.

I hope all of you are having an amazing adventure.

If your into an offroad jeep tour while your in Sedona, Pink Jeeps Tour is a fun option as it takes thru the beautiful surrounding red rock country.