How long - all around US

Hi,
Has anyone made a road trip all around the US?
I'd like to know how much time approximately it would take.
I'm planning on just stopping at night, folowing coasts and US limits.

What do you think?

Thanks

I have been actively driving around the USA for about ten years, and figure I have seen about 15% of what there is to see.

On the otherhand, a number of folks have driven through all 50 states plus the Distict of Columbia in about a month.

Time .... What a treat that would be !

Yes - it can be done in a month (around the coasts / borders) --- however 2 or 3 months would give you much more adventure / sightseeing time.

Want some suggestions?

I don't really have more than a month, so I guess the faster the better.
Yeah i'd like some suggestions.
Thanks

It is possible to drive into a piece of every of the lower 48 continental states in a month, but you won't be seeing much of them. Shortest possible distance to enter each of the 48 states is 10,000 miles.

Links to some of those epic road trips can be viewed on the <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/links/travelogs.htm">Travelogue page<a/>. Look at Bob Tabaddor's 2002 road trip "25 States in Five Weeks", or "Quest-4" which includes one of the best routes we have seen for such a trip.

You could also look at our <a href = "http://www.roadtripamerica.com/links/Speed-Runs.htm">Speed Run<a/> page. There used to be more trips listed here, but some of those sites are now off-line.

I'm not talking about doing the whole 48 states, just the coasts and borders. That should be fine in a month right?

Hi,
I never followed the entire Canadian Border nor did I drive the Pacific Coast but I can tell you that it's about 32 hours non-stop to get to Miami,Fl from VT or ME and that it'll take you approx. 4-6 days to go from FL to Cali depending on your experience and your level of sleepiness:o)

Good Luck!

Gen:-)

Hmmm, well, there for the most part there are very few roads that follow the borders and the coasts in any complete way. Lots of zig-zagging will be necessary on small two-lane roads. I seriously doubt you could drive the entire border (and coasts) in less than a month.

It would be a good challenge though, and I would love to know if it were possible!

Mark

If you want to complete your trip within a month, you'll probably have to use interstates like Mark suggested. For the East Coast, you could use I-95 from Me to Fl. To follow the Canadian Border you should use the Trans-Canada Highway from Quebec to BC. For the southern route, use I-10 from FL to AZ and then I-8 to Cali. For the Pacific Coast I think I-5 goes all the way from north to south.

Good Luck!

Gen,

It is true that those routes follow, more or less, east to west and north to south but none of them shadow the borders. This poster wants, I think, to trace the outline of the country and Interstate 5 for instance is at one point over 100 miles from the coast.

I think he is more interested in the challenge of finding routes along the borders -- that is going to be tricky and will easily add 3000 miles to the trip!

I think the best thing would be to ask this poster what he had in mind so we could help him better!

Gen

Nathan:

You will find my plans in this column under 48 in 2005. I have Microsoft Streets and Trips software that has outlined our trip. We are touching all 48 states plus entry into Canada and Mexico. We are going from here in Illinois down to Texas, over to Califorina, up the west coast, across to Maine, down to Florida, over to New Orleans and back home. Streets and Trips has us traveling from 9 to 6 each day, 65 mph on expressways, 60 on limited access roads, and 50 on other highways doing a little over 14,000 miles. It tells us at this rate we will cover the trip in 29 days, 5 hours and 37 minutes so since you are not doing all the states you should be in good shape. We are setting aside 3 months for our travel.

I'll be glad to help anyone plan a trip for the lower 48 or all 50. Actually saw quite a few attractions and areas of interest on the 43 day trip. The 8 day trip was a speed run for charity, but the route is quite useful for someone trying to be efficent. From Hyder, Alaska to Pawtucket , RI was 7500 miles. The Lower 48 from Oregon to Rhode Island was actually done in just under 6 days. Let me know if you need any help. opticalil@aol.com

Gary

Not sure if you're already on the road, but I thought that if you took the time to read the book Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon you might get a good idea of travel routes and time. He took only the scenic, blue highways and lived in his van during the trip. I thought it was extremely realistic in how long it would take to drive over more rugged or mountainous terrain -- or in snow or rain. Anyway, I read this book while on the road last year and I felt Least Heat Moon was sharing my same joys and frustrations. By the way, if you take this trip, I'd be interested in you posting your experience--'just how long did it take and where all did you go?! Enjoy.