From UK-Ideas for my roadtrip please...Texas - Mount Rushmore - Mesa Verde - Arizona

[English Muffin]

Hi there, I am new to this forum so please bare with me...!

I am 28, from England and LOVE America! I prefer to pack in as much as I can when I am over there due to time off work restrictions. My previous travel adventures have included (1) an organised roadtrip across the south of the USA from LA to New York, (2) a personal roadtrip where I drove myself from LA, Palm Springs, Lake Havasu to Las Vegas, (3) I drove myself and my mum from Orlando to Miami across the Everglades and up the West coast of Florida in 2 days (phew!) and (4) my next planned one is an organised trip across the northern states of America from NY to LA in May / June.

Enough about me and your great country! The reason I found this site and forum is I generally plan my personal roadtrips by researching places / maps on the net, but usually have some idea of where I want to go and how i'll get there. However, this time I really would appreciate some help! Its my mum's 60th this year and I want to help her fulfil a few of her lifetime ambitions which are to go line dancing in Texas (a place called Billy Bobs I think), see Mount Rushmore and experience small town hospitality before she dies (nice - her words not mine!).

Whilst there, we plan to meet up with my brother at the end of the trip as he is dying to go to Vegas! He's never been to America so I'd like to show him the other sites near Vegas (Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc). I myself would like to see Mesa Verde so thought why not combine the whole thing in to one big trip!

Basically what will be the best way to do this trip?!

Would you recommend I start at Texas then fly up to South Dakota then drive across Colorado down to Arizona and Vegas or drive the whole lot?

How long would you recommend to stay around Mount Rushmore? Is there anything else in that area? Is Wyoming a cowboy type state and would it be too far out of the way to include?

Will it be easier to start at South Dakota to Texas to Vegas? I have a maximum of 4 weeks to do this but prefer to do it in 3. I am used to a whistle stop roadtrip so don't mind long drives for 1 nights stay at 1 place. I can start anywhere but need to end up in Vegas.

Is there anything of particular interest if I drove up from Texas to South Dakota? Baring in mind my mother is obsessed with country music, line dancing, Native American Indians, the whole American cowboy thing which started from when she saw Calamity Jane when she was little! I don't know if its true but the impression we get in England is those central states are kind of Cowboy-ish country?!

I'd like any suggestions on any places which have a link with Calamity Jane, small town line dancing venues, Indian reservations, etc.

My brother loved Dukes of Hazzard when he was young so any places linked with this? Don't know if it was a real place but hey?!

Sorry to rattle on but its going to be a life changing trip for my mum and brother so I want it to be perfect!

Anything ideas, information, suggestions welcome!

Thank you

Wendy

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am 28, from England and LOVE America!

All good things! Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

(4) my next planned one is an organised trip across the northern states of America from NY to LA in May / June.

You do seem very organized and roadtrip competent!

Would you recommend I start at Texas then fly up to South Dakota then drive across Colorado down to Arizona and Vegas or drive the whole lot?

Given the distances involved and the stated preferences to see a lot, I would think that the most efficient form for this adventure would be a combination of flying and driving. However, flying can really add to the expense and so I think you could use Denver as your hub and travel to the various locations, like the spokes of a wagon wheel.

How long would you recommend to stay around Mount Rushmore? Is there anything else in that area?

The Badlands are much more appealing to me -- but here is an excellent field report written by another English road tripper that you might find helpful.

Is Wyoming a cowboy type state and would it be too far out of the way to include?

All of the western states have elements of the "cowboy way" -- when you are in south Dakota you will certainly see cowboys and can go to cowboy bars. On your way back south from the Badlands you could easily drive south on US-85 and get a taste of Wyoming hospitality in the small towns as you go.

Is there anything of particular interest if I drove up from Texas to South Dakota?

As I mentioned above, I think you should be starting in Denver and then be going north and south. One book that I think you would find interesting is this one -- it is a treasure trove of place to go to find authentic western crafts -- with authentic western characters.

Mark