coast-to-coast

[themurkat]

Hi all
I am planning a once in a lifetime road trip from Boston to the west coast for the last two weeks of September. The only requirements are that we pass through the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas on the way. Other than that we have no idea where we should be planning on visiting!! We will be 5 or 6 21 year olds looking to experience as much of America as possible in those two weeks before we go home. Any suggestions???

[lelefeng]

Hi, we are going to do the same thing at the end of July. See my post about driving from Boston to San Diego. I'll let you know the details after we finish this trip.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am planning a once in a lifetime road trip from Boston to the west coast for the last two weeks of September.

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! Five or six road trip companions sounds a little to too exciting for me. First thing you ought to do is take this quiz and confirm that all six of you are thinking about the "same kind" of road trip. Also, it will take 10 full days to travel between Boston and LA -- if you stop and spend time in Grand Canyon and Las Vegas you may well run out of time. How much money are budgeting for this adventure?

Here are some suggestions for surviving a speed run and here are some budgeting tips to get you started on planning this epic trip!

Mark

[RedCorral]

Hi, You didn't say explicitly if this is a round trip or one-way. Can't be done as a round trip or it won't be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, it will just be a very long drive. Mark has it about right as far as time and mileage is concerned. Boston to LA, not including the Grand Canyon, is 3,000 miles. Depending on whether you want to vist the north or south rim, or both, you will need to add a couple hundred miles to see the canyon [which you should].

Keep in mind, there is no such thing as a once-in-a-lifetime trip for a 21 year old, unless it is into space. I didn't start having cross country driving trips until I was almost 50, including 6 months to Alaska in 99 (19,000 miles), and 5 months across the country twice two years ago (25,000 miles), and once again last year (15,000 miles).

You never know what the future will hold, but if you're lucky you can do it till you get old.

Have a good one anyway. And don't forget to stop and smell the sagebrush,

Craig

[KeithMN]

I'd just like to recommend stocking up on deodorant/cologne/perfume if there are going to be five or six of you in one vehicle driving cross-country!

I haven't looked at a map, so this is off the top of my head, but I'd make sure you hit the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. I've been there and it's beautiful. While there, you can pass through Pigeon Forge and see all things Dolly Parton at Dollywood.

See? It all depends on what kind of adventure the five/six of you are out to make it. LOTS of choices and decisions to make. I recommend taking the quiz Mark suggested.

[themurkat]

thanks to everyone who replied. the trip was intended to be one way, returning to boston by air. however this seems to be too big a trip to fit into this short timeframe. would it be better to plan a shorter trip, say from san francisco to san diego and then to las vegas/grand canyon? as for the budget i could guess-timate now but it will really depend on how much money we have left at the end of the summer!

[carel05]

Good luck on your trip. Lea just went back in san sebastian after her five day trip at US