Advice on RoadTrip From NYC to CALI

[r00sh]

Hey, Im new to roadtripping, but me and some friends were planning on roadtripping atleast once before we graduate from college.

We were planning on going from NYC to California, with a definate stop at Vegas. Has anyone done a roadtrip like this? How was it? Does anyone have any good scenic and non-congested routes?

I would also like to ask what you think the trip would cost, not including side expenses. My car is about 26mph lol so yea its not great but any advice would be great. THanks.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Yes, we've all done a number of RoadTrips. In fact two that stand out most vividly in my mind both occurred during college, and both involved a number of friends. They were certainly memorable and I wouldn't say that I wish I hadn't done them, quite the contrary. But neither was among the best such trips I've ever made. We were too many (6) in one car for the Spring Break run to Florida, and I managed to have my car broken into and burgled at Mardi Gras (canceling the second leg to Colorado). So treat this trip as an both an adventure and a learning experience, and you'll have a great time.

One of the best summaries of how to plan for expenses I've seen is in this post by Judy. You can also use the Fuel Cost Calculator to get a handle on that expense. Also, since you and your friends are going to be spending so much time together, be sure to take the RoadTrip Compatibility Quiz to make sure you're all on roughly the same page as to what you expect this trip to be like. And plan on having some serious alone time every few days, even if it's just to go your own separate ways while exploring a park or town.

The choice of a particular route will depend largely on what you want to see and do along the way and how much time you have. That is something you'll have to discuss amongst yourselves. To give you just one example, have a look at US-50.

AZBuck