St. Louis to California

[rc636]

Hi All,

I have been reading the forums and all the information on the site and it has been a great help.

I am a single mom and I am taking my three kids to California and staying there for a month. I am working in CA for a month, so I have worked it out instead of my company paying for 4 round trip flights for me to go back and forth, that they will pay the mileage for me to drive. I will pay a small difference on a Residence Inn room while we are there in CA.

So now the road trip across the country with three teens, only one of which will be able to help with the drive. I am trying to work out details on packing my small SUV (Honda CRV) and did see a reference to a site. I don't have a roof rack but found that they have a roof top carrier that you hook onto your car with some J hook clips. Has anyone ever tried these? Also, any suggestions on packing the car with everything that we will need for the trip across the country?

Thanks!
Tricia

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA forum!

I have had a little experience with the "J-Hook" roof carriers, and honestly I've never been impressed.

Do you have a trailer hitch on your CRV? I personally like the small flat cargo carriers that you can add to the back of your car via a hitch. They keep your things more easily accessible, and won't affect your gas mileage as much as a rooftop carrier.

[Quebec Gen]

Hi Tricia

Also, any suggestions on packing the car with everything that we will need for the trip across the country?

Here are a few packing tips from some of our seasoned travelers. If you know how to place your bags and stuff in a car, you can maximize your space. Try several positions for your bags, eventually, you'll find the right way to do it. You'd be amazed by the amount of stuff I can put in the small trunk of my Honda Civic!

Good luck!

Gen

[rc636]

Hi Everyone,

I just want to say that I have been really enjoying reading all the threads and comments on this site. I have learned so much from everything here.

My kids and I, 3 teens, are going on our first major road trip. I will be sharing the driving with my 16 year old daughter too. I have to be out in Long Beach on July 23 and we will be staying there until August 17 for my work. So in stead of flying each week back and forth and the kids staying home, I decided that it was time for us all to hit the road and see the country. This will be the first time I have really taken them any where like this. Being single and traveling with three kids has never before sounded like fun. Now they are old enough, hopefully, we should all come home alive.

My question has to do with the amount of time spent driving and how much time I should plan to drive each day. I know that it might vary for each person but at this point I have no clue on what to expect. Right now we are taking the southern route to CA.

I want to spend some time at the Grand Canyon and in Santa Fe NM. I wasn't sure what to expect on many miles I should expect to drive within one day with stops etc.

Thanks
Patricia