Atlanta to Los Angeles - Mid July?

[tentativetitle]

I am planning to drive from Atlanta to Los Angeles in mid July. I was planning to hit New Orleans, Austin, Phoenix but I am open to suggested routes. Any suggestions? Also, I am flying one way out there and driving back. Any ideas on find a cheap options for a car because the one way rentals are outrageous! Purchase a car and sell it in CA? Drive Away Companies?

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

There is nothing wrong with your choice of route, but not knowing anything else about you or your trip, there really isn't any way to make much for other suggestions.

As far as your car options, driveaway might be an option, but you are at the mercy of what is available. If you find a company that needs a car driven from Atlanta to LA, then you'd be set, but what would you do if they don't have any cars that need to go to LA? Driveaways can be a great option, if you are very flexable and can go just about anywhere at any time. If you need to do this at a certain, specific time going to a certain specific destination, that's going to significantly lower your odds of finding something that meets your needs.

I can't imagine that buying a car would be a good option. Just on a logic level, spending several thousand dollars for a car designed for a one time trip, just doesn't make sense. You'd have to spend the time finding a car that meets your needs, and making sure that it is in good mechanical condition, then you'd be responsible for any problems along the they way, and at the end of the day, you'd probably lose more in resale than you'd spend on a rental. Throw in the fact that you'd be selling it in California, with its strict emmissions requirements, you could be ending up with a car that is unsellable!