SW PA to WA, then through CA and back

[Matt Provenzano]

hey me and this girl wanna go on a cross-country road trip with a few friends of ours, and we have no idea what we're gonna do on the way and when we get there. i just need some advice on this, and how to trave most efficiently(we're all between 18 and 21, poor college student syndrome). so, ya give me somethin. thanx
~matt

[Matt Provenzano]

o ya, i would like to know how much money would be required for the trip. its still in its first planning stage(we just decided to go yesterday), and also, what to expect along the way.

[PNW Judy]

To figure expenses, you need to know what kind of gas mileage the vehicle gets so you can calculate gas costs. Example: if you get 20mpg and plan on driving 200 miles per day, that would be 10 gallons of gas. At $1.80/gallon, that would be $18/day for gas. Then are you staying in hotels or camping? Eating out or eating out of a cooler? Going out at night or staying in? Going to various tourist destinations or just doing some hiking and other less expensive activities? There are so many variables that none of us can just give you a pat answer. It's kind of like figuring out your monthly budget. We're all different.

As for what to expect? Expected the unexpected. If you go with the flow, you'll be sure to have a good time. Remember that getting lost often means finding something serendipitous. Again, what to expect depends on what you decide to do and what you want to get out of your roadtrip.

Have a great adventure!

[Matt Provenzano]

hey, does anyone know the average gas mileage of a conversion van, and how much it costs to rent one?

No idea on the rental costs -- depends on the location and the company. They won't be cheap!

Gas mileage depends on engine size, weight of the vehicle and manufacturer. Some makes/models get better mileage than others even when other factors seem identical, plus, you'll get a wide variance depending on terrain.

Here's an example, at least. I drive a 4-door Dodge 1500 Ram with a 4.7 liter V8. It's a fairly large vehicle, and maybe similar in size and weight to a normal full-size van (no added weight in customization items inside). I can get as low as 13 or 14 mpg in mountainous terrain, as high as 20-21 on flat ground with the wind behind me. On the highway, on average roads, it normally gets 16-18 mpg.

If you are talking a full-size conversion van, not a mini, and it has a V8, I wouldn't count on much over 15 or 16 for planning purposes, although you might do better than that some of the time.

[Matt Provenzano]

Hey, does anyone know what the avg cost of gas is, like coast to coast?

[Matt Provenzano]

new plan for the trip, here's our general route

Greensburg, PA - Mitchell, SD
Mitchell, SD - Cody, WY
Cody, WY - Eureka, CA
Eureka, CA - San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA - Anaheim, CA
Anaheim, CA - Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon, AZ - Queen Creek, AZ
Queen Creek, AZ - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM - Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN - Roanoke, VA
Roanoke, VA - Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. - Gettysburg, PA
Gettysburg, PA - Greensburg, PA

[Mark Sedenquist]

When you are in Cody, be sure to check out the relatively new <a href = "http://www.bbhc.org/dmnh/index.cfm">natural history wing</a> at the Whitney Museum of Western Art -- our spotters say it is one of the best in the country.