Please help-advice needed for a road trip from MA to LA

[imported_melissa]

My mom and I want to drive from Boston to Los Angeles this weekend (one way). Because of limited time (3 days), we'd like to take the shortest but also the warmest route, because we are also concerned with the weather. What would be the best route to take and still make it in 3 days? This is our first time so we have no clue which road to take and how to make the best out of our trip. Advice needed on where to stop and where to stay on the way? We are leaving this weekend and will appreciate any suggestions. Also we will be driving an acura integra (6 years old). Do you think it's a good idea ? We do have AAA but besides what could be the problems we may have with the acura along the way?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.

[imported_melissa]

My mom and I want to drive from Boston to Los Angeles this weekend (one way). Because of limited time (3 days), we'd like to take the shortest but also the warmest route, because we are also concerned with the weather. What would be the best route to take and still make it in 3 days? This is our first time so we have no clue which road to take and how to make the best out of our trip. Advice needed on where to stop and where to stay on the way? We are leaving this weekend and will appreciate any suggestions. Also we will be driving an acura integra (6 years old). Do you think it's a good idea ? We do have AAA but besides what could be the problems we may have with the acura along the way?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Three days? The minimum distance (by the shortest possible route) is 2992 miles. If you are lucky and encounter dry, storm-free weather the fastest you can cover that distance (at any reasonable speed) is 55 hours (stopping only for fuel).

This means that you will need to drive a minimum of 18 hours each of the three days. On the other hand, it is possible to drive the entire distance non-stop -- I have done it twice in my roadtripping career, but it is brutal and unwise. Even professional truckers rarely drive more than 10 hours per day.

Line Drive route would be I-90 to I-80 to I-70 to I-15 to I-10 to LA. If you are concerned about snow in the Rockies, you might consider staying on I-80 to I-15, which will add at least another four hours of driving. If you were to try and do the southern route (which is still likely to have winter weather on it) you will easily add 6-12 more hours of driving which puts you pretty close to non-stop driving for three days.

Make sure you carry tire chains and know how to install them. Practice in your driveway if they are new to you. Always carry plenty of drinking water, a blanket, a couple of candles, ice scraper, small broom, and towels.

Should be an adventure!

M.

[Tony J]

Hi Melissa,

I agree with Mark on one thing. This is a HUGE trip you are planning and for your first time, my suggestion would be to 'think twice' because if you haven't made a trip like this before, you're in for a long & potentially dangerous trip. If you HAVE to, then you have to. You are looking at 18-20 hours EACH day to make this. If you can at least leave a half day earlier that would help...ANYWAY, I agree with your concern on the weather. I've driven several times on the southern route but not the northern route...So, here would be MY suggestion. MASS Turnpike > I84 > I81 > I40 > I15 > I10. I81 is beautiful through Virginia & Tenn where you hit I40 all the way to CA. This trip will be about 3240 miles & even averaging 60 mph it'll be 54 hrs, & allowing 15min stop every 4 hrs you are looking at 57-58hours....Hey GOOD LUCK. hope this helps

[Mark Sedenquist]

Tony,

Good suggestion for the southern route. However one caveat -- the SE is getting hammered with heavy snow and winter driving conditions and the outlook for the next five days is more of the same. Weather patterns along I-80 actually are looking better.

Generally it is impossible for all but a select few professional drivers to attain 60 mph average speed over a 10+hour day. Most drivers who maintain a highway speed approaching 70 mph still find that their average daily speed is closer to 53 mph because of traffic slow-downs, merging and brief fuel stops. To attain a 60 mph over the entire course of a 18-hour day, the driver must reach triple digits for much of that day.

With much of her route (both northern and southern) under winter driving conditions, they will be extremely lucky if they can attain an average speed of 38 mph over the course of the day. That would mean that the southern route could require nearly 3.0 days of 24-hour driving.

M.

[imported_Robert]

I used to drive semis, and like some others, I would not attempt this in 3 days. I would consider 5 days to be the minimum. If you and your mom share the driving equally, it would still be brutal. Professional drivers cannot drive over 10 hours per day, because after that you get really tired and can make mistakes.

If you attempt it, take along a cell phone, tire chains, plenty of water, and food that can be eaten in the car. You would not be able to take the time to stop in restaurants and still make it in 3 days.

Good luck!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Three days is brutal -- I have done it a couple of times under the pressure of press events -- but I had a co-driver and we both were functionally brain-dead by the time we reached NYC (starting in Los Angeles).

Mark

[Boston Wrangler]

&gt; unwise. Even professional truckers rarely drive <BR>
&gt; more than 10 hours per day.<BR>

In fact, Mark, the new laws recently implemented prohibit a CDL driver from driving more than 14 hours before they need 10 hours of "rest." From the minute they get in their truck, they have 14 hours before they have to stop. So if they stop along the way, they are still "on the clock" for the 14-hour period, then they must stop for 10 hours.

A lot truckers don't like the new regulations, but I think it'll make the roads safer.

PS I did my research on the CB radio ;)

[Mark Sedenquist]

The 14-hour rule has been the norm for most fleet drivers for a number of years -- but many drivers still use two or more log books so they can stay out on the road longer. It is probably a good law, but the law is only as good as the willingness of people to follow the law.

I like the notion of research by CB!

M

[Mark Sedenquist]

Received the following e-mail memo from Melissa today:

"...Hi guys! Thank you so much for your help. You guys are wonderful human beings. I am very grateful to you. All your advices helped a lot. We took the southern route and we had to stay 2 nights over at NM because of a dangerous snow
storm so we really made it in 4 days.

I was practically the only one driving because my mom is not very good at driving manual but she drove for about 5
hours in non dangerous areas. I tried to drive non stop (only for fuel) for 24 hours at 60 to 65 mph the first day but I couldn't. I was only able to get to 20 and at this point I was really brain-dead.

After that I drove about 16 hours/day at 85 to 95mph. Thank God we got to LA safe but it's not something that I would want to do again, unless if I have at least a week to
complete the trip. Oh before I forget, somebody asked me how old I am, I am 21. Thank you all and God bless you..."
------------

Ah -- the vitality of youth!

Mark