Washington DC ... and then??

[Racerke]

Due to a lot of work today I won't be able to search good on the internet... .
Tomorrow will be the USA-day ... ;-)

What I did do was tumbel from my chair ... the trainconnection in between DC and Indianapolis takes 22h travel time not to mention the time that you have to wait in the stations.


Is there an airport nearby the Indy-track?

[Racerke]

Are these the airlines in the US ?
Wich is the best to use??

Major US Airlines
American Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Continental Southwest Airlines
Delta United Airlines
Jet Blue US Airways (America West)

[Racerke]

OK, I've got my program, one question what I've got: start in Washington DC or start in Los Angeles or San Fransico?

What are the interesting extra places, things to do, ... ??
Are the day's realistic?

Let's think that I start in DC:

- sleep one night

-1- trip to LA: 2677 miles - 4309 km - 40h40min -- 12 days??

Drive goes, following this route [oops -- operator error on part of the Editor]
Wich city's are interesting next to this route?
Atlanta for sure, what else? Or wich parks??
(Nashville??; Santa Fe??; Dallas??)

Or... is Palm Springs interesting? Because if not then I can start imidiatly in Flagstone. (is Phoenix special ??)
for the rest of my route and win one, or maybee two days.

-2- 8 days??
Starting Flagstaff
(if Palm Springs & Phoenix isn't worth going)

Flagstaff
Grand Canyon
Page (Lake Powel)
Bryce Canyon + Salt Lake city???
Zion NP
Las Vegas
Death Valley
Yosmite
San Fransisco
Santa Barbara
Los Angeles

-3- Airplane
inland flight LA to DC Baltimore

-4- Subway/bus/taxi -- 3 days
Watch Baltimore and DC

-5- Go to the Indy 500 -- 2 days
Trip from Baltimore with rental car to Indianapolis
Intersting places next to route??

-6- after race 6 days
Chicago

or then goto Milwaukee (interesting??) + is there a boat for cars over the water to the State of Michigan?
or thu Gary into state of Michigan + Detroit to cross the boarder of Canada and go to Toronto
or is Cleveland so interesting that I will stay in the US and only will cross the boarder at the Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls
Toronto
Niagara
Philadelphia
Baltimore

Is Springfield special? I love the Simpsons but ... ;-)

That gives a total of 30 days ....

Now I'm gonna get all these places in the planner but tips are welcome!!

[Racerke]

Or... do I change everyting in -1- and -2- round and fly immediatly from Baltimore to LA, then drive to San Fransico, ... to Baltimore ??

From DC to LA folowing the route on top 1+2 gives:
4046 Mile -- 6511 Km -- 66hours 25min


From DC to DC folowing the route on top 5+6 gives:
1918 Mile -- 3086 Km -- 32h40min

Wich are the best rental car companies?

How much is the fee +/- for dropping of the car in another place and state ?

[Mark Sedenquist]

From DC to LA folowing the route on top 1+2 gives:
4046 Mile -- 6511 Km -- 66hours 25min

You should not believe any online planning estimate for trip durations -- As a general rule, you can expect to drive an average speed of 57 mph west of the Mississippi River, and about 53 mph east of the Mississippi and every other estimate is fantasy.... So, to put this in a form of reality. You should expect the trip to take a minimum of five days, driving anywhere from 12 to 14 hours per day.

[Mark Sedenquist]

How much is the fee +/- for dropping of the car in another place and state ?

Every company has a different rate. They could range as low as $300 and as high as 1800. Here is some more information:

Surcharges
Rental Car Insurance
Field review of Adventures on Wheels

Mark

[Racerke]

Now I'm thinking to skip the part in between Flagstaff and Washington DC as it seems less interesting... . Right choice or not? (by this I've got more time for California and Nevada)

[AZBuck]

Ultimately, only you can decide what trip makes sense for you. A vacation that someone else has designed may be right for them, but the only way to make this right for you is for you to be making these decisions, and revel ling in the consequences. I think that there is no wrong choice here and you'll feel a whole lot better about this trip if it's your own.

AZBuck

[Racerke]

I understand but as I've seen in other topics you guys gave tips and hints for places to watch for a reason or not go for another.

At this moment my main concerns are the folowing:

- take a flight or not in between DC and Flagstaff
- drive this route for a reason

- how does it work with a rental car if I would get it in DC and leave in California ... what's the fee for that kind of drop off

- the day's as mentioned for Flagstaff - LA : 12days = realistic or to little?

- the day's as mentioned for DC - Niagara - DC : 8days = realistic or not ?

- a list of names for small motels/hotels/ B&B to stay to wander thru

- a list of the possible rental company's + if are pro or cons against one or reviews

- a list of the possible airplane company's + if are pro or cons against one or reviews

After I know these things I can wonder about time that I don't have to wait for a flight and how much extra time would be interesting for other maybee interesting places.

Then I can make sure the movie company can book this flight.

[Racerke]

You should not believe any online planning estimate for trip durations -- As a general rule, you can expect to drive an average speed of 57 mph west of the Mississippi River, and about 53 mph east of the Mississippi and every other estimate is fantasy.... So, to put this in a form of reality. You should expect the trip to take a minimum of five days, driving anywhere from 12 to 14 hours per day.

Thanks for this information ... I will take in account 53 mph.
For the day's with less action the maximum driving I want to do is 10 - 12 hours.