I am trying to put a route together for 2013, and would like some comments on it. The trip is mainly revolved around photography, and a trip to the Indy 500. I know it could do with being longer, but it's already massively pushing the budget. I am also fully aware of distances (i did a 4,500mile 3 week trip in 2011).

For your info, i haved already been to:
Parks: Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Death Valley, Devils Postpile, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion
Cities: Boston, LA, LV, NYC, SLC, Santa Barbara, SF

May 2013
4 San Clemente (fly in and pick up car... maybe Corvette?)
5 San Clemente (Potentially watch Lowers Pro surf contest)
6 San Clemente
7 Las Vegas (change to cheap car!, maybe do Nascar experience)
8 Grand Canyon
9 Grand Canyon
10 Page (inc. Antelope Canyon, and maybe the Wave)
11 Page
12 Monument Valley
13 Moab (Arches, Canyonlands, etc...)
14 Moab
15 Moab
16 Denver (more CO than Denver specifically... any ideas? maybe a drive up Pikes Peak? Ouray?)
17 Denver
18 Denver
19 Badlands (+ black hills)
20 Badlands
21 Sioux Falls (to break up driving)
22 Chicago
23 Chicago
24 Chicago
25 Indianapolis
26 Indianapolis (Indy 500)
27 Pittsburgh (to break up driving)
28 Washington DC (drop off car)


The last 2 days are obviously a big rush, but they're there so i can make it a full coast to coast trip. It would feel wrong leaving from Indy and not getting all the way to the coast.

Car rental seems to be an issue. If i keep the car in Chicago (which will be annoying) it saves me quite a bit of £ (even with parking fees). If i drop off at the start of the Chicago stay, then pickup after to take me to Washington, the Chicago to Washington bit is £250+ for a basic car (it's only 3 days!)!



Option 2, is to go the other way. This is somewhat favoured as it means i end up with a quiet few days at the beach, but it does mean i miss out on a few things (Lowers Pro + possible nascar experience). It could reduce the chances of snow though (especially in Colorado!).

23 Washington DC
24 Pittsburgh
25 Indianapolis
26 Indianapolis
27 Chicago
28 Chicago
29 Chicago
30 Sioux Falls
31 Badlands
1 Badlands
2 Denver
3 Denver
4 Denver
5 Moab
6 Moab
7 Moab
8 Monument Valley
9 Page
10 Page
11 Grand Canyon
12 Grand Canyon
13 Las Vegas/Phoenix
14 San Clemente
15 San Clemente
16 San Clemente



Please give me your thoughts.