Best route from San Fran to New York and best time of year to drive:)

[56mercgal]

HI, I am new to the forum here and what a great site it is! I have never driven cross country before and my 56' Mercury wagon has no a/c, so Summer is out! I plan on doing a road trip from San Francisco to New York, back down to St. Louis, trying to follow as much of Route 66 as possible, heading West. What time of year and what Route as in 40 or 80 would be the best as in safest and weather wise ? I will probably do this in 2012 sometime. The main destination is to spend two weeks in New YOrk, do the siteseeing, go to Long Island,etc. Thanks!

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

A common theme you will come across as you work your way around the forums, is that there is not a generic 'Best' of anything. Time, interests and budget are things you should concentrate on to start planning your trip, not what the weather may or may not be doing in well over a year from now. It's impossible to accurately predict what might be happening at the Weekend. Lol !

You can find original sections of Route 66, but it can be difficult to follow in parts, the road was decommissioned years ago and replaced by Interstate.

One of my favorite times to travel is in the Fall between Sept and Oct but that's not to say May/June would not make for a nice trip.

Have a look around the forums, Map Centre and other road trip planning pages and start figuring out where you want to go and when there are some dots on the map we can help to fill in the blanks. I would allow 6 days each way driving direct and anything beyond that you can start doing a little detouring and sight seeing away from the Intertate.

Enjoy.

[56mercgal]

Hi and thanks,Dave! Since I have already been back East in fall, I think a trip in May will be a good time! My initial destination is Long Island,NY. At least the storms will (hopefuuly) be at a minimum and it won't be too humid! I will NEVER drive to the East coast or midwest in July/August! Yikes! It would be fun to take the "side" roads going East, I guess there are alot of tolls going on I-80. :)

[Foy]

A 56 Merc wagon, eh? Sweet!

Depending on how it's set up (modified vs stock), and how you drive it (whatever the traffic will bear vs. slower than average traffic), you may want to engage in some map study intended to keep you off of the Interstates west of the Missouri/Mississippi to some extent.

I say this because I don't know what it takes to get a speeding ticket on I-80 in Nebraska, Wyoming, or Utah, but my truck won't do it. Ditto I-40 in western OK, TX, NM, and AZ. No kidding, routine truck and car traffic rolls along at 80-85 mph out there. I did NC to Montana and back last year for the most part with a self-imposed limit of 70-75 mph, set to take it easy on my old pickup truck and to save some fuel. It's more than a little harrowing watching the tractor-trailers barreling down on you when they're running 15 mph more than you are. If you really take it slow in the Merc, they might be running 20-25 mph faster than you, and the traffic engineering experts say it's not just speed which kills, it's speed differentials. Being legally and ecologically superior is no consolation when your classic ride is crumpled up and you're injured or worse.

Sounds like a great trip, though, I hope you can pull it off.

Foy

[Lifemagician]

...... It's more than a little harrowing watching the tractor-trailers barreling down on you when they're running 15 mph more than you are. If you really take it slow in the Merc, they might be running 20-25 mph faster than you, and the traffic engineering experts say it's not just speed which kills, it's speed differentials. Being legally and ecologically superior is no consolation when your classic ride is crumpled up and you're injured or worse.

Despite Foy's experience, I can assure you that over more than 20000 miles driven on interstates in 2009, with the cruise control always set at 60 - 65 mph, not once was I intimidated or threatened by another vehicle. Professional truck drivers are amongst the safest and most courteous on your roads.

Yes, it is true, they do pass at unbelievable speeds, but if you don't let it worry you, you will be safe. It is those who hesitate and constantly vary their speed, who are the real menace on the road.

And that drive across Nebraska in particular, is such a great experience, with the huge wide open plains and the seemingly endless road.

Lifey has fond memories of NE