Los Angeles to New York with Plenty of Places Inbetween

[fedas18]

Hey Everyone!

This is my first time posting and I was hoping to get some advice. My brother and I are planning on driving cross country from June 23rd to July 2nd. The latest we can be traveling is Jun We have a wedding to attend in Vermont but its looking more and more likely that we will have to miss the wedding. I guess my first question would be: (1) Do you think we can still have an enjoyable experience rushing through the country in 10 days? Here is what we have so far. I've never done anything like this before so any tips, thoughts, observations, comments would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thursday, June 23: Los Angeles to Hearst Castle/San Francisco - Being traveling along the Pacific Coast Highway to SF. From what I've read this can be done in one day but its a long day and doesn't give much time to stop and smell the roses. (2) Should we stop and spend a night at Hearst Castle as a midpoint? I'm going with the assumption that we are going to stop and spend the night.

Friday, June 24: Hearst Castle to San Francisco - Continue along the PCH and spend the night in SF.

Saturday, June 25: Head to Yosemite National Park. Camp out. (3) Any recommendations for things to do at Yosemite? We will either spend Sunday at the park or head north early. We are planning to go white water rafting on the Salomon River in the upcoming days. (4) What is a good point inbetween Yosemite and Boise? Maybe a place to go fishing or something? Lake Tahoe?

After White Water Rafting in Idaho we are planning on going to Yellowstone. (5) Any recommendations on things to do in Yellowstone? (6) How many days would you recommend staying in Yellowstone?

(7) From Yellowstone maybe we go to Jackson Hole? Is that even worth it?

Then onto Mt. Rushmore. (8) How much time do we need to spend there. I think all we want to do is take a picture.

I think I should figure out this part of the trip before continuing. Its very complicated and for a first timer its hard to know where to begin. Any tips or places of recommendation would be beyond appreciated.

We were also thinking about doing ATVing or Skydiving or Fishing, and if you have any highly recommended places to do that, please don't be shy.

Thanks for all your help. I really do appreciate it and am looking forward to seeing this great country of ours.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

You simply can't keep up the pace you've set for yourselves in the west and expect to cross the country in ten days. note that you've budgeted about 7-8 of your 10 days already, and you haven't gotten out of Wyoming!. You can make a very nice cross country journey in the time you have, but you can't see everything and you have to keep your eyes on the prize. I'd start by mapping out a few possible relatively straight line routes between L.A. and NYC and see what's along them that's of interest. Those are the places you can see, If you start going too far off those routes, or spending several days in one place, you're going to run out of time before you reach your destination.

AZBuck

[Utahtea]

Hi fedas18,

Saturday, June 25: Head to Yosemite National Park. Camp out. (3) Any recommendations for things to do at Yosemite? We will either spend Sunday at the park or head north early. We are planning to go white water rafting on the Salomon River in the upcoming days. (4) What is a good point inbetween Yosemite and Boise? Maybe a place to go fishing or something? Lake Tahoe?

It's a 4 hour drive from SF to Yosemite Valley so you might find it hard to get a campsite unless you make reservations. There is a chance that Tioga Pass still might not be open even in late June so you will have to keep checking to make sure it's open. Yosemite Road Conditions Yosemite Valley is the best place to do some hiking and see the waterfalls. IF Tioga Pass is open, there are national forest campgrounds just before you reach Hwy 395 and we've always been able to find a dry campsite.

(5) Any recommendations on things to do in Yellowstone? (6) How many days would you recommend staying in Yellowstone?

I love Yellowstone. The last two times we went we spent 2 weeks in the park and plan on another two weeks this fall. That said, please try and fit in at least 2 full days and a 3rd if you have the time. There is so much more to Yellowstone than JUST old faithful. There are numerous geyser areas, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake and the wildlife just to name the big things!

(7) From Yellowstone maybe we go to Jackson Hole? Is that even worth it?

Jackson Hole it's self to me isn't worth it, but the Grand Tetons are! If you decide to go, then from Bosie go first to Grand Tetons and then Yellowstone to save miles for the next leg of your trip to Mt. Rushmore.

Then onto Mt. Rushmore. (8) How much time do we need to spend there. I think all we want to do is take a picture.

An hour or so will do it. But as you head east make sure to drive though Badlands National Park.

Utahtea

[fedas18]

Thank you both very much for the information!

AZBuck - I see what you mean with the time delay. Its going to be really tight. Unfortunatley I have to drive up north to SF to get the camping equipment so I guess the trip is really SF to NY in about 10 days +/- 1 or 2

Utahtea - Thank you for your comments on Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons. I like the idea make to split up the trip from Boise to Yellowstone.

Would I take route 90 through Badlands National Park?

[Utahtea]

Would I take route 90 through Badlands National Park?

You have two choices to visit Badlands National Park Map. To see all of the park take Alt 16 from Mt Rushmore, then Hwy 16 towards Rapid City, SD. Then Hwy 44 to Scenic, SD. Here you will pick up the Sage Creek Road 590 and follow it to Sage Creek Rim and then over the Badlands Loop Road to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. From there head north on 240 back to I-90

OR, you can drive to the town of Wall on I-90 and using exit 110, take 240 south to the Pinnacles Entrance, do the Badlands Look Road to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and there head north on 240 back to I-90

Utahtea

[Lifemagician]

... so I guess the trip is really SF to NY in about 10 days +/- 1 or 2

Assuming the worst case scenario, i.e. 10 days minus 2!!

A cross country trip is six full days driving, or five very long days driving. The latter leaving you too tired the next day to really enjoy any activity. (Another assumption here is that you will not strike any hold ups of any kind.) You are not going to have much time to partake in many - or any - of the activities you state. As Buck suggested, draw a straight line, and check out what there is along that line. Leave Yellowstone and Boise for when you will have the time to be able to enjoy them at your leisure.

Or find more time.

Lifey