New York to Seattle?

[molberts]

Hi All,

Would love some recommendations for this trip please.

I've to be in Seattle on the 4th of May and will be flying home through New York at the end of april (I reckon the 29th/30th April but its still to be confirmed) so I figured hey, instead of flying home to Ireland why not squeeze in a road trip inbetween!

Literally just found this out so have no plans at all, any must do's or suggestions at all would be great. Open to hiring a car, getting a bus, train, whatever :)

Edited to add - I figured a little more info would be helpful! I enjoy being outdoors, wildlife, scenery and so forth (but would be on for exploring cities also) so have no problem camping/roughing it a little. I'll have come from volunteering in Haiti so will already have my backpack with me and not the nicest of clothes :)

Also, I've just read a review here of a trip to The Badlands - sounds amazing so I'd love to include that!!

Thanks a mil!

[AZBuck]

Céad Míle Fáilte! Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

It's not clear to me which way you're going to be making this drive or even if it's to be a one-way or round trip. But with two months at your disposal, it hardly matters except that some of the northern National Parks such as Glacier and Yellowstone will have very limited accessibility in early May. It's not that you're likely to see major snow storms at that time, but the seasonal snowfall in the northern Rockies is measured in tens of feet and it takes well into Spring for all that snowpack to melt or otherwise be removed from park roads. You'll have to check in with them to see what's open at the time you'll be in the area. Some other venues to investigate before decide on routes and such are Wind and Jewel Caves, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore - all near the Badlands - the upper Mississippi, Indiana Dunes National Seashore, US-6 across northern Pennsylvania, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. There's a lot more opportunities, but those should help get you started.

AZBuck

[molberts]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome!

Sorry for not being clearer, I don't have 2 months (I wish!) its more like 5-7 days :( I fly back from Haiti to New York at the end of April (date tbc but probably like the 29th) then I've to be in Seattle by the 4th May. I'll then be heading to Vancouver for my brother's wedding on the 12th May (suggestions for things to do between the 4th and the 10th-ish also welcome!) then flying home to Ireland from Vancouver on the 13th.

I was thinking of flying NYC to Chicago then driving to Seattle from there as it seems too long a drive for the timeframe I have. I was thinking from Chicago through South Dakota, Montana, Washington ... is this do-able in that timeframe of 4/5 days? Or would it be better to fly closer to Seattle and start the drive then? I'll likely be driving to Seattle from the 1st to the 4th of May.

Thanks so much for the advice, not familiar with this area at all, I've a lot of reading to do!

[Lifemagician]

Thanks so much for the advice, not familiar with this area at all, I've a lot of reading to do!

Actually, I think you'd be better off getting a good map of the US, and studying that. The reading and research will flow on from there.

... suggestions for things to do between the 4th and the 10th-ish also welcome!

If that is the case, are you able to allow more time for the roadtrip from NYC to Seattle. It really is a great drive, and if you have something like 10 days, will give some time to check out the plethora of attractions and sights along that route.

Lifey

[molberts]

Thanks Lifey,

Unfortunately have to be in Seattle for the 4th so no wiggle room on that side.

I'd rather go to 1/2 places and see them properly than be rushing. A friend who's done Yellowstone a couple of times said maybe even fly to Salt Lake and go from there. The Badlands seems to open back up earlier than Yellowstone though and having read a bit about the badlands I kind of have my heart set on going there.

I picked Chicago to fly to from NYC simply because I haven't been, if there was a more convenient place to fly to (ie would allow more driving time) I'd happily go there.

One more question, what will the roads be like? I mean could I hire a regular car or will I need a jeep?

Oh isn't planning a road trip fun :-)

[Lifemagician]

... I'd follow your initial plan, and fly into Chicago. If you have your heart set on seeing the Badlands NP, this would give you that opportunity. With very limited access to Yellowstone at that time, Badlands would be a much better choice.

Check out the map centre on the green bar above for other attractions along the way.

Between 4th and 10th, you could check out Olympic NP. I have not been there yet, but I have heard that it is well worth the trip. Other attractions which may or may not be accessible, depending on weather, are Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens.

And yes, the planning is half the fun.

Lifey

[Midwest Michael]

If you've only got 4-5 days, I might look at flying a bit closer. Its a good day and a half drive from Chicago to the Badlands, and its basically 4 full days from Chicago to Seattle.

Denver would actually be the closest to the badlands, but you could also look at Minneapolis or Omaha to save you the better part of a day, which you could use to explore the many other attractions of the black hills.

At this time of year, access to Yellowstone would be quite limited and may not be the best use of your time. Lifey's suggestion of Olympic is one that I would think you might enjoy too.

[jwmann2]

Hi All,

Would love some recommendations for this trip please.

I've to be in Seattle on the 4th of May and will be flying home through New York at the end of april (I reckon the 29th/30th April but its still to be confirmed) so I figured hey, instead of flying home to Ireland why not squeeze in a road trip inbetween!

Literally just found this out so have no plans at all, any must do's or suggestions at all would be great. Open to hiring a car, getting a bus, train, whatever :)

Edited to add - I figured a little more info would be helpful! I enjoy being outdoors, wildlife, scenery and so forth (but would be on for exploring cities also) so have no problem camping/roughing it a little. I'll have come from volunteering in Haiti so will already have my backpack with me and not the nicest of clothes :)

Also, I've just read a review here of a trip to The Badlands - sounds amazing so I'd love to include that!!
Thanks a mil!

Not sure how you feel about baseball but surely the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees have games at home during that week. You should check them both out. Mariners tickets will be much more affordable.

[Lifemagician]

Hi, and Welcome to the The Great American RoadTrip Forum.

Not sure how you feel about baseball but surely the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees have games at home during that week. You should check them both out. Mariners tickets will be much more affordable.

Great to see new members jump in and share their knowledge for the benefit of other roadtrippers. Much appreciated.

Lifey