New York - Miami - Houston - Las Vegas

[Kaczo]

Hi!

I'm Peter from Poland and with my wife we plan to visit US for first time on July 6. We're 28/26.

We got our visas already, we have booked a car from Alamo (one-way trip) and in next few days we're buying our tickets.

We plan to visit quite a lot and this is main reason that I registered here to talk with you, folks :)

Our plan is quite simple. We land in NY and we want to stay there for 2-3 days. Then we drive to Miami (with Washington and NASA at Cape Canaveral in between). Then we want to go via Everglades to Houston (and this part of road is big unknown for me, is there something interesting to see - I really want to "feel" southern states and taste food there). From Houston (NASA of course) we are heading to Roswell (I just have to be there! :P) to Moab (Arches), then Monument Valley and Horseshoe Bend. As far I know there is problem with 89 and 89T is not suitable for driving with fullsize sedan so we have to go back through 98. Is this temporarly only way of getting from horseshoe to Grand Canyon Village? After Grand Canyon we're heading to Las Vegas (through part of Historic rte 66) when we're about to finish our trip.

More specific map you can see here: https://roadtrippers.com/trips/ny-mi...939f32680004e2 - I've put there some dates and few motels/hotels (they are there mostly as help for me to know about what cities we have to find motel to sleep).


Main questions are:
- Is visiting two NASA places too much? Are they very different or maybe one of them is more interesting than other? Maybe we can make more intense roadtrip from NY to Miami (or stay longer in Miami) if we ditch one of them?
- Do I miss something important on this roadtrip?
- Do You know any great places nearby?


Thank You! :)

[Lifemagician]

Hi Peter, and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.

You have laid out quite an extensive trip for 14 days. By the time you consider all the side trips to attractions and accommodation, you are looking at a trip of almost 5000 miles. This equates to ten days for the driving part alone, with only minimal stops for essentials and a little sightseeing. Having already planned two to three days for New York, I am afraid you will not have much time to enjoy the rest of this trip.

It looks to me that you have your times straight off a computer mapping program. You need to understand that these times are quite unrealistic, and add at least 20%.

Lifey

[Kaczo]

Hi Lifey!

This is true - this is very extensive trip and this is reason why I'm here :) I want to fix everything that I didn't think about. I beleive in you, guys ;)

I've made more planning outside Roadtrippers (with estimates of visiting places, hours of driving etc). It seems that mostly there will be a lot of driving in morning and evening so we'll be leaving hotels/motels at 9am and arriving to next ones about 8-9pm. I've added some time for stops, sightseeing, etc but I know that it will be very extensive trip :)

Since we don't have much time for staying at different places I know that mostly we'll be driving. It's OK. It's also a way of getting to know States as such. I think that for first trip we have to see as much as possible and in some next trip stay at places that seems worth staying for more than few hours.

You can stay in few places for few days or you can see as much as possible throught USA even staying for hour or so. This trip is that latter one. :)

[Lifemagician]

Peter, If that is what you want, then that is fine. I just wanted you to be aware of how much driving you are in for.

I would drop Cape Canaveral. It is not a place you can be for an hour, or even a couple of hours. The tickets they sell are all two day tickets, which is an indication of how long it takes to just see some of the basics. I have not been to the Houston NASA, so not sure if that is any different. The Everglades is certainly a place you can get a feel of by just driving through, but again, it is a bit out of your way. St Augustine is on your way, and definitely a place you can get a feel of in an hour or two.... if you can find a parking spot.

Perhaps skipping Moab and driving through Monumnet Valley (maybe even some of Arches) would at least give you a couple of hours to experience Desert View Drive into the Grand Canyon on your way to Vegas.

Lifey

[glc]

There is nothing wrong with 89T. It's a newly paved 2 lane road with a 55 mph speed limit and is suitable for any vehicle including large trucks.

[DonnaR57]

I will respectfully differ in my opinion from Lifey regarding the Kennedy Space Center (FL) and the Johnson Space Center.

Two years ago, we made a stop at Kennedy Space Center. Lifey is correct in that this is not a stop you can do in "a couple of hours". It will take about that long just to get on the tour bus and go from the observation tower for Pad 39A and then out to the Apollo museum (which is HUGE, EXTENSIVE) and back. The tour bus will drop you at the observation tower and you can either snap a photo or two and jump back on the same bus, or stay there till the next bus arrives in about 15 minutes. (Most people do the latter.) It was the Apollo building that REALLY caught our attention, as it was a museum for the space program up to the Apollo program. We were in there for several hours and soaked in everything we could, then caught the bus back when we realized we still had a two hour drive up to Jacksonville for motel, dinner and laundry. Could we have spent another day at KSC??? Maybe.

I haven't been to JSC in about 30+ years, so I can't comment on that one either. When I went there back then, the highlight of the tour was Mission Control. My husband followed early space exploration, as did I (kids of the 60s), so we plan to go there this summer. It will be the first major stop on our trip, and I will report on it in a Trip Report. But if you like space history, I'd say GO FOR IT, and GO to both KSC/FL and JSC/Houston. One of these days, we're going to put Huntsville, AL on our trip as well. (Training center for early astronauts, now a museum.)


Donna

[Lifemagician]

Donna confirms what I was saying.... you need hours for this place.

The comments from the OP

... even staying for hour or so

indicate that he does not have those hours it takes, even just to go to the launching pad.

Lifey

[John259]

Given the timescale, I'd advise considering omitting Florida completely and taking a more direct route, unless of course you've got your heart set on Florida.

I'm very tempted to suggest Washington DC > Front Royal, Virginia > Shenandoah National Park > Blue Ridge Parkway > Great Smoky Mountains National Park > Gatlinburg, Tennessee, all of which is highly scenic and interesting all the way - but those are not fast roads. So that route would need careful consideration to make sure you'd have enough time.

Between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rockies (i.e. the midwest, roughly speaking) is mostly flat farming country. Not unpleasant, but incredibly monotonous. That area would be best travelled via interstate as quickly as reasonably possible IMHO, to give you more time in the west where there are so many wonderful places to see.

This advice reflects the fact that I like national parks and scenery, and I don't like cities - but your tastes might be very different of course.

[Lifemagician]

I'm very tempted to suggest Washington DC > Front Royal, Virginia > Shenandoah National Park > Blue Ridge Parkway > Great Smoky Mountains National Park > Gatlinburg, Tennessee, all of which is highly scenic and interesting all the way - but those are not fast roads. So that route would need careful consideration to make sure you'd have enough time.

Couldn't agree more. Wonderful country through which to travel. No big cities but the smaller cities give more opportunity to seek out the local establishments for dinning and accommodation opportunities.

Between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rockies (i.e. the midwest, roughly speaking) is mostly flat farming country. Not unpleasant, but incredibly monotonous. That area would be best travelled via interstate as quickly as reasonably possible IMHO, to give you more time in the west where there are so many wonderful places to see.

Though we all have our own opinions, I would have to strongly disagree. I find the mid of the continent an amazing lesson in North American and particularly United States pioneering. Before travelling, take a little time to learn about its history (e.g. the dustbowl), settlement (including Indian and Pueblo settlement) as well as current problems and opportunities. It also gives good opportunities to get away from the touristy glitz and connect with the locals.

After all, travel is about seeing a different landscape and learn about those who live where you travel.

Lifey