Vermont to San Diego starting January

[sanderson]

My husband and I would like to meander out to San Diego in January. It looks like 10 or more days of driving depending on the route and we would be happy to spend a day or two at each stop if there's something to see or do. What route would you recommend and where should we stop?

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

That sounds like a nice trip to get to plan. It's ordinarily about 5-6 days of traveling from VT to San Diego by the most direct routes, so you have a little room for stopping, with 10 days.

Ordinarily, we don't do "best routes" or "recommended stops" until we know what type of things you enjoy. History? Scenic? Museums? Nature? Another thought, since there is still about 4 months before your trip, is to take out a large paper map of the US and see what's on it that strikes your fancy. You could research more places through the Map Center on this site. That's one way to plan this trip. Another way is to decide on a route and then see what's near it. My husband and I have planned our trips both ways, over the years.


Donna

[Harry Kline]

Welcome to RTA.

My first thought when I read your post was that a cross-country road trip in January dictates a southern routing, unless you like winter driving. There is lots to see and do, and I would look at I-40, I-30 and I-10 as possible routes to drive. That might mean driving a slightly longer route to get there, but the weather and road conditions will be better.

Use the Map Wizard on this website and see what might interest you along the way. And like Donna wrote, let us know what interests you. We can assist you better then.

[Lifemagician]

Welcome to RTA.

My first thought when I read your post was that a cross-country road trip in January dictates a southern routing, unless you like winter driving. There is lots to see and do, and I would look at I-40, I-30 and I-10 as possible routes to drive. That might mean driving a slightly longer route to get there, but the weather and road conditions will be better.

As we read over and over again on these forums, when you are looking at winter driving there is no way you can decide which route will be the 'best' to avoid winter weather. That decision can only be made a couple of days before departure when a reliable forecast has been issued.

Even I-40 and I-10 have been known to see winter conditions, while at the same time more northern routes were storm free.

Lifey

[Harry Kline]

Good point, Lifey. I've been caught in some of those I-40 winter storms, especially across the Texas Panhandle. I-10 has never posed a challenge for me.

You're absolutely right about forecasts a few days before traveling, but the odds are in favor of heavy weather the farther north you are. It would be a shame to plan a trip over one route and then have to reroute at the last minute due to weather.

[Lifemagician]

It would be a shame to plan a trip over one route and then have to reroute at the last minute due to weather.

It would be a case of not planning, but doing one's homework, and knowing what is available along all routes being considered. Being a winter trip the likelyhood of having to book much beforehand is very small, especially since the Christmas and New Year holidays will be over.

So don't waste your time 'planning', just do the research on what is where and when.

I never plan a trip in detail.

Lifey