While I agree with what Michael is saying, it's possible you need to get "out there" to appreciate what you have "here" at home.

I think you've picked out some great destinations.

One of the major issues you need to do now are determining your budget, and if you have enough to do this trip. Check out this post for how to eat good while saving money on the road. At the top of that post is a link to a post about budgeting. Check it out and play with the numbers. Obviously, it's pretty important to know if you can afford this trip or not. You can always share your budget here and we can help you figure out if it will work or not.

You will also need a dependable car. Make sure you have a good, trust-worthy mechanic check out your car. Let them know you're planning on a long road trip so they can suggest upcoming maintenance items you'll need to take care of before you leave. And don't forget to ensure you have safe tires.

Once you've gotten these things taken care of, then you can start planning your route in earnest. You may discover you don't have the money to go coast-to-coast. That's OK. The places you've chosen are all west of you and will make a great trip. Do a circular route so you can avoid re-driving on the same roads. I prefer new roads whenever possible myself.

There are a lot of posts here at RTA about the places you're planning on going. Do a search, read around, do some route planning with a paper or online map, and then come on back here so we can help you tweak your route and offer other suggestions to help you have a great trip.

I'll just throw out another suggestion...and this might be especially helpful if you find that you can't afford the trip you're dreaming about. Why not make your trip to college in the fall your roadtrip? You can meander a bit while going north, take in some other sights, and still see a new part of the country, and meet new people.

Happy planning!