Road Trip Sleeps

Hi Jamie,

Like your website. My wife and I are planning a coast to coast usa (may - july 2012)

I wondered whether there might be the odd occasion when we might not book into a motel and just sleepover in the vehicle. I would imagine that this might be out in the countryside and well away from towns and cities. Is this sort of thing permissable in America - or frowned upon?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Best Regards,

Jim Morrison (Scotland)

==

Hello Jim Morrison --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- glad you like the website, and hope you get a chance to check out the books, which have even more info about driving around America!

Your question about sleeping overnight in your vehicle is more complicated than you might think. Especially in these tough economic times, when a lot of Americans are living in their cars, the act of sleeping in parked cars is indeed generally "frowned upon". Then again, if you are not parked on a public highway, it's unlikely any police officer would bother you, though you might attract the attention of the land owner, whose permission it would be good to have got before he wakes you up with a shotgun at 4AM.

:-)

Just kidding! (Well, sort of.)

One thing for sure: if you are ever feeling weary it is always better to pull off to a safe place and get some shut -eye, rather than fall asleep at the wheel!

Realistically, I'd suggest that rather than pass an uncomfortable night or two in a car, it's better to plan ahead and camp out in a tent maybe in one of the thousands of very inexpensive campgrounds that exist in beauty spots all over the USA -- especially in the west, where there is a lot more public land (national forests, national parks) -- about half the western US is still in the public domain, and the land is open to everyone, citizens and visitors alike, to sleep where and when they please.

None of this is exactly a definitive answer to your question, perhaps, but I think you get the idea. Hope this helps, and hope you have a great trip -- drop me a line again before you head over, and I'll try to point you toward some great places to visit.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

NYC to Boston -- best route?

Hi Jamie

My friend and I are coming over (from Australia) to the states for a trip. A small part of our holiday is dedicated to a road trip between NYC and Boston. A friend told me about your site and books and when I visited your website I noticed that you can provide advice for trips. So, I'm emailing to ask if there are particular stops or routes you would recommend for our road trip.

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

Lisa

==

Hi Lisa --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA, and many thanks to your friend for spreading the word about my website, and my Road Trip USA books!

So, you're taking a road trip between New York City and Boston? You could do the drive in around 5 hours, following the busy I-95 freeway, but this would not be much of an edifying or memorable experience.

Fortunately, there are any other nicer routes, which will get you there and give you something to look forward to along the way. Question is, what do you like? Some people would make trips to see historic sights (of which there are millions here), while others like me might go off in search of the perfect piece of pizza. (If your holy grail includes the ideal hot dog, I'd recommend a stop off I-95 in Fairfield CT at SuperDuperWeenie's (URL: http://www.superduperweenie.com/ )

:-)

For scenery and more "cultivated" interests, one good route I know pretty well follows along the famous Appalachian Trail hiking route, north from the Hudson River Valley outside NYC, then along US-7 in western Connecticut and up into the lovely Berkshires of western Massachusetts, from where you could veer east, along the Mass Turnpike (I-90) or the more enjoyable Mohawk Trail (Route 2) into Boston.

You'd want a couple of days to really enjoy this trip, but if the weather cooperates and you get to see the sights, traveling here in western New England is an amazing experience -- there are just so many literary / artistic / scenic spots to enjoy along the way.

I cover these routes in the book Road Trip USA, and there are some descriptions on the RoadTripUSA.com website (under the Appalachian Trail and Oregon Trail chapters. )

Hope this helps you have a great trip!

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Great River Road -- on a Vespa!

Dear Jamie,

I am an European currently on a 12 month assignment to NY and before my assignment is over (November 2011), I would like to do a 2 to 3 weeks road trip through the US, with the objective of seeing the other America that I do not see in the Big Apple.

My plan is to buy a second hand Vespa scooter, and to sell it at the last point of the trip. The idea that I have is that famous Route 66 is now highly commercial and touristic, and therefore I was thinking about some alternatives that could give me his "real American" experience.

I would like to avoid as much as possible big highways, and remain in secondary roads passing through small villages, and with scenic views. I was considering now the Mississippi road. Would you have any advice for me, or any alternative suggestion?

Many thanks in advance for your kind help.

Joao

===

Hello Joao --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I really like the sound of your trip!

I hope you will take pictures of what you see, and take notes on what you think of the "other" America. I think, myself, that there are in fact many many "other" Americas, and that they often have a hard time seeing one another, even when they co-exist in the same places at the same times.

But then this is probably not unique to America, is it? I think most people see what they expect to see -- which is why travel is so important. Yes?

So, you must be brave, to contemplate cruising around middle America on a Vespa -- while listening to early 1960s Mod / Motown music?

The Great River Road should offer you exactly what you seek. If you want to see what Route 66 thinks it offers the world -- a glimpse into some "real" authentic America -- the Great River Road is a great place to start. In 2 or 3 weeks, you could ride the whole length, but will you start off from NYC? then maybe you could start by riding the oldest transcontinental highway in the USA, the Lincoln Highway (also known as US30), which still survives in long stretches across Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and Indiana and Illinois.

Then you could meet the Great River Road at a very "American" river town, Dubuque, Iowa, and start your cruise south from here.

An alternative route would be to follow the Ohio River valley south, past Louisville (which is a very cool city -- home of horse-racing's Kentucky Derby, and my favorite American, boxer Muhammed Ali!)

My favorite parts of the Great River Road are probably down in the South -- from Memphis down to New Orleans, with detours into the bayous of Cajun Country.

If you like to eat well, you'll be happy in Louisiana, for sure. And New Orleans is about as "European" a city you'll find in America -- very cosmopolitan for sure, but alas also very poor.

How's that for an answer? I hope it helps -- and I hope you have a great trip. Keep in touch, and let me know what you find!

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen

Rock n Roll Road Trips - Florida or California?

Hello!

My name is Cody Rohn. Me and some of my friends have had some ideas for a road trip for awhile now. I'm actually in a band with some of my best friends, we started it during my Senior year in high school, which was about a year and a half ago. We've played at a few shows around where I live, we've actually made some money too. There's actually four of us total, Me, Cassidy, Luke and John. Our dream is to go on tour across America. We are located in Southeastern Michigan in a small town. One night me and Luke were talking about ideas with a band, we actually a Christian Band, so playing at churches would be a great too.

Right now I have two main ideas.

# 1. Road trip down to Florida. It'll be a about a 18-20 hour drive for us, depends how far we go down in Florida. Our goal is to stop in every state and play for someone. This could be at a bar, a church, anywhere, anyone who could pay us some money. We'll come down with plenty of money, but I bet the show money would help pay for food/gas/motels. We could drive all day, then play the next day, or that night.

This was my first idea, here is number two.
#2. Road trip out west! California!!!

I did some direction work on mapquest, this will be a about 36 hours total for us. This trip will be a bit more pricey, but I'm sure its worth it. This trip would be amazing journey for us, our first stop will be in the Chicago area, and our last stop will be on the coast of California.

I'm sure the drive will be amazing, driving through the Mountains of Colorado and Utah, and the cornfields of Nebraska!

Just like my first idea, we'll stop in every city state. Maybe even multiple cities, especially once we get into California.

This was my idea. This is our dream for our band, how well do you think this would work out? Our band is a mixture of Christian rock, and soft rock. I play the drums when we do more harder rock, and I play my Cajon when we go more acoustic. Hopefully we'll find bars that'll let us play!

This trip will probably go over 1-2 weeks. I'm not sure how soon we will do this too. It might be around 2012, I'm only going for a associates degree, so I should be graduating around then. I was thinking we could do this around June/ July time.

Hope to hear back from you! It'll be great hearing from a travel expert! Thanks for everything!

Cody

===>>>

Dear Cody --

Many thanks for your nice note, and I hope you and your band do manage to take one or both of your proposed trips. Good luck!

My one real advice would be to take care so you don't get too tired -- driving long distances can be very tiring, and staying up late playing music is no substitute for a good night's sleep. Quite the opposite, in fact. So it will be very important that you give yourselves plenty of time to do the drives, scope out towns and clubs and churches etc. Don't rush.

The other key to making these trips work will be finding a road-trip vehicle that is both reliable, and spacious enough to carry your gear and let some of you sleep while others do the driving.

The good thing is you have plenty of time -- hope it all works out!

Happy trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

April 2011 - Four Corners - RV - Road Trip!

Dear James

I have just come across your site and your book Road Trip USA, I will definitely be going to buy it this week.

My husband, myself and our two children (ages 20 and 17!) are heading to the USA in April of this year and are planning a road trip and are bit undecided about which way we should go. We really want to see some of the country side and wondered if we have made the right decision.

We are arriving in Atlanta in early April and are hoping to hire a car until around the 16th. This first part of our trip is pretty much sorted as our son is doing some motocross training in Cairo, Georgia.

Then we are going to drive from Alabama across to Las Vegas, hopefully in about 7 days, in a motor home (leaving Alabama on 17 April). We are hoping to leave Alabama and travel to Memphis, on to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and arriving in Las Vegas around 24 or 25 April.

Then we will then swap the motor home for a car and travel up to Yosemite and San Francisco and finally back down the coast to LA. We hope to have about a week in LA to do all the tourist things.

I look forward to your advice.

Meaghan

===

Dear Meaghan --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can help you have a great trip. Hope you like my book!

Reading over your plans, I want to reassure you that you do indeed have a very good approach to seeing America. Don't worry.

(I'm not so sure about the wisdom of motocross training though -- that can be dangerous!..)

:-)

April is a very good time to be seeing many of the places you'll be passing through -- especially in the Deep South, which maybe you can tour while your son is riding his motocross bike (?). If I can suggest some places to aim for, I'd say make sure you try to go down to the Gulf Coast (Panama City is very poplar with 20-somethings), to historic town of Natchez and Vicksburg in Mississippi, Memphis in Tennessee, and of course to New Orleans , which is one of the most intriguing cities in the USA.

Further west, I think you will enjoy exploring Colorado and Utah, for all the National Parks and also for the human history of the Four Corners regions, where there are many cliff palaces and other photogenic remnants of ancient Native Americans. Mesa Verde National Park is spectacular.

If you can make it north to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, that is pretty amazing country as well. That all-American Mount Rushmore is in the Yellowstone neighborhood, too, so maybe you can veer north from Kansas and add this to your itinerary.

Or if the weather doesn't look so promising, as an alternative you could drive across the USA on more southerly route -- west Texas is lovely, while Arizona and the Grand Canyon are amazing in April.

After Las Vegas, I think it's a good plan to drop the RV and get in a car -- and California, starting with Death Valley, should be looking very handsome in April. Yosemite's another place where you will want to stay for at least a couple of days -- it is breathtaking, and the waterfalls should be at their most impressive when you are there.

Then SF, down the coast via Big Sur?, and on to LA.

Sounds like a great trip -- hope this brief advice, and my book, help you all have a great time.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Motorcycles on the Great River Road

Hi Jamie,

Love your book, so much in fact that I'm planning on taking my motorcycle on the Great River Road. Problem is that we are leaving from the Washington DC area, and I want the first stop to be Niagara Falls NY, then head around Lake Superior through Canada, then over to Bemidji to start down the Great River Road.

Any suggestions for the Niagara area, and around Lake Superior?

Thanks,

Steve

===

Hi Steve --

Many thanks for your nice words about Road Trip USA, and the seeing the Great River Road from a motorcycle sounds ideal. I just hope you are not planning to take your motorcycle any time soon -- riding in the snow has never seemed like much fun to me. Apart from those ice bikes with the spikes on their tires...

Some suggestions: in Niagara Falls, aim for the Canadian side. The US side has some memorable viewpoints at the brink of the falls, but the NY side is very post-industrial depressed, while the opposite side is cheerful, sparkly and clean and, well... Canadian. The Fallsview Hotel (URL: http://fallsviewcasinoresort.com/hotel/rooms.aspx ) has the best views, nice rooms, and a big lively casino. If you're riding all the way up from DC, you deserve a nice place to recover!

From Niagara to Bemidji, I think I would cut across into Michigan, and head up along the Lake Huron shoreline -- there's a good, looping scenic road all the way from Port Huron to the Macinac Straits.

Then you hit the Big Time: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is spectacular! The Lake Superior shoreline at Pictured Rocks / Marquette area is pretty, but the western part, up the Keeweenaw Peninsula, looks more like Montana than the Midwest.

The Apostle Islands in Wisc are also very pretty (try the Rittenhouse Inn in Bayfield), and I personally find Duluth nice, not just for the Skyline Parkway tour.

And staying with Lake Superior, you won't regret it if you can find time for a run along US61 north of Duluth, before heading west to start the GRR!

Sounds like a great adventure - hope it all goes well.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Honeymoon Road Trip - SF to Boston

Hi Jamie,

I'm getting married in August and my dream honeymoon is to drive across America. I've never done it, but have always wanted to. Since my fiance and I have already traveled around the world together this is the perfect time to see our own country.

We have a few ideas about what we'd like to do, but I definitely need some advice, here goes:

We'd like to rent a car (so we only drive one way and can fly back) at our home in San Francisco then drive to Woods Hole, MA. In Woods Hole we'll take a ferry to Martha's Vineyard for a few days before flying back to CA from Boston. On the drive from CA to MA I'd like to stop at the Grand Canyon (never been!); Tulsa, OK (to visit family), and Memphis & Nashville, TN (for the music and the King!).

1. If we spend a day or two at each stop along the way how many days will it take to drive to MA?

2. Also, is there anything along that route we should make sure NOT to miss, or NOT to be suckered into?

3. And finally, I'd love to read one (or more) of your books. If this is the trip we'd like to take which book should I read. It seems like our grand honeymoon adventure falls in between a few of your routs so I'm not sure.

Thanks so much, for taking the time to read this, for your help and for the fabulous website! (I love the homepage with the map and routes, its great!)

~Courtney


===>>>

Hi Courtney --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA - and sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I'm glad you like the website, and I hope you'll get the chance to check out the Road Trip USA book, which presents even more info in an even more appealing way. (Or so I like to think...)

First, some affirmation, too: I think it's wonderful idea to celebrate your marriage by touring the great union of states that makes up the US of A.

Now, some advice. Since you want to see the Grand Canyon, have you thought about starting your trip with a flight to Las Vegas, and getting a car there? You didn't say if you're getting married in SF or where, but for some people Las Vegas is an ideal "wedding night" destination. Lots of super romantic, super deluxe honeymoon suites are available in all those decadent hotels!

And hopping a plane sure seems more romantic than starting off married life stuck in San Jose traffic on Highway 101...

After the Grand Canyon, next stop: Tulsa. The road you take is a classic: Route 66, which winds from the Grand Canyon east across New Mexico thru Santa Fe et al, right into Tulsa (which has some cool Art Deco towers, if you like that sort of thing).

Then you can stay south and make your way to Memphis, which more than Nashville is the place to pay your respects to The King. In fact, both Elvis and MLK are significant figures here -- and the live music is fantastic.

And August is actually the peak season for Elvis tourism in Memphis , with all sorts of events and celebrations occurring in the week leading up to the August 16th anniversary of his demise (nearly 35 years ago).

From Memphis you can veer northeasterly towards Woods Hole, perhaps following along the Appalachian Trail -- via the Blue Ridge Parkway and other great roads, then making your way out to Cape Cod. I cover this whole route in the "big book" of Road Trip USA, and more recently in a minibook just on the Appalachian Trail route.

Hope all this info helps you plan a great Honeymoon road trip. Congrats, and Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Road Trip - Car Camping!

Hi,

My name is Sara and I'm looking for some advice. I am in my first year of university in Halifax, Nova Scotia but am from Ontario. I am looking to plan a long road trip (somewhere from 2-3 months) and would like to do a USA trip with my cousin. We are planning on working for 14 months beforehand to prepare (and save), and then take off in early summer of 2012. I am interested in the routes described on your website, and think that with our own modifications would be very useful. A few questions from an unseasoned road-tripper: I am looking to make this as low-budget as possible, so motels are not an everyday option. Are there places along these routes where we can get a super cheap campsite or just park the car? Also, restaurants can't be a regular thing either. What do people usually do for cooking/eating food on long trips? We have never taken a road trip by our own car but we camp a lot/ have travelled a lot and are used to roughing it, so the cheap way always wins! Any info/advice is greatly appreciated!!

thanks a lot,

Sara

==

Hi Sara --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and sorry it took me a while to get back to you. Then again, you've given me a year + notice before your trip, so I hope here's still time for me to help!

I'm glad you like the routes on the website -- if you get a chance, I hope you'll check out the Road Trip USA book, which presents them in an even more appealing way.

I appreciate your need to keep expenses low on a road trip. When I was young, I traveled around for more than 2 months, doing a lot of camping and only once paying for a room, so it can be done. Especially in the western US, there are many cheap and some free campsites -- especially in National Forests and National Parks, and other federal lands, so if you able to do some short hikes and get away from the commercial world, you can see all sorts of magical scenes.

You can search thousands of free and cheap campsites at this US government website:
http://www.recreation.gov/browseMapsRecGov.do?topTabIndex=CampgroundMap
or
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/map_of_campgrounds/r/mapHome.do?topTabIndex=CampgroundMap

In general, I don't recommend just pulling off to the side of the road, however -- it's generally against the law, and there are enough freaky scary people out there that it's not worth the risk. Better to head off into the wilds, and take your chances with the grizzly bears.

:-)

Anyway, it's much more attractive to wake up next to a lake or mountain, than to wake up next to a parking lot!

About eating, I live on a diet of apples and cherry pies, and when I camp I usually carry a small butane stove and a couple pots and pans, for heating up soup and water for coffee or tea.

From what you say in your letter I think you know what you're getting yourself and you sound well prepared -- so I hope you and your cousin have fun planing this trip, and if you want any more detailed advice once you decide on a route or two, please feel free to get back in touch.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Canada to Las Vegas

Hi Jamie,

I was looking at your website....and was wondering how long it would take to drive from the Calgary area / Canadian Rockies and finish off in Las Vegas. We thought of doing it in two weeks?? Is it enough or do you need more days?

Regards,

Amy

==

Hi Amy --

Thanks for your message!

Basically, two weeks is PLENTY OF TIME to have a great trip along the Rockies, down to Las Vegas. The Canadian Rockies are wonderful and wild -- and could keep you busy for 2 weeks by themselves, if you are outdoors-oriented. Banff is charming, and the scenery all around is stupendous. Allow at least 4 days up here -- as much as you can afford, really (especially in summer, it is not a cheap place to explore)

Heading down into Montana, I hope you'll make the trek east, to the wonders of Glacier National Park, which is also splendid (with lovely old 1920s lodges, all over the park.) he drive "over the top" along the Going to the Sun road is unforgettable. Give Glacier a couple of days, if you can, and enjoy the nightlife in tiny Whitefish, which give as good sense of Montana lifestyle.

(Again, hiking and biking and drinking beer features pretty high on the agenda...)

For a change of pace, there are buffalo herds on the the Native American lands around Flathead Lake, then the truly engaging small city of Missoula -- fun for literary-minded, beer-drinker types, for sure. Again, amazing location, with rivers and mountains all around. Then there's the unspoilt Bitterroot Valley, which I think could be a national park in itself.

Next up heading south is Idaho, which doesn't get the press that Banff and Glacier get, but to my mind it is at least equal in travel opportunities. The area around Stanley is open and loaded with yet more mountain scenery -- and I would recommend a detour west over to Boise, just to relax after all this wilderness.

The last stage of the trip, across the sagebrush plains of Nevada, is a whole new experience -- much drier, much less populated, but still breathtaking. And extremely lonely -- I doubt there are many other places where you can drive for 500 miles and barely see another car.

Besides encouraging you to explore, I have one tip: fill your fuel tank whenever you can (never pass a gas station with less than half a tank!). And of course, at the end of it all there's Las Vegas, which is surely the craziest place on the planet. My personal limit is 24 hours here, but if you've never been to Las Vegas it's definitely an appropriately intense finale to an intense two weeks of travel experiences.

Hope it goes well -- and thanks again for getting in touch.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen

Great Northern from Down Under

Hi Jamie,

Planning to do the U2 starting in New York as far as Kalispell then taking highway 93 with a plan of ending up in LA.

We would be hiring an RV and think we will allow 4 -5 weeks to complete the trip. We are used to outback travel in Australia.

My question - Is 4 - 5 weeks long enough??

Peter from Down Under

==>>

Hi Peter --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- I'm glad to hear you are going to join the flood of Aussies coming over to the US to take advantage of favorable exchange rates. Our tourism businesses could use your money!

Joking aside, to answer your question: Yes, 4 weeks is plenty of time to have a great trip, from NY to Montana to LA, without being in any kind of rush.

I'd suggest that you add in the Canadian Rockies, too, while you're "in the neighborhood." And if you can swing 5 weeks, that would be even better, since there is so much to see and do along the way.

Let me know how your plans shape up, and I'll try to give you some more detailed tips, closer to your trip.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Best Cross Country Route?

Hello Jamie,

For the first time (and maybe our last chance) we will spend 5 weeks in USA this summer. Looking forward to it!

We are a "Old Europe" family of 5 and want to combine history, culture and adventure in our tour of the "New World". We want to drive from New York (City) to Sacramento.

What are the best routes ?

We don't want to spend more than 10 days travelling across, since we have family on the west coast who we want to visit. Can we make it?

Thanks for any advice

Kristina

==

Hello Kristina --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- sorry it took me a while to get back to you, but I hope you are still looking forward to your big USA trip!

I used to live in Sacramento, and have done the drive between there and NYC a few times -- it can be a great trip. It's close to 3000 miles, though, so I hope you can spend the 10 days or so it'll take to enjoy it. So long as you get off the main freeways, from which you really can't see anything of interest, there is an abundance of culture and adventure all the way -- though compared to Europe, our "history" is pretty short.

That said, if you learn to look the history is everywhere -- there are ancient "mound cities" sprinkled amongst the anodyne suburbs of Ohio, remnants of pioneer trails all across the West (including the route of the short-lived Pony Express, a legendary enterprise that enabled letters to be carried cross-country in record time.)

The natural route for you to follow happens to be my favorite cross-country drive, along old US50, which runs from Washington DC (which you will definitely want to see) west to Sacramento. I cover it in Road Trip USA, where I call this route the "Loneliest Road," but it has a little of everything that makes a cross-country road trip so amazing -- nice small towns, important historic sights, natural splendor (especially in Utah, where you can see the red-rock national parks of Canyonlands and Arches and Zion).

Hope these ideas help you start planning a great trip -- and once you're closer to having an itinerary, I'd be happy to help with some more specific recommendations.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Summer Road Trip: National Parks, Baseball, and Music

Hello Road Trip USA!

I was so happy to run across your Website, and can't wait to read your book! You are such a God-send! I have been bouncing ideas off my husband since I desperately want to take a road trip this summer, but we are clueless when it comes to planning what to do, route to take etc.

We are two teachers, meaning time is fairly plentiful this summer, but money is tight. I have spent some time reading your descriptions, but thought i would reach out to you for even more specifics. I'm hoping you can offer me some of the personalized advice that I noticed you were kind enough to give other aspiring road-trippers.

My husband and I currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina and have traveled a great deal around our area. Since my husband is a huge Chicago Cubs fan i was thinking we could fly into Chicago to start our trip from there, we hope to rent a car/RV there.

I've never been out West. I would like to see everything, but realize that's impossible, however we do want to see as much as we can while having time to enjoy our stops. Other than Chicago, we are not looking for a big-city experience (we'd rather stay away from Vegas and L.A., although I would like to visit Memphis or San Antonio.). We are seeking beautiful landscapes, quaint towns, basically Americana at its best. Ideally, i would love to see as many national parks (especially Yellowstone) as possible; the Grand Canyon; possibly Joshua Tree; any small towns that are particularly charming; and historic places. We love live music, so we hoped to dip into Texas to visit Grune Hall (spelling??), but I am realizing more and more that seeing everything isn't possible. We also love hiking and antiquing, so we hope to stop and enjoy a little of both along the way.

I'm notoriously indecisive, which means I just keep second guessing myself when it comes to deciding between the Oregon Trail route or Route 66. However, i know that you know our great country well enough to suggest a less-typical route that will open our eyes to this beautiful country of ours.

Any help is so appreciated. You are so kind to offer your words of wisdom to so many people! Thanks for all you are doing!

God bless,

Anna

=====>>>

Hi Anna --

Many thanks for your nice note -- I am glad you like the website, and hope you like the book!

Seeing as you have a long-suffering baseball fan in your family, starting off your trip in Chicago could be a great idea -- you can see a Cubs (and Sox!)game, and then get your kicks on old Route 66. Route 66 is a great drive west right out of Chicago to Springfield, following the old road through one quaint town after another across the Land of Lincoln.

The West is another classic road trip destination, and an RV could be a good friend in the wide open spaces of Wyoming and Utah, so it's well worth looking renting a camper (though I should warn you they cost a lot, both to rent and to fill up the fuel tanks).

Seeing as you like hiking, I wonder: Have you thought about camping out some of the way? Not only is camping pretty cheap, it feels a lot healthier -- and if you do a little hiking you could get to some truly beautiful places and feel like it's all yours, rather than having to share the scenery with all the other car-constrained travelers.

The joys of getting away from it all is especially strong in places like the Grand Canyon, where the main overlooks will be clogged with visitors, but if you walk 200 yards down the trail, it's like you have it all to yourself.

There are also some great places to see (and camp out under the stars at night, which are big and bright...), deep in the heart of Texas. The Hill Country area west of New Braunfels, where your "Gruene Hall" is located, is gorgeous. One of my fave places out there is called Lost Maples State Park, which I cover in my Road to Nowhere drive along lonely old US83. Beautiful -- as is nearby San Antonio, home of the Alamo!

Memphis is cool, too -- though I suspect in cities like this you'll want to stay in a hotel (which is another reason for thinking twice about an RV...)

I share your sense of indecision, so maybe you can do both -- get an RV for Yellowstone and Zion and the Grand Canyon, maybe starting in Denver? And then get a car and head south to Texas, east to Memphis and up the Great River Road to St Louis and Chicago, before heading west back out to Denver to fly home again?

I like loop trips, which are a lot cheaper than a one-way with a drop off at the end. It also has a nice, full circle sense of completion. Yours may end up looking more like a Figure 8, but I think you know what I mean.

(And however and wherever you go, be sure to check out a few Cubs games "on the road"? And or see some future Cubs in action at their minor league farm clubs -- in Des Moines / Knoxville TN / Peoria and Boise ID...!)

Lots of possibilities -- lots of fun. Hope my semi-indecisive message helps you make a plan, and hope you have a great trip!

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Classic Car Rental

Hi Jamie,

I am from London England, and am looking to drive across the US probably the fall this year. i would like to do it in a classic 60s car but am concerned about reliability.

Alternatively i would do it in a convertible modern car. What are your suggestion for either and where could i hire the car? I have plenty of time to do this say over a month so might do coast to coast and PCH!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes,

Mike M

==

Hi Mike --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- good luck with your trip! Finding a "classic car" can be a challenge, especially if you want to drive it for more than a short time -- these are pretty rare as rentals, though of course you might be able to buy one and ship it home after your trip. Wouldn't it be a blast to cruise down the Kings Road in something out of Starsky & Hutch?

:-)

Because of reliability issues, old cars tend not to be used in rental fleets. That said, places like LA and Las Vegas have a lot of unusual car hire companies, like this one (which is where I got the picture above -- check it out!):

http://www.101classiccarrental.com/advertiser/


And most of the majors (Avis, Hertz, Budget etc) will rent you a modern convertible if you decide to go that route.

You could also look into doing a couple of different cars; maybe a cooler, more expensive one for California, then a more standard machine for getting you across the country.

Lots of possibilities - it's what makes America great!

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Young Aussies in America

Hi Jamie

I just stumbled onto your website and was wondering if you could help my friend and I. We are from Australia and are doing the big American road trip for my 21st. Our lack of knowledge on an American road trip is limited and any advise and places to visit would be great. We want to travel from New york to Los Angeles or vice versa in September. We have a month in America and want to see all the sites. Any info on such an epic trip would be amazing!

Thanks

Steph

==

Hi Steph --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- September is a good time to travel around America, and a month is plenty of time to have an epic, SF to New York to New Orleans (?) and Los Angeles road trip. In my Road Trip USA book I have nearly 1000 pages of suggestions for places to visit and roads to drive, so I hope you are able to check it out -- or at least spend some time test-driving my road trips on the RoadTripUSA.Com website.

There is so much to see and do in America, I think you 'll have a blast. The one possible problem comes from you being so darn young. Even at 21, when you are legal to do most anything else you might like to do in the USA, renting a car is still a pain, and companies that do rent to you might want you to pay a surcharge. Do you (and/or your friend) have a driver's license and a credit card? Those are basically essential, as well.

But the rest of the trip should be fun -- traveling in the US is really easy, and fairly cheap (especially for you resource-rich Australians -- I understand your dollar is worth a lot more over here than it used to be...)

Seeing "all the sights" could be a challenge, but I am sure you will see plenty of wonders along the way. Please feel free to write me again, once you've sketched out a more detailed plan -- and I hope you have a very happy 21st!

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

9 Month All-USA Road Trip

Hi Jamie

My 3-year-old daughter, my wife and I are planning on a very extensive road trip around the states. We plan to leave April 2011 and take at least 6 months maybe 9-12 months. We do not have any other commitments during this time so really free to go anywhere and everywhere.

We plan to buy a campervan / motorhome, take our time eat BBQ most nights and take lots of photos. We have a budget of approx £30,000. We are more interested in seeing 'real America' and nice small villages rather than cities and would prefer the smaller roads rather than concrete interstate highways.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Paul

===

Dear Paul and Family --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- you seem to have the right attitude (and enough time & money!) to have a great trip. BBQ & photos, too -- fantastic!

I can definitely see the attraction of motorhome travel, as you'll be traveling with a small person on board, but I wonder if the complications of buying (and insuring..) your own vehicle might turn it into a pain. There are plenty of rental places where you could try out a variety of RVs, and then switch to normal cars, or even use your own two feet, to get around American cities.

On such a long trip, a little flexibility would be a good thing, no?

If I had 6 months to see America, I think I would like to look into renting a house here and there in some special places, and really get to know the people, and the lay of the land. Traveling around is great, but so is sitting still and letting the world wash over you.

Are there certain parts of America that appeal to you more than others? In Road Trip USA I cover the very best 40,000 miles of smaller, older, scenic and historic roads all over the country, so I hope you'll check out the book. Then let me know a little more about what you want from this trip, and I'll try to help.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Rocky Mountain Road Trip

Hi Jamie --

Love your web site – there is nothing else like it – I was just after some advice on a forthcoming Road Trip that my wife and I would like to do – we have a family reunion in Hawaii on 17th March then intend flying to the mainland on 22nd March before flying back home out of LA on 2nd April.

Essentially 8 -10 days for seeing some of the USA by road – Originally wanted to get up to Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore but understand the snow will be too heavy. What do you think of driving the start of the Oregon Trail then down the border to border route then back across to SF or LA ? Is the snow or weather going to be too bad for relaxed driving up North ?

My wife and I have done the major cities in the states but never the country so interested in what you would recommend – essentially we could fly anywhere from Hawaii then start back from that point for 8-10 days ?

Thanks

Paul

(from Melbourne, Australia!)

===

Hi Paul --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- glad you like the website.

St Patrick's Day in Hawaii, huh? Then Mt Rushmore, and on to LA. Good stuff -- apart from all the snow, that is.

If you flew from Hawaii into Denver and picked up a rental car there, you could head north and see Mt Rushmore, and the Badlands (and some of the historic Great Plains, like General Custer's Battlefield, if that appeals...) before heading west. As you've learned most of Yellowstone is closed down in late March, so maybe you will be better off visiting more winter-oriented places -- like the Grand Tetons (which are beautiful, and much more of a snow-season destination. Great skiing in Jackson Hole, for instance.)

From the Grand Tetons area I'd be tempted to head south, toward the Four Corners region and the amazing scenery of Utah and Arizona, like Canyonlands and Zion National Parks, Monument Valley, even the Grand Canyon if you've not been there on your other travels. Santa Fe New Mexico is also a pretty special place -- and you could "get your kicks on old Route 66", which is still main route across this part of the country, passing thru teh Pueblo Indian lands and the Grand Canyon, too.

In a week or so you could make a great trip, maybe relaxing in Joshua Tree or Palm Springs in southern California before ending up in LA to catch a flight home.

Hope this helps yo have a great trip -- and I hope you get a chance to check out the book version of Road Trip USA, which has lot more fun stuff than what we've put up on the website.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Interstate driving

Hey Road Trip!

Here's our Plan: Starting in Seattle and ending on Cape Cod.... 2.5 weeks. We will be spending 6 weeks in New England before heading back to Seattle.

We have two small children, a tent trailer and a dog.

The only must does on our list are Mt Rushmore, DeSmet South Dakota, and Custer Battlefield east of Billings.

All of these are convenient to Route 90, which makes me want to ask:

Is Interstate 90 really as boring as I've read? Should we do Highway 2 and dip down to 90 after Glacier? Please help!

Thank you,

Meghan

==

Hi Meghan --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. And no, I-90 is not a bad road; it's probably the most interesting cross-country Interstate (thanks to passing thru places like Missoula MT & the Black Hills of SD). Given the choice I prefer smaller roads like US-2, but it's not the pavement that makes the difference, so much as the pace at which you travel.

So your trip sounds great -- though I would recommend a detour south to Yellowstone NP, on at least one leg of your odyssey. Old Faithful is even more exciting than Mt Rushmore!

Hope you have a great trip.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Dad & Sons on the Road, All Summer Long!

Hey Jamie,

Early last year I started a new position that grants me the ability to undertake a road trip of monstrous proportions. My job has two requirements 1) That I have an internet connection and 2) That I have cell phone data service coverage (AT&T). With that in mind, one night my wife said "Why don't you take the boys on a road trip this summer - all summer long?". Aside from my concerns about where she's hiding her boyfriend (kidding) I only need to make sure that my travels put me at a hotel or place to stay with wireless or hardwired internet services and AT&T cell phone data reception by Wednesday Morning.

My plan is to leave Minneapolis, MN the second week of June and return to Minneapolis, MN the last week of August. Beyond that I want to give the boys as much of the splendor that the USA has to offer as humanly possible. Here's the travel planning that I have worked out so far:

Budget:

$1000 every 2 weeks for travel costs, laundry, sight-seeing, sleeping arrangements, food, gifts, tours, etc.

Weekly Plan:
Main Driving Day - Sunday
Sight-seeing Day - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
Morning Fun Day - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Working (2pm - 12am) - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Due to the age of my boys (6 and 8) I can't let them out of wherever I'm working on my normal work nights. So I plan to bring board games, a portable DVD player, a gaming console (and additional video equipment to make it work), and a laptop computer. Plus the boys will bring some toys, books, etc on their own.

As far as what I was thinking in terms of where I'd head to first, I want to drive out to Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, Wall Drug, etc and then I was thinking of heading out to Seattle, WA after that, then south down the coast (maybe to Mexico/US boarder), east across the southern-most states, north up the east coast and finally west heading back to MN. I see on your site that you've listed some "easy" travel routes. So I was wondering if you have any recommendations on which number routes would be best for younger boys? Or if there are sights that you think would be important to get in, even if I had to leave the beaten trail for a day or two?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. I'm really looking forward to taking the boys on this trip while I have the option and ability to do so.

Patrick

===>>>

Hi Patrick --

Thank you so much for writing in to Road Trip USA! So, you want to take two small boys on the road with you for six weeks, and see as much of the USA as humanly (and humanely, I assume...) possible.

And you want to get some work done while you're at it. Not asking a lot, are you? All for $500 a week...

:-)

I think it's definitely a good plan not to drive every day -- getting settled into a hotel can be a real hassle (I think of all the toys and other essential I have left behind, or almost left behind, when I have done road trips with my boys (twins, now 12 -- and childhood sure does go fast, so I applaud you for making this happen!)

The web access won't be a problem, as most hotels offer this for free, almost anywhere -- except maybe in some National Parks, so I'll concentrate on trying to help with the route planning.

One thing comes to my mind: I don't think you need to be quite so ambitious in your planning, and I think getting from Minnesota, thru some Mount Rushmore (and Carhenge!), and the National Parks like Yellowstone, Zion, Arches and Yosemite, then to have some time on the West Coast, will be plenty to contemplate. Adding on thoughts of the Southwest deserts and the Deep South, especially in August, may distract you from enjoying the places you are passing through. There is definitely a male tendency to want to add up the miles, when I think what's most fun about a family road trip is the hanging out in silly places and enjoying each other's company. Yes, your boys may learn a little about American history, but what they'll mostly do is get to know each other, and their Dad. And you will get to hang out with them, which is what it's all about.

I have had as much with my boys in small town swimming pools as we have at Disneyland -- it's all down to your mood, and as much as I love road trips, the more driving you do tends to be inversely related to how much fun you have. Especially for a 6 year old, for whom an hour in a car will feel like forever -- he'll be better off on a hiking trail than on the highway, for sure!

I did wonder whether maybe it might be a good idea to break this trip into two parts, maybe doing a Figure 8 shape, with a return home halfway along. I personally find 3 weeks to be the maximum time I can spend on the road before I get a case of white-line fever; one thing about travel is that it makes you value having a place that feels like home.

One other thing to consider -- have you thought about camping out? There's nothing boys like more than burning marshmallows around a campfire, and if you spent some time camping out you could see the stars, talk to each other rather than watch TV, and maybe even save some money. You don't need tons of gear either -- just a tent, sleeping bags, a stove and some cookware. Campgrounds are also a lot easier to come by than motels or national park lodges, and camping can make it easier to meet and play with other travelers, which kids like to do.

Just a thought.

I'll be happy to try to suggest some more places to see, but wanted to write back and share these more general thoughts with you. Thinking about summer fun makes winter go past that much faster -- and in fact that brings me to one last piece of advice: without putting too much on them to know what they want, try to encourage your boys to join in the planning of this trip, and let them pick some places they think might be fun and/or interesting -- Lewis and Clark exploration sights? Baseball games? Searching for charismatic wildlife, or cherry pies? There are a lot of "themes" you can use to inspire your travels, and it's a good idea to keep everyone happy and engaged while you explore all the great places America has to offer.

Keep in touch, and Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Minnesota to Walla Walla WA - in March

Greetings Road Trip ASA.

We want to take US 2 from Duluth, MN to Walla Walla, WA in mid-March. We have made this trip several times before, but always in the summer. Are we nuts for wanting to do this in March? Are there some alternate routes that you can suggest for this time of year?

We have taken your book with us on several of our road trips and found interesting places to eat and hike by reading it. Thanks for such a nice resource to maximize our road trip experiences.

Terry


==

Dear Terry --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA --

About your proposed trip, some years you might get away with a March trip across the northern Plains, but this doesn't look like a great year for US-2. (Then again, Punxsutawny Phil predicted an early Spring, so maybe you'll be all right...) As I scan the weather reports, there is deep snow all across North Dakota and Montana, and to my mind the challenges of winter driving make a March road trip less than desirable. Then again, March in the mountains can be gorgeous, so it could be an amazing adventure.

But don't worry if the weather doesn't look cooperative, for there are quite a few other roads, and if you don't mind adding a few hundred miles (and maybe an extra week!) to your trip, you can find some truly lovely, warm-weather scenery -- the wildflower-rich deserts of the southwest, especially in Arizona, are gorgeous in March (and you can catch some Spring Training, too!)

But then again, being from Minnesota you are probably more capable of dealing with winter conditions than I am (are you till digging out from that last big storm?)

March weather in my old home state, California, is darn near perfect -- well worth the trip! Especially for a whale-watching tour, if you like super-size wildlife.

I don't know if this message will help you make any decisions, but if you do set off along US-2 be sure to check weather forecasts before you go, and carry some extra water and blankets (and your snowshoes!), just in case.

Happy Trails, and thanks again for getting in touch.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
----
Road Trip USA

Retirement = Road Trip!

Hello!

My wife Pearlene and I are looking forward to my retirement, and a road trip.

A 30 day road trip has crossed my mind as a great celebration focus. Is this do-able?

We live in Virginia and have never see much west of Tennessee. I plan to retire August 30. Because of the weather in the north west I see our trip sometime in 2012.

How would you suggest we plan?

Thanks, Arthur

>>

Dear Arthur --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- and congrats on reaching your retirement. A road trip sounds like a great way to celebrate!

Since you probably have plenty of time to enjoy your travels, I suggest you take it slow and steady -- many people spend their vacation time driving and driving, while for me the point of a road trip is to get out from behind the wheel and enjoy America with all your senses, doing what you want when you want. (For me, one of many ideal road-trip moments is sitting by a peaceful riverside, listening to birdsong while enjoying a slab of smoky BBQ...)

All of the 40,000-plus miles of roads I describe in Road Trip USA lead to savory moments like this -- my whole point is to get you away from the concrete freeways and franchised fast-food, so you can enjoy the many unique aspects of America. My trips go to the great national parks and special historic sites, all over the lower 48 states, and I try to keep things interesting while getting you there.

The actual destinations are something only you can decide, but I hope you will check out Road Trip USA -- online, and the book! -- and plan yourself a fantastic adventure. To start, maybe take a trip down to the Deep South, where a ride along the Mississippi River will bring you to the architectural delights of Natchez Mississippi, the powerful history of Vicksburg, and the abundant good food and great music of New Orleans and the nearby "Cajun Country." Then head west, into Texas and beyond, or loop back up the East Coast to enjoy Savannah and Charleston and so much more.

If you really want to see something totally different, head west to the national parks, like Montana's Glacier National Park (pictured above, from the glorious Going-to-the-Sun Road!. You could get there and back in a leisurely and totally enjoyable 30 day trip, for sure, though I should warn you that this sort of road-tripping can get addictive.

:-)

Or if that doesn't suit, give me a better idea of what you like to see and do, and I'll try to come up with some other suggestions. For now, thanks again for getting in touch, and

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

SF - Vegas - New Orleans - Memphis - NYC Road Trip!

Hi Jamie

My wife and I will be heading to the States in early April 2011 for our delayed honeymoon. We at first intended to fly into LA from Sydney, then fly to San Francisco for a 5 nights, fly to New Orleans for 4 nights, fly to Memphis / Nashville for 4 nights, fly to New York for 4 nights, fly to Las Vegas for 5 nights then fly to Hawaii for a week to end the trip.

After careful consideration I opted out of all of the flying and decided that a road trip from San Francisco to Nashville for approximately 10 – 15 days would be much more enjoyable. Our thoughts were to start at San Fran, then head to Las Vegas, down to New Orleans and then up to Memphis and Nashville. We would then fly to New York for a week and head back to Sydney from there.

I was hoping for some advice on the routes we should take and some of the places / states we shouldn`t miss on the way. Our ages are 37 and we will be traveling on our own and without children.

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Yours truly,

Craig

====>>


Hello Craig --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- and congratulations on earning a honeymoon.

I wouldn't give up on Hawaii so easily, especially if you're flying right over on your way from "Down Under" -- Hawaii has to be the perfect honeymoon retreat -- but I agree with you about cutting out some of that flying around the USA you had been planning to do.

The places you're proposing are all very nice (and Vegas has lots of glitz and luxury to balance its fun but artificial/superficial essence...). Sounds like a fab trip!

I wonder, though, whether it might be better to bring back one of your flights -- the stretch from Las Vegas to New Orleans or Memphis comes to mind. Vegas to New Orleans is a _very_ long drive -- close to 1500 miles -- and what I'd suggest instead is that you break your trip up into a pair of distinct "legs". Have some time in SF, then get a car to travel to Las Vegas, maybe via Yosemite National Park and Death Valley, both of which should be spectacular in April. You could also add a little extension from Las Vegas -- down to the Grand Canyon, or east in Zion and Monument Valley in Utah.

Then for Part Two, if you drop the car and fly from Vegas to Memphis or New Orleans and get another car there, you'll save 4/5 days of driving across Texas. Then you can spend that time more pleasurably, exploring the Mississippi Delta and Cajun Country in Louisiana (Natchez MS has some gorgeous B&B inns in lovely old homes as does the stretch of "Plantation Alley" along the Mississippi River, north of New Orleans.

Then make your way to Memphis (which is fascinating, if you like American music or cultural history) and Nashville, then on to New York (Part Three), then home (via Hawaii?) .

Just an idea -- from your plans I get the feeling you will have a fantastic trip.

I'm jealous thinking of it!...

Happy Trails, and Happy Honeymoon,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

===>>

Hi Jamie

Thanks for your advice and I really do appreciate you taking the time to offer it.

Some of the places that you have mentioned sound fantastic and we`ll definitely take your advice on cutting out the drive from Vegas to New Orleans.

Thanks again.

Yours very truly,

Craig

West Coast Road Trip -- from Canada

Dear Road Trip USA,

I am a university student from central Canada that is currently in the works of planning a summer road trip to California. If all goes well, my friends and I will be able to find an old beater van and hit the road right after final exams are over. Just wondering if you have any advice for our adventure? I am starting to look into all of the top spots along the Pacific Coast - the Redwoods and the Golden Gate are both must-sees. We are lacking a ton of cash, but our hearts are ready to hit the road. Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Lexi

===

Dear Lexi --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- hope your plans for a summer road trip down the West Coast come together well!

Getting a van and hitting the road with some friends sounds perfect -- if you can camp out and cook your own food, you can have a great time without splashing out too much cash, especially if you are mechanically inclined and capable, so you can keep your "old beater" traveling safely down the highway.

Canada is a big country -- you are coming down from the west? If so, I'd recommend you check out western Washington (especially the Olympic Peninsula) and the Oregon coast on your way. But the Redwoods are indeed a big sight to see -- they are found all along northern CA coast, with the best of the bunch standing in what's called the "Humboldt Redwoods State Park" -- these are more impressive and accessible than the trees in Redwood National Park (which is pretty amazing, as well)

Among all the trees, there are some pretty interesting small towns, too: Arcata and Eureka are historic and energetic, thanks to the many students at nearby Humboldt State university. Crossing over the Golden Gate will bring you to another interesting town -- San Francisco, which can get an expensive place to visit -- check out the excellent youth hostels there, and in the nearby Marin Headlands, where there are miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, and gorgeous redwoods in Muir Woods National Monument.

One thing to pay attention to is that the weather right along the coast can be cool and moist, even in summer, while the sun will be shining just a few miles inland. So if you ever feel the need to escape the foggy damp, just drive a few miles to the other side of the coastal hills, and you can warm up 20 degrees in 2 or 3 miles. Another thing -- since you aren't Americans, when you cross the border make sure you don't give even the slightest hint about maybe, possibly wanting to work to earn some cash while you are traveling -- if you do, the border guards may not let you in, which would be a major bummer (to use an old hippie term...)

Finally, don't forget that away from the coast, California has some more amazing scenery -- Yosemite National Park for one, plus many miles of forests and lakes in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains, from Mt Whitney to Mount Shasta.

There's lots to see and enjoy -- I hope you have a great trip.

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Thanks for the Book!

Dear Jamie

You probably get loads of e-mails - so i don't expect you will remember individual comments...
but i e-mailed you in early March this year - saying that my partner and i were planning a road trip from east to west coast through May, June and July... you sent a fantastic response - that we found very helpful...

THANK YOU SO much...!

We actually posted your response on our blog that we set up for our road trip...
...well - we have now been home for the past three months... and every day we reminisce about our amazing trip... your Road Trip USA book was our trusty companion... and if we had $1 for every time my partner or i picked up the book and said..."Jamie says..." we would be very rich and could afford another trip!!!
We landed in Boston and drove up the coast to Acadia National Park - and made our way across to Seattle and Olympic National Park... we steered clear of the interstate... and with all our detours we ended up driving nearly 9000 miles...
America is an amazing country - and the people that we met were simply fantastic... and really genuine... we hope to do another road trip in a few years time when we have paid for this one... and hope to use your book again...
Once again thank you... and thank you for really responding to your e-mails... it really does make a difference...

Best Regards

Lindsey and Jay (from England)

LA to Idaho -- for the Beagle Hotel!

Dear Jamie,

Some friends and I are planning a road trip for two weeks, flying into Los Angeles, driving up the California coast then looping into Idaho (for the dog-friendly Dog Bark Park, aka the "Beagle Hotel!") and back down to LA.

I’m struggling to find out a few details, firstly if we have enough time for this in two weeks, and how much it would cost us in gas! Also a few websites have suggested rental companies might have a problem with us crossing state lines, have you ever come across that?!

The site is awesome, off to look up the book now!

Clare


==>>

Hi Clare --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- and thanks for pointing me toward the Beagle Hotel, which I had never come across before.

What a cool road trip destination!

First off I don't think you have to worry about crossing state lines in a rental car -- that kind of limit would probably be an illegal restraint on interstate commerce or something -- but you probably should't drive into Mexico unless you get permission from the rental car company, and special insurance, as well.

For the trip you outline, two weeks should be plenty of time -- though you didn't specify what time of year you are plotting this adventure. (Driving in winter can be a lot slower than summer time..) According to my rough calculations, heading from LA, up the lovely CA coast, over to Idaho and back down to LA (maybe via Las Vegas & the amazing wildlands of southern Utah - Zion and Monument Valley?), I figure you will drive something like 3000 miles. At an average of 30 mpg, that's roughly 100 gallons of fuel -- which will cost you around $350.

$20 a day -- not bad, even with ever-rising prices. Which imho is why road-tripping around the USA is still such great value (of course, you'll have to pay some more $$ for food and lodging). But for two glorious weeks, you'll be having the time of your life...

Hope this helps -- Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA



===>>

Thank you Jamie!

Your book should be hitting my doormat today, really looking forward to reading it...

Clare

Oregon Trail, with Kids

Hi Jamie,

Just came across your website --- I want to get this book! I LOVE roadtrips!! Always have.

So here's my question for you....my most ambitious question: Am I crazy to consider driving the Oregon Trail with my kids (10 and 12 and used to road trips!) during 2 weeks in March (last two weeks, one of which their spring break). The trip East would be just me driving, and then the trip back home to Oregon where we live would be with another adult driver. First, does this seem doable time wise? realistically?? 14 days? we could actually take 17 total possibly.

Would love any advice you'd like to pass along on this question. Thanks so much Jamie!

-Kelly & Kids :)

===

Hi there Kelly & Kids --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- sounds like you're planning a great adventure, and I hope I can help. Hope you get to check out my book, which has a lot more fun stuff, and is about 5 years more up-to-date, than some of the materials on the website

About your trip -- no, it's not crazy -- you could definitely make it "back east" and home again in 17 days. Are you thinking about going all the way to the tip of Cape Cod? If the weather cooperated, even that could be manageable at less than marathon pace.

But March is a complicated time to be on the road -- especially with kids, who in my experience will want to get out and run around, and not sit still for six hours straight. Because the days are already that much longer, March is miles better than say, January, but you can still hit some nasty blizzards -- which is part of the reason why baseball's Spring Training takes place in March amidst the wildflowers of Arizona, and not in upstate New York.

:-)

Since Spring weather will vary, and you won't be at all sure until maybe even a week or so before your trip, the key to happiness on such a trip would be to be flexible -- could you alter your plans if some big storms were forecast for the Rockies & Great Plains? Might your driving companion be able to fly out and meet you somewhere closer to Oregon?

Come summer I would definitely recommend the Oregon Trail route -- especially the trek between Oregon and Yellowstone -- but before you get set on the idea for this March, have a think about other trips you make: down the lovely Oregon coast, for example, which might be less stressful for you and the kids. After all, even the hardy Oregon Trail pioneers didn't brave the trek except in summer!

(Then again, they didn't have Gore-Tex parkas and cars with heaters, either).

Having done some winter travel with my own 12-yr-olds, March can be fun but is much more anxiety-inducing than June or July. And I wouldn't want this trip to put your kids off future road trips!

When I started writing I didn't mean to sound so negative -- so I hope I'm not scaring you off. But you did ask for my advice...

Hope this helps -- please let me know what you think.

Thanks again for writing, and Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA



===

hi again Jamie --

YES, I most certainly DID ask for your advice!! :) And thank you so very much for taking the time to write me back!! I appreciated everything you wrote - and you have given me hope! I really want to take this trip, and in between me writing you and you writing me back I have decided that (as you said) March probably isn't the best month to do this in. For a couple of reasons, yes, some of the have to do with weather, but the bigger reason is I'd like to go and worry less about the time, and have warmer weather and go during the summer when we can enjoy it just a little more!! So now for spring break we're gong to drive down to San Diego and stop in Clear Lake in Northern California for a few nights as well. The Oregon coastline is beautiful and we've not done much of the California coastline. And yes, I did order your book, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm VERY excited to get it! Thank you again so much for writing!

Happy Trails!

-Kelly & kids...

Best Drive: Carolinas to Maine

Hello Road Trip USA !

I have been living in Mexico for the past 3 years and have enjoyed traveling here but it made me realize that I am missing out on traveling around my home country.

I will be home (NC) for the summer and have decided that I want to take a road trip to Maine. I am looking for any advice you can provide for someone who is new to road tripping. I do drive from Mexico to NC each summer and back again at the end but I don't stop for fun so I am curious what kinds of fun stuff I can find on this drive to Maine.

Thanks

Dee


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Hello Dee --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can point you toward some fun things to see and do between North Carolina and Maine.

It would help for me to know where in NC you are starting, but I'll suggest a little of everything, just to cover all the bases. In Road Trip USA I have two main routes along the eastern USA, which I also cover in detail a pair of smaller (and more recently updated!) books.

One route follows the Atlantic Coast, trying to stay as close as possible to the ocean, from the Outer Banks up to NYC (beyond which it gets pretty well buried beneath I-95). The Outer Banks and Eastern Shore of Maryland are excellent places to explore -- I love Ocracoke NC, and St Michaels MD. If you like tacky summer tourism, Ocean City MD is also fun, with a great big lively boardwalk, but I think I prefer Rehoboth Beach, which is a little less overwhelming.

Also good to explore are the towns of the "Jersey Shore". Cape May is very quaint and historic (lots of Victorian B&Bs), while nearby Wildwood is a raucuous summer party town -- with lots of great neon signs and beachfront amusement parks.

The alternative route is very different -- and it runs from the far west end of NC, following the hiker's Appalachian Trail, from the Great Smokies all the way to the top of Mount Katahdin in "Down East" Maine. You could spend a lifetime getting to know all the many varied communities, towns, parks , historic sights and scenes along here. Besides famous places (or should I say drives..), like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, one of my favorite stops on this route is Harpers Ferry, a well-preserved historic town rising on hills about the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

And Harpers Ferry is just west of Wash DC, which is actually a very interesting city to explore, whether or not you take an interest in national politics.

Just north of here are the Civil War battlefields of Antietam and Gettysburg, amidst the scenic "Pennsylvania Dutch Country", where you'll also find the HQ and main factory of motorcycle-maker Harley Davidson. If you like cities, within an hour of here you can tour through Philadelphia and NYC -- though both pf these are probably easier to enjoy if you leave the car and take a train into downtown.

In many ways, the best part of the trip is north of here, passing through quaint New England towns of western CT and Massachusetts, then winding up through Vermont (be sure to follow Route 100, which is be-you-tiful!), then across the stunning White Mountains of New Hampshire and on into western Maine. Gorgeous.

So there are a couple of possibilities -- and if you check out my books or Road trip USA website , you'll find more details on 100s more places to enjoy along your way.

Hope you have a great trip, Happy Trails, y que vaya con Dios!



Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA



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Jamie --

Thank you so much for your help. I am very excited about this trip!! This is great help!!

Dee

Motorcycle Road Trip -- Maryland, Mississippi & Arizona!

Hi Jamie,

I love your book, and have used it to plan my longest ever motorcycle trip. I'm riding to Las Vegas from my home in Potomac, MD. I'm leaving late April and need to be in Vegas about 11 days later.

I will ship my bike home and fly home, so all my touring will be done east-to-west.

I have been developing a rough itinerary, for which I solicit your comments.

Thanks -- Michael


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Hi Michael --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- and I'm very glad you like my book. I've often envied motorcycle riders when I see them out cruising down the highways, but I'll set aside my jealousy and try to help you have a great trip west. (And while I agree with bypassing the Rockies, I have to say I've got hit by 12inch of snow in April in Arizona -- at Flagstaff, high up in the mountains, but it _can_ happen. Hope it doesn't this year.... )

Weather worries aside, I like the route you have planned -- lots of characterful places.

Day 1 seems like your toughest day -- the run over the West Virginia Appalachians on US50 is as twisty and steep as any road I know. I'm sure you know it all much better than I do, but I really like the look of the Antietam/Harpers Ferry area, which is sort of on your way out of town... Winchester VA is a quaint little place, too -- car-free downtown, and when you go it'll be apple-blossom time (I think they have a big festival.)

Day 2 -- Do set aside a little time for Chillicothe, which has my favorite County Courthouse building, at the heart of a wanderable old downtown district -- great place to stretch those legs. The Mound City park is fascinating, but an even bigger better ancient ruin -- Serpent Mound -- lies further west, down a very scenic stretch on Hwy41 south from Bainbridge, so maybe that's a better option? You could wind down Hwy-41 to the Ohio River, then cut across northern KY -- avoiding the urban chaos of Cincinnati (but missing out on the chance for some 4-way Chili at Camp Washington!) KY has some lovely landscapes, and I don;t come close to doing them justice in Road Trip USA. Sins of ommission, rather than otherwise. :-)

Day 3 - Madison IN is a nice town, and there is a lot to see and enjoy in southern Indiana -- I am still shocked by the scale of the dome at the impressive West Baden Springs hotel, which is about midway along your route today -- a good lunch stop? (especially if you have any fondness for Larry Bird!) Then west via Vincennes -- which has a George Rogers Clark monument that looks like it belongs in DC. It's not in my book, but I've always wanted to detour south of here to visit New Harmony, one of the idealistic communities that cropped up in early America. It's also the burial place of anti-Nazi theologian Paul Tillich... (I may be meandering here, but it's fun to think about.) Then west to Ste Genevieve ( I think there is a ferry.)

Day 4: Now the fun really begins: heading to Memphis! Old US-61 is pretty close to the Interstate, which if I recall is actually pretty scenic along here. Not to mention faster, with fewer stoplights and used car lots. I find Cairo fascinating, though there is very little to "see", apart from everything. The rest of the way I think I might recommend either I-55 or even US-51 -- the Mississippi meanders so much, there's no real good road anywhere within sight.
Bomb thru Memphis on US-51, pay respects to Graceland and everything else in town (Sun Records, Civil Rights... too much for a day, for sure!)

Especially with Clarksdale at the end of your ride.

Day 5: Breakfast at the Blue & White Cafe in Tunica? Then across the Delta. Vicksburg is fascinating (esp re the Civil War...), but I might spend more time exploring the Delta, and then maybe cut across Arkansas -- from Greenville MS to Jefferson? Otherwise you're stuck on the Interstate, all the way across Louisiana.

Day 6: Most of the riding today will be pretty flat, but Dallas and especially Fort Worth will more than make up for the lack of interest. Albany is tiny, after the big DFW metropolis. The rest of it is all very "Last Picture Show" -- ghostly, almost.

Day 7 & 8: If the weather cooperates, this should be some glorious riding country. Winds could make it quite the opposite -- it's all high plains drifter scenery, then you get the glorious Guadalupe Mountains. Which are well worth a hike! Aross southern Ne Mexico, I have long wondered what Hwy-9 looks like -- it would look like a great alternative to the I-20. Further west, I would recommend the old US80 / Hwy-80 loop, past gorgeous Portal and west thru fascinating Bisbee and famous Tombstone.

You could still loop back to Willcox (for some birdwatching, or to see The Thing!?) -- I really like the Chiricahua National Monument, if you find an extra day to explore around here.

Day 9: Send as much time as you can in Saguaro Nat'l Park -- and maybe at Kartchner Caverns and Collossal Cave, too. I like Tucson (despite recent events...), and there is a fascinating / funky old downtown (around the Congress Hotel, with lots of art galleries). Take the Hwy-79 back-road up to Scottsdale -- and pay respects to Tom Mix (unless someone has stolen the marker, again...) Huge prison at Florence -- pretty scary -- no hitchhikers!

Day 10 -- again, depends on weather. Sedona area is amazing, and you can stop for tea at Arcosanti on the way.

Of course, US-93 is the quickest way, and it has some pretty stops but is very busy (lots of long-distance trucks, at least there whee when I last was there.

One fun detour, not too far out of the way: Oatman is really interesting, and the road there will give you respect for early RT66 drivers -- steep and twisty!

Enjoy the new Pat Tillman Boulder Dam bridge -- looks impressive (from the web, which is as close as I have got to seeing it.)

Phew -- that's some trip. I don't really have any top secret eat / sleep recommendations that aren't in my book -- but if you get stuck, I'll have a look at my library of travel books.

Hope all this helps -- and thanks for spreading the word about Road Trip USA!

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

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HEY JAMIE --


THIS is just FANTASTIC advice. Will make sure to write a trip report for you during or afterwards!

Cheers,
Michael

Groundhog Day !

It hasn't generated the media storm of the Packers/Steelers showdown on Super Bowl Sunday, so in case you missed the news: today, Feb 2nd, is Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day! And, good news for gardeners and sun-worshippers: Phil says, "An early Spring it will be!"

Click here for details on his prognostications for 2011, and to see just how frosty Punxsutawney PA can be.


And here's a post I wrote earlier:

Okay, folks – it’s that time again: February 2nd, better known as Groundhog Day. One of the quirkier traditions in our quirky old country, Groundhog Day is the mid-winter holiday when, according to legends promulgated by the kind folks in Punxsutawney PA, a small rodent named Phil wakes up from his winter sleep to forecast the coming of spring.

Probably rooted in the German folk traditions of Candlemas, Groundhog Day is much more secular (and silly!). This morning, February 2nd, “Punxsutawney Phil”, the famous groundhog, ascended from his winter hibernation and saw his shadow. The official interpretation of all this is somewhat counter-intuitive: Since Phil-the-Groundhog saw his shadow, winter will continue for six more weeks; but if he'd emerged and not seen his shadow, then spring would have been just around the corner.

(Exactly how we know whether or not Phil has seen his shadow is just one of the many intriguing questions surrounding this midwinter event -- he has a dedicated crew of caretakers and interpreters who look after him and share his wisdom with the world.)


The original and official Groundhog Day celebration takes place every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (which is about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh). Though people come to Punxsutawny from all over the world, many more people prefer to stay indoors (where it’s warm) and celebrate by watching the wonderful Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney but filmed in Woodstock Illinois, (which is about an hour northwest of Chicago…).

Woodstock (home of the Dick Tracy museum) is a worthwhile detour north from our US-20 road trip route across Illinois.

Happy Groundhog Day!