Michigan to California? with teenagers, via Route 66!

Hi Road Trip USA,

I am looking for advice regarding a road trip from Michigan to California. It would be myself, husband, son - 17 years old and our daughter 11 years old. We are looking at July of this year and taking three weeks. We would like to drive up the coast in CA making stops at San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, etc. Driving to/from we would like to stop at Salt Lake City, Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming), and Black Hills (Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota). Would like to understand if we would be able to do some sort of circle drive getting to/from CA? We really wouldn't want to spend more than 8 hours a day driving. What are your thoughts? Any suggestions on a route (Route 66?!) or other places to see?

Thanks for your assistance.


Tammy

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Hi Tammy !

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. That sounds like a great trip, and you've given yourself enough to do it - without having to spend all day in the car. There are many routes you could follow between Michigan and California, depending on what you want to see, and in what order.

One possibility would be to head west across the Great Plains, seeing Mount Rushmore + Yellowstone and Salt Lake City on your way to California, starting at Yosemite then moving on to San Francisco. I'd recommend giving yourselves a day or two to see and enjoy Monterey and Big Sur, and Hearst Castle too, before moving on to LA and SD.

Keeping with this counter-clockwise loop, after southern California you could visit the Grand Canyon and the wonderful "Four Corners" region (Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park, maybe also Santa Fe and Taos in New Mexico) -- via Route 66, which could take you all the way east to Chicago.

You could also flip all these places, starting off with Route 66 and finishing up with Mount Rushmore et al. Either way, it's a fantastic adventure.

Hope this helps,


Jamie Jensen
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Road Trip USA