Moving to Facebook!

Hello Road Trippers --

It's been a nice run here at Blogger, and I've enjoyed responding to your varied and intriguing travel questions, but more and more I'll be hanging out at Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-Trip-USA/57043169932

RV, or not RV? Cross country road trip!

Hi Road Trip USA !

My husband, three children (current ages 7,9,11) and our dog are hoping to take a cross country road trip next summer. We are trying to plan well in advance starting with our mode of transportation. We are considering either renting or buying a Class C motorhome for the trip. We really want the time spent together to be as an important part of the trip as the sights and experiences so we want a comfortable, not cramped, ride but like many families, we are not made of money. We are not planning to keep the RV if we purchase it but renting seems so expensive! Any advice in that department? Any other suggestions on how to travel?

My husband and I are both teachers so we have July and August off from school. We will have between 4-6 weeks for this trip. Does that seem like a reasonable amount of time? Looking at your road maps, I think we'll follow the Oregon Trail from our home in Massachusetts then follow the Pacific Coast Trail, then the Southern Trail and then head back home up the Atlantic Coast. Are we biting off more than we can chew? We do not take many vacations so this may very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity as a family.

Any advice you have for our family is very welcome and appreciated. We will be buying your book. It looks great!

Thank you,

Kate and Scott

====

Hi there Kate and Scott --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can help you plan a great trip. With gas prices etc, cross-country trips are more of a challenge than they were when fuel was "free"; I still dream of filling tanks at 99¢ a gallon, like we did way back in 1999.

If you can find a spacious yet fuel-efficient RV, that sounds like a good way to go, especially with 3 kids along for the ride. But even with an RV you need to factor in the cost of overnight campsites, which can add $20 a night or more. (There's no real "free parking" anywhere, anymore, except for rare places in the wilds -- or at the occasional Wal-Mart...)

There are a number of alternatives to the 7,500-mile loop you describe (Massachusetts to California and back!), which could combine RV travel (great for the wide-open "Wild West"), with trains and planes and even automobiles. Amtrak is a blast for the cross-country long-haul: the train carriages are very spacious, and you can get a sleeping compartment, so you can kick back and relax without having to keep your eyes on the road. Alas, Amtrak seems to have a pretty strict "no dogs" policy.

If the trains doesn't appeal, you could fly west (to Salt Lake or Denver, for example), and pick up your RV or rental-car there.

In the shorter term, since you're not taking the "big trip" until next summer, maybe it would be good idea to take a practice trip, renting an RV for a week or so to explore New England -- driving the Appalachian Trail perhaps? And who knows, if you like it, you may decide to turn this "once in a lifetime" road trip into a family tradition.

I know this is not exactly an answer to your question, but I hope it helps gets you thinking about all the possibilities out there. I've got 990 pages of trip possibilities in my new book, Road Trip USA, so I hope you can check it out!







Let me know what you think, and

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--


Hey Jamie --

Thanks for the thoughts -- and the book. We love it!

We'll let you know where we decide to go...

thx,

K & S

America's Got a New Theme Tune!

To attract even more foreign visitors to spend their pounds and Euros and yen and renminbi here in the USA, we've got a new song to sing, courtesy of Rosanne Cash and Los Lobos:

http://www.youtube.com/yourdiscoveramerica

Atlas Recycled 14. Courtesy of Tom Tsuchiya

Atlas Recycled 14. Courtesy of Tom Tsuchiya, a photo by Pacific Citizen on Flickr.

I went to see a wonderful show at the Berkeley Art Museum, dealing with all the crazy-conceptual art that was being made on the West Coast in the 1960s/1970s. Non commercial, interactive -- fascinating. One map-related piece made me think of this; I'll find a link and show it to better effect...
http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/state_of_mind

Moving to Facebook!

Hello Road Trippers --

It's been a nice run here at Blogger, and I've enjoyed responding to your varied and intriguing travel questions, but more and more I'll be hanging out at Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-Trip-USA/57043169932

RV, or not RV? Cross country road trip!

Hi!

My husband, three children (current ages 7,9,11) and our dog are hoping to take a cross country road trip next summer. We are trying to plan well in advance starting with our mode of transportation. We are considering either renting or buying a Class C motorhome for the trip. We really want the time spent together to be as an important part of the trip as the sights and experiences so we want a comfortable, not cramped, ride but like many families, we are not made of money. We are not planning to keep the RV if we purchase it but renting seems so expensive! Any advice in that department? Any other suggestions on how to travel?

My husband and I are both teachers so we have July and August off from school. We will have between 4-6 weeks for this trip. Does that seem like a reasonable amount of time? Looking at your road maps, I think we'll follow the Oregon Trail from our home in Massachusetts then follow the Pacific Coast Trail, then the Southern Trail and then head back home up the Atlantic Coast. Are we biting off more than we can chew? We do not take many vacations so this may very well be a once in a lifetime opportunity as a family.

Any advice you have for our family is very welcome and appreciated. We will be buying your book. It looks great!

Thank you,

Kate and Scott
====

Hi there Kate and Scott --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can help you plan a great trip. With gas prices etc, cross-country trips are more of a challenge than they were when fuel was "free"; I still dream of filling tanks at 99¢ a gallon, like we did way back in 1999.

If you can find a spacious yet fuel-efficient RV, that sounds like a good way to go, especially with 3 kids along for the ride. But even with an RV you need to factor in the cost of overnight campsites, which can add $20 a night or more. (There's no real "free parking" anywhere, anymore, except for rare places in the wilds -- or at the occasional Wal-Mart...)

There are a number of alternatives to the 7,500-mile loop you describe (Massachusetts to California and back!), which could combine RV travel (great for the wide-open "Wild West"), with trains and planes and even automobiles. Amtrak is a blast for the cross-country long-haul: the train carriages are very spacious, and you can get a sleeping compartment, so you can kick back and relax without having to keep your eyes on the road. Alas, Amtrak seems to have a pretty strict "no dogs" policy.

If the trains doesn't appeal, you could fly west (to Salt Lake or Denver, for example), and pick up your RV or rental-car there.

In the shorter term, since you're not taking the "big trip" until next summer, maybe it would be good idea to take a practice trip, renting an RV for a week or so to explore New England -- driving the Appalachian Trail perhaps? And who knows, if you like it, you may decide to turn this "once in a lifetime" road trip into a family tradition.

I know this is not exactly an answer to your question, but I hope it helps gets you thinking about all the possibilities out there.

Let me know what you think, and

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--

Route 66 -- from Egypt!

hi jamie,

how r u ?

We are from Egypt, i and my husband are planning to make the road trip for route 66 next june/july with our son 2.8 years.we are planning to begin from Chicago till Los angles.We are planning to stay first in chicago to visit it for about 3-4 days.
Plese let me know your advices and how long we should take it by putting in mind a small boy can get bored soon and what are the best VISTA POINTS in the road to stop at it?

Also, any recomendations for lodging all over the road? shall we make a previous reservation or it is easy to drive in to any motel whenever we need?

Also is the weather good in June/July, to make such trip.?

Many thanks in advance.


Ahmed

===

Hello Ahmed --

Many thanks for your message -- all the way from Egypt!

If you do manage to take the Route 66 trip, you will have a great time. And don't worry, there are plenty of accommodations along the way, so I am sure you will find something good (and I have dozens of specific recommendations throughout Road Trip USA -- in a new edition, coming out in May 2012). Look for the Wigwam Village motels in Holbrook Arizona, the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari New Mexico, and many other friendly spots all along this great old highway

The one place I would encourage you to do make advance reservations is at the Grand Canyon, which is a very popular place to visit; all lodging is run by one company, and prices range from moderate to luxurious. June-July is a very good time to travel there, weatherwise. Allow a full day at least, for sure, so you can watch the sunset (and/or sunrise). And of you have time, hike down to Phantom Ranch, deep down in the canyon. Unforgettable.

To do the full Chicago to LA trip, I would recommend taking at least a week, so you have time to enjoy everything along the way. The whole route is about 2000 miles, which means you will have about 30 hours altogether in the car, and 4 to 5 hours each day is about the limit.

Having traveled with young boys myself, I think your son will want to get out and run around at least every two hours, which is a good reason to stop and explore many of the old American "small towns" you will be passing through. Enjoying small town American life is what Route 66 tourism is all about, and I am sure you will be given a warm welcome wherever you go.

You will see so much while walking around than you do racing by in a car, so having a reason to stop frequently may turn out to be a real blessing.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Delaware to Georgia?

Hi Jamie

Next week I am taking a spring-break road trip from Wilmington, Delaware, ultimately ending up in Savannah Georgia with my son and both his grannies.

I have about 10 days to make this trip, so was thinking along the lines of taking 2-3 days to drive there, spending a couple of days in Savannah, a couple of days around Charleston maybe and driving back a different way over 2-3 nights.

As you can see I am still in the planning stages, but would love some advice on good route that would take in some history (Monticello, Blue-Ridge Parkway, Jamestown, Williamsburg, Wright Brothers etc, scenery, beaches etc (we have explored Shenendoah and the Skyline Drive previously))

Would love some advice on planning this trip and good stopping off points etc...

Thanks in advance

Emma

===

Hi Emma --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I'm not too late to help! I think your plan sounds pretty smart -- 2 / 3 days should be plenty of time for you to have a pleasant drive, there and back.

My first thought: seeing that you're driving right about now, I'd really suggest you think about planning to make a stop in Washington DC on your way south. It's right on your route, plus it would make a good preparation for Monticello -- the Thos. Jefferson Memorial is gorgeous, and thought-provoking. Plus your kids would appreciate the history lesson, I'm sure. (insert ironic winking smiley here...)

After DC, and Charlottesville, the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Asheville is a blast -- and the Biltmore Estate is unforgettable.

While in and around Asheville, if you or your son is a Hunger Games fan you might want to check out this: http://hungergamesfantours.com/#!day-trips (though I have to say I find the whole Hunger Games phenomenon more than a little disturbing...)

Then: Savannah. A fantastic city, with tons of character, lovely houses, parks and gardens, great restaurants, and nice beaches too.

Charleston is also amazing, as is the whole coast of both Carolinas. And on your way north, if you have time and energy, historic Williamsburg (and Richmond) are also great places to explore.

Sounds like a great trip -- hope this helps,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

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

==

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
--
Road Trip USA

Moving to Facebook

Hello Road Trippers --

It's been a nice run here at Blogger, and I've enjoyed responding to your varied and intriguing travel questions, but from now on I'll be hanging out at Facebook:


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-Trip-USA/57043169932


I've got a fully revised and updated, brand-new edition of Road Trip USA coming out soon, and with luck we'll be doing lots of interesting things, so check it out!

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen

Road Trip? Three 19-year-old Danes Hit the Road!

Hello Jamie!

We are three danish guys (age 19, 19 and 20) who are planing a 3 months road trip in the USA. Our plan is to start out in NY, and end in California. We are planning to buy a used car, and selling it back when we reach our destination..

How hard/easy is it to sell a car after such a roadtrip?

And another question: We don't really have any contacts in USA, so it would be awesome to be put into contact with people you could stay with for a period of time. How do we do that? :)

Kind Regards


Gustav :)

==

Hallo Gustav --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA.

Your trip sounds like great fun, an you could definitely have a great time, buying a car, driving around the country, then selling it when you're done. If you can fix up cars, you could even make money!


But -- to do so in full compliance with all the many state and national laws is very difficult. Even more so because you are young (car rental and car insurance is very expensive for those under 23 years old), and not US residents, so doing all the paperwork to register a car legally could prove impossible.

The best thing would be to get yourselves adopted by some rich American, who could lend you a car. Preferably a classic 1960s Corvette, or a big old Cadillac so you could sleep in the backseat.

:-)

Or maybe you could find an older friend (with a credit card and driver's license!), and persuade him or her to join you. Renting cars for 3 months is expensive, but if you split the costs 3 or 4 ways it's not outrageous (esp since your Kroner is worth much more than our sad old indebted US $ Dollar.)

Or you could try to buy a car that had all the paperwork in order, and just pretend the person who sold it to you was still the legal owner -- but I don't know what this would mean if you got into a wreck. It's totally possible that you could drive around the USA for 3 months and never come into contact with a policeman, but you definitely don't want to rot in some rural Texas jail ...

So I don't really know what to say.

One other option is to search for ride-shares, where you would sort of car-pool with travelers -- check out Craigslist.Org for some ideas. Like this: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rid/2776274777.html

And about staying with people along the way, I've heard of organizations (like http://www.couchsurfing.org/ ) but haven't done it myself.

Hope this reply doesn't put you off your adventure -- there are lots of ways to get around the USA, by train and bus and bicycle and foot, and it is a great country to get to know.

Cheers -- skol?! -- to you, too.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
-
Road Trip USA

Route 66 -- Q & A

Hello

The thing I want to do most in life is travel Route 66 but I have some basic questions to ask. I would Google it but I trust this more. My questions are as follows:



1) How long would it take to travel Route 66 and have a good length of time to see each place.

2) How do people go about it. Do they simply hire a car when they get there?

3) Is there a site or company that help you sort your route and plan transport?

A reply would be much appreciated, thank you

Yours

Molly

==

Hi Molly --

Thank you for writing in to Road Trip USA, and sorry it took me until now to reply.

Route 66 means different things to different people, and there are many ways to travel this great old road. Traditionalists start in Chicago and head west, but there are no right or wrong ways to go. Getting a rental car at one end and dropping it off at the other makes sense, but it is also nice to start in the middle and do sort of a figure 8 -- that way you can come back and revisit places that look interesting but for which you don't have the time (or the appetite) to enjoy the first time through.

Depending upon how long you stay, and how far you stray from the main route (to see the Grand Canyon, or Las Vegas, for example), driving the 2,000 miles of Route 66 can take you anywhere from a week to a month or more -- 10 days being a good length of time to really get the most out of the road. Plus whatever time you spend in Chicago or LA.

I don't know firsthand of any companies that do Route 66 tours -- road trips tend to be self-guided and independent. But there are lots of websites and other resources out there, so I think you should be able to find all the info you want.

And if you have an Android smartphone, my Road Trip USA tour has been translated into a Google Maps app -- nothing fancy, but it will help you find your way to all sorts of great Route 66 experiences.

Check it out: https://market.android.com/developer?pub=maxicom

Hope this helps -- Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Swiss Family Road Trip -- Route 66 & more!

Dear Jamie

just found the website and I think it is a great idea. We are from Switzerland and we will be three months in the US as a family (with two boys, 6 and 4).

Early March we will land in Dallas and rent a Camper/Motorhome (with 5500 free Miles :)). At last, we will fly off from L.A at the end of May. We are not only traveling but also visiting friends on the way. We have to stop in Edmonds (OK), Albuquerque, Phoenix and Redding (CA).

For the road-trip in between we have about 1 1/2 months left. We thought about taking our time. We would like to come through Las Vegas as well and by the end we planned driving Highway1 down the coast.

What would be the best route?

Where should we drive through from Albuquerque? Up North through the parks or down south?

PS: I have already been on a half-year roadtrip as a young man across the country and more. And we've been in the western part for one month as a couple.

Thanks for your advice...

Greetings from Switzerland (where you should one day plan a roadtrip... :) You would be welcome at our place!)


Michael

===

Dear Michael --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I would love to do a road trip around the Swiss Alps! I have seen the Matterhorn at Disneyland many times, and suspect the "real one" is even more impressive!

:-)

I am very glad to hear you have enjoyed your previous trips here, and hope I can help you show your kids what fun it can be to see the USA.

From Oklahoma City (home to the most exciting NBA basketball team -- the Thunder!), your choice of route is pretty easy: Route 66. A classic, and well worth savouring. I'd encourage to take Route 66 as far as Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, with a detour down to Phoenix to see you friend there. And if the weather cooperates, I;d recommend taking a trip north to see Monument Valley and the wonderful national parks of Utah -- Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion and more.

With your young boys, you will enjoy the many chances for great views, amazing scenes and many short but invigorating hikes.

Then you can loop back via Las Vegas, and perhaps Death Valley, on to Redding in northern California, then wind down Hwy-1 along the California coast.

Magic!

Depending upon what routes you follow, there are a couple of special places I'd recommend. The main one that came to mind is the old "ghost town" of Bodie California, north of Death Valley on the shore of eerie Mono Lake. It is a state park, and should be lovely in April (depending upon weather).

Also, make sure you see the northern California coast -- the coastal village of Mendocino, and the giant redwoods of the "Avenue of the Giants" near Arcata in Humboldt County. These massive, towering trees (the tallest on the planet!) will be lodged in any young memory, for sure.

Also fun are Tombstone Arizona (where actors stage regular "Wild West" gunfights on Main Street!), and of course Disneyland.

Hope this helps.

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Mom & Kids Summer road trip -- Idaho to Orlando

Hi Road Tripper --

I have been looking at your blog. I am hoping for suggestions.

My three children (ages 14, 12, and 10) are planning a road trip from Southern Idaho to Orlando, Florida and back. I am thinking about going up the east coast and then returning home. Any suggestions for us along the way? I am mostly looking for ways to stay inexpensively but nice. How will I know which hotels are in safe areas?

Some of our goals are White Sands National Monument, cliff dwellings, Disney World, Mt. Vernon, Hershey, Pennsylvania, the St. Louis arch, and some history sights of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Are there any other can't miss sights? Which sights are not worth adding the miles? What is there in Louisiana and Alabama and Georgia for us to see?

Thank you.

Karen

===

Hi Karen --

Many thanks for your message, and sorry it took me a while to get back to you.

You have an interesting range of places you want to see -- and I think you and your family will find the "cliff dwellings" of Mesa Verde National Park, and nearby Canyon de Chelley, to be completely fascinating. I know I do. I'd also add in Carlsbad Caverns, which is very close to White Sands.

Your kids will probably want you to hurry along to Disney World, so I would save some of the more "historic" sights for the way back. But across Louisiana and Alabama, take time to savour the sights and god food of Cajun Country, near New Orleans, and to ponder the history of Montgomery Alabama -- capital of the Confederacy, center of the Civil Rights era, and home of my fave songwriter, Hank Williams.

Montgomery also has a great AA baseball team, the Biscuits, who play from April - September in a nice new downtown stadium:


Hotels in the South tend to be comparatively inexpensive -- at least compared to my home state, California...

On your way home from Florida, St Louis and the Gateway Arch is definitely worth a day for sure -- and just up the river you can explore the historic LDS sights of Nauvoo, which is very pretty and very interesting.

Back east, Mount Vernon and Hershey are more out of your way, so if you wanted to save some $$ I would suggest saving them for another trip. That said, Washington DC is a great place for family history lessons -- and all the Smithsonian Museum are free, and fascinating, so maybe you can add all of these to your itinerary.

Hope these ideas help you plan a great trip, and if you have get a chance, I hope you'll check out the Road Trip USA book, which has lots of fun ideas, maps and pictures too!

Thanks again for writing, with best wishes for a happy New Year,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

LA to Miami -- March 2012

Hi Road Trip USA --

We are 2 Australians hiring a car in Los Angeles and traveling to Miami (purpose being picking up a cruise ship there).

We arrive in LA early March and have planned trip to Las Vegas and Flagstaff. We need a road route from Flagstaff via New Orleans to Miami. The approximate time being leaving Flagstaff around the 10th and arriving in Miami around March 21st.

I have Goggled info and am just getting confused. As my husband will be doing most of the driving and we will be driving on the opposite of the road to what we are used to, I would appreciate your input.

I also didn’t realize that it could be cold in some places and didn’t factor in road conditions.

So any advice you can pass on would be great.

Thanks

Ann

===

HI ANN --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and sorry it took me a while to get back to you.

March is a wonderful time to explore the southwestern USA, so I would suggest you try to linger a while in Arizona before heading east. From Flagstaff (and the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley?...), you could head down via Phoenix and Tucson to Saguaro National Park, the Wild West towns of Tombstone and Bisbee in Arizona, then wind up into New Mexico to enjoy Santa Fe and the surrounding Pueblo Indian communities.

Phoenix and Tucson are both at a low elevation, and should be nice and warm in March, but Santa Fe is high elevation, so if the weather does turn cold you might want to opt to stay as far south as you can. Big Bend National Park, on the border with Mexico, is breathtaking, wide-open country, and very pretty in March.

In Texas, San Antonio and Austin are fun cities to explore -- and Houston is interesting as well.

The rest of Texas is less thrilling, but things pick up again in Louisiana -- where Cajun Country spread west of the Mississippi River, and New Orleans is a city where you can while away many happy hours (especially if you like food, drink and music!)

I cover a lot of your route in Road Trip USA: in my "Southern Pacific" road trip chapter, and also in my Great Rover Road and Atlantic Coast road trips.

I think if you allow yourself 5 or 6 days to get from Flagstaff to New Orleans, then 3 or 4 days to get on to Miami, you'll have a fine time. American roads are wide and well organized, so being on the "wrong side" shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this helps you have a great trip.

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Milwaukee to Georgia, in a week in March?

Hi!

My husband and I are taking 7-10 days in March to plan a road trip. We live in southern Wisconsin (near Milwaukee). We don't know too much about where we want to go, we just want to see a lot of new things and experience each other's company while traveling! We like the idea of the Atlantic Coast. Do you think we have enough to travel from Wisconsin to Georgia, along the Atlantic Coast, in 7 - 10 days?

Thanks for your advice!
Sarah

ps- I love your website!

:)


===>>>

Hi here Sarah --

Many thanks for your kind words about my Road Trip USA website -- I hope some day you get a chance to check out my Road Trip USA book, which has a ton more ideas and info and photos and maps and more.

From southern Wisconsin you can get to a lot of great places in 7-10 days (there and back, right?). I have a friend who drives from Chicago to New Orleans every year, taking a very long day to drive each way, and spending a few days hanging out at Snug Harbor, so you can have quite trip in 10 days, for sure.

March is not always ideal, weather wise -- though you could find yourself in Savannah for St. Patricks Day, which is usually a blast. The Sea Islands around Brunswick, and Jekyll Island / Cumberland Island, are also really lovely -- the whole southeast has all sorts of delightful places (like Charleston and Beaufort SC, and the Outer Banks, if you like food, surfing, or history...)

And the Cajun Country around New Orleans is pretty intriguing, too. Not to mention Memphis, or Natchez, or the myriad of Civil War and other sights to see.

You could do a very nice loop, even making it up to Asheville NC and the Appalachians, if the weather cooperates. Lots of possibilities, for sure -- and a road trip is definitely a great way to "experience each others' company" while seeing some of these great places.

Hope this belated reply helps inspire you to take a great trip.

Happy Trails,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

6 week Cross-Country Adventure - from Denmark to NYC and SF

Hi Jamie,

Very interesting site you’ve got. I can spend hours just reading through your advice.

Keep it up!

We are a small family of three (mom, dad and a 6-year old son) from Denmark. We are planning a road trip from NYC to LA beginning June 1st 2012. Mid July we leave from LAX to Hawaii for a 2 week stay just relaxing before we return to Denmark.

So we have about 6-7 weeks to get across the USA in a rental car staying at hotels/motels.

The current plan is to go down the east coast to Miami, FL – to New Orleans, LA – up to Rapid City, SD – to Yellowstone – down thru Utah to Las Vegas – thru Yosemite to San Francisco, CA – down Highway 1 to Los Angeles – on to Sea World San Diego – returning the car at LAX.

All in all we expect to do around 7,500 miles (avg. 160 miles per day).

Any tips on great places for the family to visit?

Any good advice for driving with a 6-year old?

We definitely need to have some “no driving days”.

Thanks in advance.


Peter

==

Hi there Peter --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. I'm glad you like the website, and hope you'll get a chance to read the Road Trip USA book, which has tons more info, ideas, maps and fun stuff. All new, all color, 6th edition will come out in April 2012, just in time for you great adventure.

Sounds like a fantastic trip you have ahead of you, and I hope it all goes well. You definitely have plenty of time to see what you want to see, so I'll try to point you toward some especially good spots to enjoy with your young son.

On the first leg of you trip, there are lots of great beach communities (like Wildwood and Cape May New Jersey), but I'd also recommend you head inland a little ways, to see some of Washington DC where there are many great museum and monuments to welcome you to the USA. The Air and Space Museum is truly amazing -- and almost everything in the city is free.

Another place you might enjoy is Williamsburg Virginia, where historians have recreated an "authentic" colonial city, with lots of demonstrations and activities.

Further south, along my "Atlantic Cost" road trip, I strongly recommend spending some time in Charleston South Carolina and Savannah Georgia -- both of which are very walkable and enjoyable. (A rare combination in car-obsessed America...)

New Orleans is another walkable, aesthetically-pleasing place, though many of its attractions are more "grown up" (bars, nightclubs, etc). It's very lively, for sure.

Depending upon how much time you spend in NYC, and if you decide to brave Walt Disney World (and Sea World!) etc in Florida, the trip this far could fill a good 2 weeks, or more, of your trip.

The next section is probably the most open-ended -- if you like cities, you'll love Chicago, or if you want to see some Wild West type place you could head across Texas and the deserts Southwest, which is a fascinating part of the country. The ancient "Native American" cities and cultures of Arizona and Utah are for many people the highlights of a US trip, and of course you have amazing scenery here, like the Grand Canyon.

So that's a big decision -- I myself would be tempted to go from New Orleans up to Memphis (and maybe St Louis?), then head west, and approach Yellowstone from Utah and Colorado. Or if you go via Chicago, you could do as you have planned, and spend some time at the end of your trip to see Zion and the Grand Canyon (and maybe Las Vegas, which is another unforgettable sight.)

All these possibilities are what makes road trip so exciting -- and you are fortunate to have plenty of time to enjoy it. Most Americans get 10 days off work every year...

However you get there, Yellowstone is amazing, and worth a few days for sure. And set aside a day at least for the Buffalo Bill museums in nearby Cody Wyoming -- here's a URL to whet your appetite: http://www.bbhc.org/visit/

Cody is also home to a popular Rodeo, which any 6 year old will love: http://www.codystampederodeo.com/

I cover the trip thru Yellowstone in my "Oregon Trail" road trip, which will carry you west to Portland Oregon (another great US city!). Part of my thinking is that the Pacific Coast north of San Francisco is very enjoyable, and it would be a shame to miss out seeing it. Your son will be amazed to see the "Avenue of the Giants", where the world's tallest trees line the road in Humboldt County; and the coastal town of Mendocino is also gorgeous (as is the Wine Country of Napa and Sonoma, north of San Francisco.)

Before or after SF, take your road trip to Yosemite (and Lake Tahoe!), and be sure to have at least a couple of days to absorb the scenery of Yosemite Valley. As in Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park is very popular, so be sure to make your reservations as early as you can -- especially for th enice old lodge like Old Faithful Inn (in Yellowstone) or the grand Awhawnee Hotel in Yosemite.

I could go on for pages with more thoughts, but I think there's enough here for one email. :-)

Thinking of your young travel companion, a couple of things I'd suggest would be to bring some sporting equipment:
a soccer ball (for your future Daniel Agger!),
or a Frisbee, tennis rackets... so you can have fun and stretch your legs a little after all those miles.

Also, bring swimming suits, because there are many nice public swimming pools in towns all over the USA, which will be a great way for you to see the "real America" -- without having to pay the $50 a day for Disney / Sea World etc.

Also, look into getting some audiobooks -- when my kids were littler, we listened to all of the "Little House on the Prairie" books, as well as more contemporary kids stories, though I suspect the range of Danish-language audiobooks may be limited to the likes of Hans C Andersen and the Grimm brothers...

I'm sure you'll have a fabulous and memorable time, as America is a welcoming and friendly place to explore, so thanks again for thinking of Road Trip USA, and have a great trip! Let me know how it all shapes up.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Around the USA - with, and without a car!

hi jamie,

my wife and i are english and live in the uk. we would like to travel the US for 6 months :). we are looking to spend 3 months travelling from miami to LA, then go to central america for 2 weeks (our visa only allows 3 months stay) and then continue tour along route 66 and finishing in new york. we are looking to travel april - oct 2012. I would like to buy a car in miami and sell it in new york - is this feasable? how easy is it to buy, insure and get plates for a used car. If this isn't such a great idea, what could you suggest?

regards

John + Sue

==

Hi John & Sue --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- that is quite an adventure you are planning!

A couple things leap to my mind after reading your letter -- first is, are you sure you would be "re-admitted" to the USA, just because you've crossed the border? Immigration is a huge issue in recession-hit America, and the authorities are being very careful about people trying to "get around" their visa rules.

And as painful as immigration laws are, buying / selling and insuring cars is almost as big a nightmare -- especially if you have no "track record" of driving in the US. Like in the UK (where I have enjoyed living at times in the past 20-odd years..), you need proof of insurance to get registration / tax disc, without which you will live in fear of every policeman in Texas (and everywhere else).

That said, I drove around the US for 3 years with expired plates, and never had a hassle. So it really depends, as in the words of Dirty Harry: Do you feel lucky? I'm sure a scarily high percentage of people driving around the US have fake insurance, expired licenses, and worse.

:-)

To end on a brighter note, there are all sorts of ways to get around the USA that don't require owning a car -- we have at least one train (Amtrak), many cool cities have great public transport (SF, Seattle, NYC, Boston...).

And thanks to the Internet you can often link up with drivers heading in whatever direction you feel like going -- check out the "ride share" pages on Craigslist.org , and many other specialist web sites, like http://www.ridester.com/

There are also "driveaway" companies, which give you a car to drive across the country; neat things about driveaways is that they love foreigners -- so long as you're over 25 and have a driving license.

Hope this helps -- and hope you have a great trip!

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

By Bicycle, across the USA!

Hi Jamie,

It's going to sound crazy, but I want to make a trip from New York City to San Francisco. We are a group of four friends and hopefully growing. we want to use a bicycle as the main transportation source. Eventually, we'd use buses, trains, rent a car for a few hundred miles, but always traveling local (no high-ways). we have from September to mid December 2012 to make the trip. so far I think the loneliest road is the one which fit, but not sure if we can do it on bicycle. Please, if you have any advice for us It will be greatly appreciated.

Angel

===

Hello Angel --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope you manage to make your "crazy trip" a reality. The Loneliest Road / US-50 route sounds like a great choice -- and very "do-able" by bicycle. My main question: can't you do it earlier in the year, so you don't have to deal with November's cold and snow? Especially if you are planning to camp out while you ride across the country, going in warm, summer weather will make all the difference.

On my driving road trips, I often carry a bike with me, and two wheels are usually way better than four wheels for exploring towns and really getting a feel for the landscapes -- you never really appreciate a mountain range until you have to ride over it. Is it possible you would do some driving, and some riding? That might be a better bet if you are set on a Sept-to-December trip.

I've never done anything like a cross-country bike ride, but I have come across a website dedicated to people who done it, and kept journals of their adventures. It has a apt name: Crazy Guy on a Bike!


Hope this helps, and hope you have a great trip!

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

Key West to Maine -- April 2013

Dear Jamie,

I recently found your book in the library here in North Sydney, Australia and therefore looked you up on the website and saw that you might answer a question for us.

My husband and I are planning a driving holiday up the east coast from Key West to Maine...taking 6 to 8 weeks. You book has it all planned out (except for going in the wrong direction). We will be doing this trip from April 2013.

Our biggest concern is the car rental. Can you suggest a company which does not have a drop-off charge at the other end of the country? Any other suggestions?
We want to drive so we can see the country side...not just the big cities. We are in our 60's and are looking forward to doing this trip very much.

Thank you,


N. Roberts

===

Hello N. Roberts --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. I am tickled to hear my books are on the shelves in North Sydney, and I'll be pleased to help you plan a great American road trip!

(Even if you're heading in the "wrong" direction....)

:-)

Regarding the car rental and drop-off fees, you may be in luck. Most years, in April and May the major car rental companies (Avis, Hertz etc) have to move their fleets from Florida to points further north, and they often offer very good deals to encourage drivers to do what you want to do -- drive from Florida to Boston (or Maine). $5 a day -- no drop off fee -- not bad!

Here's a sample offer from April 2011:
http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=floridadriveout.xml&Category=Q

Hope this helps -- and hope you enjoy planning (and taking!) a fantastic trip.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
==
Road Trip USA

New edition out April 2012 -- Tell Your Librarians!

:-)

3 Month USA Road Trip / RV, Rent vs Buy ?

Good Afternoon,

I was wondering whether you could advise me on the following? Myself and my partner intend to travel to the USA next year and spend 3-4 months seeing as much of the best bits of the country as possible starting on the east coast.

Could you recommend any routes to take starting from the east going west?

Also, we want to drive by Motorhome/RV, would you recommend renting or buying a vehicle? How easy would it be to purchase a vehicle in the US?


Apologies for all the questions but I would appreciate all the advice you could give.


Kind Regards,


Sally

==

Hi Sally --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA.

3 or 4 months is a nice lot of time to see the USA -- east coast, west coast, and points in between. Getting around is the big issue -- renting an RV for that long will get expensive, but buying your own vehicle is complicated (and expensive...) The legal issues (of insurance, emissions tests, etc) usually make renting the better option, but for such a long trip as you are proposing, it may be worth the hassles of buying and running your own vehicle.

But if you haven't been to the USA before, and if you don't have any "local" relations to use for legal US addresses, it could be nearly impossible to run your own RV legally -- of course, you could find ways around laws, but I don't really advise it.

What I do suggest is that you look into a mix of transport options -- traveling by train, staying in cities that don't demand private cars -- and save the "road trip" portions for places you really want to explore by car. Like the Wild West, or the California coast. It's easy to rent cars, so you could be much more flexible if you rent a car for a couple of weeks, take a train or a plane somewhere else, get to know that city, then rent another car for another trip. And so on.

You definitely don't need a car to see a lot of the US -- like New York City, or San Francisco, or Chicago, or New Orleans, or Seattle. But each of these cities makes a great base for a road trip -- or five road trips.

I'm not sure this is what you wanted to hear, but I hope this advice helps you figure out a plan for your great adventure.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Camper Van for Rent - Chicago / NYC to Las Vegas Road Trip

Hi,

Me and my partner are travelling to North America Next September.

We are trying to find a Van hire/small motor home to cross from New York or Chicago to Las Vegas but can not find anything basic.

Can you please advise companies to look into that do basic van hire?

Also, please advise the route you would most recommend if driving across America?

Kind Regards

Anna

==

Hi Anna --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. Hope I can help you!

The smallest camper-type vehicle you can easily rent in most of the US is pretty big -- and these' sorts of "RV" rentals costs around $1000 a week.

The one place I've seen smaller vehicles for rent is in California -- where Lost Campers has smaller, less expensive campers.

But these have to start / finish in SF or LA, so may not be much use to you.

And for the best route, from NY / Chicago to Las Vegas, a natural choice would be the classic Route 66, which shows up on most maps as I-40 / I-44. I cover this trip pretty fully in my books and online.

Hope this helps,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

LA to New York to San Francisco -- Feb 2012 ?

My wife and I are leaving the San Francisco Bay area to make our way to NYC at the start of February 2012. We are starting our road trip, however, in Los Angeles. We are trying to decide if the 2001 Toyota Camry can make it back safe and sound during the winter.

We would prefer to camp along the way as we did when we traveled from Boston to San Francisco two years ago.

1. What are the weather conditions for Route 66 in winter? Both for driving and camping?

2. Should we fly and ship our materials instead of doing a cross country trip in January?

Thanks for your insight and suggestion. I look forward to your response.



Joshua

>>

Hi Joshua --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA.

Driving in winter is not ideal, but in my experience Toyotas live forever, so I hope things are OK on that front. Weather is a bigger issue, and since Route 66 hits some pretty high elevations (especially around the Grand Canyon / Flagstaff), I'd suggest you head further south, along the warmer & less snowy I-10 / I-8 corridor (which I cover pretty fully in my "Southern Pacific" road trip).

It's a little out of your way, but has the advantage of visiting Big Bend (where you might actually be able to camp out, even in February!), and New Orleans, which is a fantastic city. It's not as out-of-the-way as you might think; heading from LA to Florida, then up the East Coast, adds maybe 500 miles to a 2,800 mile bee-line trip (adds + 20 percent distance for 100 percent better weather!)

About your "materials", I'd say the less stuff you have to stuff in your car, the happier your traveling will be -- but if shipping costs get expensive, maybe you could hook up a small U-Haul trailer rather than overload your Camry (in which you may need the backseat for taking naps in).

Not sure if this counts as insight, but hope it helps you have a safe and enjoyable journey.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

USA from South Africa - American Dream road trip!

Hi Jamie

My name is Sean and I live in South Africa. I have been fascinated by America since childhood (I am 46 -- so childhood was 1970s...).

I am planning a road trip across the US with Judy, my wife, in September 2012.

I am setting aside 6 weeks for the adventure of a life time.

I looked at your amazing website and was thinking that this would be the way to go;

Fly into Chicago and meet up with the legendary Route 66, continuing along to San Fransisco and then cutting through along the US 50 or Loneliest Road back to New York.

Would this make sense and how long would you allocate to each half of the journey?

Many thanks for such an informative website.

Regards

Sean

===

Hi Sean --

Many thanks for your nice message -- I hope I can help you have this "adventure of a lifetime" you've been dreaming about for 30-plus years!

So far, so good: Six weeks should be just about perfect, and September is just about the best time of year to be "on the road". I'd recommend you give yourselves a few days in Chicago (which to me is the quintessential, all-American city!), then hit the road down Route 66. Depending upon how much time you want to spend in museums vs "Mother Nature", I'd say two weeks would be good for Route 66 -- maybe a little more if you feel like heading down from St Louis for the trip to Memphis and New Orleans, along my "Great River Road" trip along the Misisissippi. This is a wonderful drive, well worth making as part of your adventure.

The other question for the westbound trip is how much time you want to linger in what I rate as the most amazing part of the US -- the Southwest states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Here you can admire 1000-year-old "cliff palaces" of Mesa Verde National Park, the natural wonders of Monument Valley and Zion, and millions of ares of undisturbed country. Not to mention the Grand Canyon, and of course Las Vegas (which is ideal if you need a bit of insane "civilization" after some time in the "wilderness").

Then you have Los Angeles, then another real highlight: the drive up the coast of California to San Francisco. I would allow 5 days for the LA to SF drive, so you can enjoy towns like Santa Barbara, Carmel and Monterey, and the splendid scenery of Big Sur.

San Francisco is a blast, too -- and if you like wine, the Napa and Sonoma valleys are just to the north. So, just to keep track of time, I'd say you are 3 or 4 weeks into your trip by the time you are ready to head east again.

One place I'd add to your itinerary is Yosemite National Park, in eastern California -- one of the wonders of the world (worth 3 days, 2 nights... at least!)

For the drive east, the US50 / Loneliest Road is nice (though you can hit some of the Utah and Colorado highlights on your way west, if you do some detours from Route 66.

Since you have a good amount of time, I think I'd recommend heading further north, maybe taking in the coast of Oregon, Portland and even Seattle, before heading east via Idaho and Yellowstone National Park (another wonder of the natural world!). And Mount Rushmore, those iconic stone heads of the US Presidents, carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota.

And finally, I'm not sure you need to see New York and Boston -- unless you see them after you've dropped off your car, because driving and parking in NYC is an expensive nightmare! Also, the East Coast can be hot and sweaty in September, though if your trip extends through mid-October then by all means make your way up to Vermont and Maine and enjoy the famous "fall color".

How's that for some ideas? (I should say that I've got a new edition of Road Trip USA coming out in April 2012, which will be about 5 years more up-to-date than the website info...)

Hope all this helps you plan a great trip - and please feel free to write back if you have any more worries!

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

First Time to USA ?

Good Evening,

I happened upon your great blog and wondered if you were able to offer a little advice to a first time USA traveler,

Myself my wife and son (12) would like to do a 14 day tour, in April 2012, of the following (but not limited to) places,

Los Angeles, CA, United States
San Diego, CA, United States
Palm Springs, CA, United States
Laughlin, NV, United States - possibly as a stop over
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, United States
Monument Valley, UT, United States
Death Valley, CA, United States
Yosemite National Park, CA, United States
San Francisco, CA, United States
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Do you have any suggestions on route, other places to see, car hire etc?

Regards

Lee D (UK)

==>>

Hi Lee --

That sounds like a fantastic trip! The route makes sense, and takes in the "Must See" places -- and April is a great time to be on the road in this part of the world.

And as far as car hire, my main suggestion is one you've already covered -- returning the car to same place you rent it is the best way to save yourself some cash.

Depending upon how much time (and money!) you want to spend at "attractions" (like Disneyland and LegoLand and San Diego Zoo and Sea World etc), two weeks is enough to see a lot of pretty amazing places.

A couple of suggestions -- between Palm Springs and Laughlin area, I'd recommend a tour of Joshua Tree National Park, and a visit to an unexpected icon: the real old London Bridge, rebuilt in the 1970s over the Colorado River in Lake Havasu. Crazy, but true !

I wonder whether Laughlin is that convenient, though -- maybe you could continue east to Williams or Flagstaff, which are much closer to a real worthwhile sight: the Grand Canyon. And if the weather encourages you to make it as far as Monument Valley (it can be quite wintry -- beautiful, but cold!), consider spending some more time southern Utah, where there are enough national parks to fill a whole 2-week trip on their own.

One great place in southern Utah is Zion National Park, from where you can zoom through Las Vegas (well worth a half-day, and generally a cheap place to visit so long as you aren't here on a Friday or Saturday. The whole of Las Vegas is designed to impress the 12-year-old boy in all of us -- and the spectacles on display on The Strip (erupting volcanoes, pirate ships, you name it!) are unforgettable.

From Vegas, you could "do" Death Valley, but unfortunately the main route from there into Yosemite is closed by winter snow, so you'd have to loop around. Yosemite is indeed spectacular, and since you'll already have seen a lot of desert (Joshua Tree, and all of Nevada), you might consider taking faster freeways west into California, so you have more time to enjoy Yosemite (which is amazing -- just be sure to arrange your accommodation ahead of time, so you can stay in Yosemite Valley, where lodgings are limited.)

Then you have San Francisco (worth a couple of days, for sure -- Alcatraz is a blast, even if it's a "touristy" thing to do) Then a trip down the coast, via Monterey and Carmel, Big Sur and Hearst Castle, then hop a flight and head home.

Sounds fun! Hope this helps,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

DC to Big Sur -- in Feb 2012

Hi Jamie,

I am a French artist photographer, and I am planning a month road trip in February starting from DC to Big Sur CA.

The purpose of this trip is to explore the American dream at it's best, through the remnants of the glorious years of the 1950s - 1970's.

I imagine it being a bit nostalgic, and being a bit like traveling in time.
This is a photo project that I am working on with a French publisher.

I think I ll go through the 66 of course, but since it's been already treated a lot, I d like to go off the beaten paths.

Any insights from you would be very welcome.

Thank you for sharing your experience,

Best,

Claire

===

Hello Claire --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA -- I like the sound of your American Dream road trip tour, and hope I can help you find some good subjects for your photography. Starting in DC in January you may have to deal with some wintry weather, and you'll have shorter days to capture the scenes along your way. But I suspect you'll still find some good scenes.

Though the weather will be better the farther south you veer, for visual stimulation the best route is probably US-50, my "Loneliest Road" trip. This sounds like it would be a natural path for you to follow (maybe on your way back east from California?), and I think you'll find a wide variety of subject matter along the road. Especially if you like rust and dust, which I suspect you do!

If you like seeing the remnants of 1960s heavy industry and factories, cities like Cincinnati and St Louis and Kansas City have a lot to offer -- and at St Louis you could a cruise along old Route 66, which I think would confirm your suspicions that there is better, more "under-exposed" material away from that famous highway. Or, if the cold weather or other reasons send you further south, there are some great scenes in Louisiana and Texas, too -- all very much like the world described in the "Last Picture Show", which captures in cinema the feeling I think you are looking for in your photos.

Big Sur is of course a completely different world -- but it will be a nice treat for you after all the other places you pass through.

Let me know what you think, and if I can help in any more specific way.

And "Bonne chance" !

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA

NYC to SF -- via Route 66? in Winter??

Jamie -

I have been tracking your site these past few months and looking for various ideas, etc for my anticipated trip from NYC to San Francisco, CA. We are planning to hit the highway after Thanksgiving and will be traveling uncharted territory for us in the winter, which makes me a bit concerned. I have family in Lincoln, Nebraska and would like to see them but I also wanted to head south to possibly get over to the White Sands in New Mexico and possibly even Grand Canyon in Arizona. Would you suggest doing this and then heading north through California to San Francisco? Maybe you could make a better suggestion for us which would allow us to see my family and then head south to avoid salt lake city and the possible weather. I would also like to leave Saturday and arrive in San Francisco at some point during Wed/Thur the following week. I have a friend traveling with me and want him to be able to enjoy a few days in San Francisco before heading back to NYC. I would be interested in taking major highways and then also hoping on something like rt 66 to get that experience as well.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Regards,
Chris

===

Hi Chris --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can you help you plan a great trip.

I think Route 66 is just about ideal for you -- you could bomb west from NYC on I-80 to Lincoln, then shift gears and head south to Tulsa / OKC to "Get your kicks on Route 66"... The Oklahoma stretch is pretty compelling, actually, so weather-permitting the more miles you can explore in OK, the better off you'll be.

The rest of the Route 66 trek is especially good for when you'll be on the road (December), because if the weather turns very bad you can always hop onto the Interstates (I-40!), which is a lot safer than some of these old two-lanes ( plus I-40 gets snow-plowed more frequently!).

Taking the detour down to White Sands lets you check out the silliness of "extraterrestrial" Roswell , but Santa Fe and Taos are much more visually satisfying (esp in the run-up to Christmas -- the New Mexico Pueblo communities are very very Christian, and the faithfulness (and those adobe churches) is pretty intense.

And staying on Route 66 brings you right to the Grand Canyon (where you should expect snow -- it's 8000 feet in elevation!), There's a great stretch of old Route 66 west of Kingman (to Oatman), after which you can detour to Las Vegas, make your way to Los Angeles (best between 2am and 5am!) Then enjoy the run up Pacific Coast Highway / US-101, have some fun in SF, then bomb back east on I-80.

Let me know how this suits you -- and take care out there.

With best wishes,


Jamie Jensen
-----
Road Trip USA

American Honeymoon on the road -- in March 2012

Hi there,

I just saw your blog and wanted your advice on planning a road trip in USA

Me and my soon-to-be wife are planning on spending our honeymoon as a road trip to USA (we are from India)

We are both nature lovers and love going for long drives!

I have been to USA on a trip before and am keen on showing her the states, my idea is mainly a cross-country trip with New York as my first stop and ending with Las Vegas

We are planning on leaving India on 28th Feb and leave by 20th March so we have a total of 20 days (excluding the days we arrive and depart)

Can you please guide us on which route to take (preferably the most scenic one and one with good stops), would it make sense climate-wise to travel around this time?,

And any other information you could provide us would be of great help

Thanks in advance

--
Thanks & Regards,


Rushabh D


===

Dear Rushabh D --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can help you plan a memorable "honeymoon road trip" for Spring.

New York is a great place to kick off your new wife's "Introduction to America" -- I'd suggest you explore the city for a few days before you think about hitting the road (especially if you like museums or "culture" -- NYC is truly world-class!)

From New York, you could do a good quick tour of Philadelphia and Washington DC, both of which have a lot of history and culture. Then you could drive west to the Appalachian Mountains, and follow the crest through Shenandoah National Park (I cover this route as the Appalachian Trail" in Road Trip USA.)

Depending upon the weather, which may still be cool, you could drive as far south as Asheville via the Blue Ridge Parkway, which in March is lined by forests of azaleas and rhododendrons -- truly spectacular! After this, there are two great old American cities, Charleston South Carolina and Savannah Georgia, which are usually rated in the "Top Five" US cities; Charleston was Number 1 Best City for Visitors this year!

March is an ideal time to visit Florida, if you want some warm resort-like relaxation, or you could head west, making your way across the Deep South and Texas to Las Vegas. But this is a big drive -- at least a week, realistically, and if the weather is not so warm you may be better off hopping on to an airplane , so you can spend time in the beautiful places of Utah and Arizona (like the Grand Canyon), which are easy to reach from Las Vegas.

If you like nature, Arizona in March is amazing -- lots of semi-tropical birds, gorgeous wildflowers, like paradise. Better than sitting on a highway, for sure!

Texas can wait for another trip, perhaps?

Hope this helps -- and congratulations, and good luck with married life!

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Memphis TN to Clearwater FL -- Missisppi Delta with DeSoto

Hello Jamie,

In August 2012 my family and I are flying to Memphis to start a 2 week holiday in the US with the 2nd week of the holiday starting and ending in Clearwater, Florida. The problem is I'm struggling to find the best route. My itinerary is basically 3 nights in Memphis, moving onto Chattanooga for 1 night, then to Childersburg for a further night and its after here i'm finding it difficult. Please can you suggest some places between Childersburg and Clearwater or indeed a better overall route to see real, historic America.

Many thanks

Ryan

==

Hi Ryan --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. I'd never heard of Childersburg, but now I know it claims to be the Oldest Town in America, with Oldest Caves -- so I'll have to add it to my list.

:-)

Memphis is great, for sure, and Chattanooga is a very interesting place (Lookout Mountain is a classic road trip destination -- See Rock City!) , and if you had some spare time on your way there I would strongly recommend a visit to Oxford Mississippi (historic college town and home to writer William Faulkner), and maybe also to Tupelo (birthplace of Elvis Presley!)

After Chattanooga, I would recommend a trip to Montgomery, which is a fascinating city -- lots of gracious old homes, Capital of the Confederacy, hugely important in the Civil Rights struggle, and (last but not least) burial place of Hank Williams, my all-time fave songwriter.

Nearby Selma Alabama is also very interesting -- and if you bear a biggish detour, the two most "historic" and beautiful towns in the USA are sort of on your way: Charleston South Carolina, and Savannah Georgia. And maybe St Augustine, too. I cover all 3 in my "Atlantic Coast" road trip.

And if you like "ancient" history, there is a well-preserved restored Mound City outside Macon Georgia, called Ocmulgee (a National Historic Park). Fascinating to think about -- and if you don't already know, your trip traces in reverse a lot of what the Spanish Conquistador Hernando De Soto explored, way back in ~ 1540!

Travel these days is considerably more comfy, plus you've got plenty of time to see all of these places, and there's a wide enough variety of sights and attractions to make for a great trip.

(PS: You didn't say how old or how numerous your "family" is, but this trip will have something for everyone.)

Hope this helps!


Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Musical Road Trip

Hello,

I'm an 18 year old student from London (England) looking to travel around the US with a couple of friends. I'm basically aiming for a gap year style trip condensed into 8 or 10 weeks. I'm really into music and just want to experience the different American cultures.

I was hoping you could help me out with where would be best to start the trip (will be flying over from London) and where would be the best places for me to visit and which route would be best to take.

I know this may sound stupid seeing as I want to take a road trip but I really don't like the idea of travelling down long deserted roads for 500 miles at a time. I also don't wish to try and see as much of the US as I can. I'd prefer to see a variety of places and spend a couple of days exploring them.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thank you,

Emma

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Hi Emma --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. Music is a great theme for a US trip -- and you definitely don't need to drive to get to know the country and its people

Though I include lots of music-related places I think you'd like in Road Trip USA, there are many music festivals and clubs and events all over the country, so it's worth your while to do some web research -- whether you're looking for some down-home Appalachian bluegrass or heartfelt Zydeco. On a more practical front, renting a car when you're 18 is difficult if not impossible -- so if I were you, I'd look into getting an Amtrak train pass (something $650 for a month, I think), and seeing the country that way.

For music, I'd start my tour in Chicago, which is a lot more manageable and enjoyable than New York (which I still find overwhelming). From Chicago, you could take the train to Detroit (if you like Motown, and/or Eminem...), and maybe Cleveland (where you can see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). Or you could head south to St Louis; again, great music -- home to Chuck Berry, who is still alive!, and explore the stomping grounds of jazz greats like Miles Davis and ragtime Scott Joplin. From Chicago (or with a bus transfer from St Louis), you can follow the Mississippi River south to Memphis (worth at least a month on its own!), and New Orleans, where music is still the lifeblood (along with great food).

In between the two cities is the great Mississippi Delta , where the Blues was born. But alas rural America is hard to enjoy without your own wheels...

If you want t head west, Portland and Seattle both have pretty lively "music scenes", as does San Francisco (which is very pretty, too). To me LA is too business-oriented, and again it's not much fun without a car. But the Sunset Strip is pretty fun, with lots of lively clubs.

Other West Coast cities with energetic music scenes -- Portland and Seattle and SF -- are more manageable without a car (they all have excellent public transport systems), and if you stay at youth hostels you'll probably meet some like-minded music loving fellow travelers.

Another thing you may able to sort out is some kind of "ride share", that would get you out onto the open road for that essential American Road Trip adventure. Websites like craiglist.org often have ads from people offering to drive you places, if you share the cost of gas. Sometimes these ride shares are heading to music festivals, so you may be doubly lucky.

Hope this helps -- and I hope you have a great trip.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

August Trip in a Camper Van -- for rent?

Hi Jamie,

We are a family of 5 – (3 boys aged 14, 12 and 7). We live in Ireland and are hoping to travel to the States next August . We would like to fly into California, hire a camper van and drive north as far as Vancouver. We have 3 weeks for the trip.

Our kids are interested in any outdoor activities – also any good museums - army, scientific etc. My husband is big into wine. Could you advise what would be the best stops to make on this journey as there will be so many to choose from. Also, do you have any advice on hiring a camper van – what should we look for ? The trip would also have to take in one major city as my kids are really looking forward to some American retail therapy !

Many thanks,

Ann Marie

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Hi Ann Marie --

Thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and your plan sounds like great fun. There are fabulous wineries all over coastal California (some of the best are in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, midway up the state, and there are very famous and expensive wineries in Napa and Sonoma, north of San Francisco), so hubby will be happy. Oregon's Willamette Valley does fine wine, too, as does the Yakima Valley southeast of Seattle.

And California is fabulous for outdoor activities -- surfing, mountain biking, hiking, fishing. And if the kids like amusement parks, you'll want to head to Los Angeles -- home of Disneyland and the more thrilling Magic Mountain. LA's many "shopping centers" or malls have fab shopping too -- just think of all that Hollywood glamour!

:-)

There are some major firms renting BIG camper-vans or "RVs" -- Cruise America is the biggest:


And some smaller firms that rent "normal" camper vans, like this one: http://www.lostcampersusa.com/

And if you wanted to start & finish up in Canada, this company looks great: http://www.westfaliarentals.com/flash/index.html

Starting and finishing in the same place is a good idea -- it's usually cheaper, and you get to revisit places that you like the look of.

Hope this helps you have a great trip.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

Where to Go ? -- Jan 2012

Hi Jamie,

Just wanting some advice on an itinerary for a 4.5 week road trip of the USA end of December to end of January, we are wanting to see as much of the country as we can round trip from LA to LA. We are hiring a car for the entire trip. Your help would be much appreciated. We are 2 adults with no children from Australia.

Kind Regards
Charmaine

>>

Hi Charmaine --

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA. You can get a long way in a month, and traveling in winter you will have some unusual experiences of what is generally a very hot, desert region.

I'd give yourselves a few days at both ends of the trip to enjoy LA -- which has some world-class art museums, beautiful scenery and all the Hollywood glamor you could want. A couple my "must-sees" that are not totally famous would include Catalina Island (26 miles off he coastline) and Laguna Beach, a quaint artsy town surrounded by sprawling suburbia. (LA is HUGE -- so yes you need a car the whole time you're there. )

After LA, I'd say check out San Diego, but depending upon how much driving you really want to do the focus of the trip should be the desert Southwest -- Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. The Grand Canyon is the most famous spot, but there are dozens of unforgettable setting here -- 1000-year-old aboriginal "cliff palaces" at Mesa Verde and Canyon de Chelley, wonderful Native American communities in he Pueblos around Santa Fe and Taos New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (great for skiing), and the red-rock wonderlands of Utah (Arches, Canyonlands and many more national parks)

If you really want to be ambitious, you could drive all the way "coast to coast", but in January you 'd likely have a lot of dark stormy nights driving along motorway/freeways, which is not exactly fun. I'd choose to spend some time in the plush resorts of Phoenix, rather than drive around New Jersey -- though if you want to see New Orleans and south Florida, you could have a great trip along what I describe as the "Southern Pacific" route, in Road Trip USA.

What is definitely fun, even in the depths of winter, is the West Coast -- maybe as far north as Seattle, but definitely Portland / Columbia Gorge / Cascades region, and the glorious Oregon Coast, and of course San Francisco. I cover the whole West Coast drive in Road Trip USA, and have tons of good suggestions (I'm doing the Big Sur drive myself next week -- it's my favorite highway in the whole USA...)

And one last place to put on your list would be Yosemite National Park, which you can reach via Death Valley, from Las Vegas. (If you like flashy neon signs and over-the-top glitz, Las Vegas is phenomenal !)

Hope this gives you an outline of what you might want to see on your trip -- if you have any specific questions, please feel free to write me back.

With best wishes,



Jamie Jensen
---
Road Trip USA

French Student on the Road, or on a Train? -- May 2012

Hi Jamie,

I have been exploring your blog and I find it really exciting !

I am a French student and I would love to travel across the US for approx 4-5 weeks in May-June 2012.
I have several questions and can't really find answers online, so I figured I could ask an expert :)

- I would be leaving from Toronto and need to fly back to Paris from New York (cheapest transatlantic flights) at the end of the trip, so what do you think a good itinerary could be ? I am not sure if I have enough time to go all the way to the West Coast and drive back !

- My second concern is obviously the price... How expensive would it be ? I think I could save $2500 to take the trip, and may have a friend with me so we could split some costs. I don't need any particular comfort, I won't need to sleep in deluxe hotels.

- What about the car ? I am only 19 so I can't rent a car, I would have to buy one. I saw cheap cars for sale on web sites such as craigslist and all... In your opinion is it the best option ? Because as you wrote on your blog, the car trip looks way more fun than the bus trip... Also I wonder if I can subscribe a monthly insurance as I won't be using the car for more than 4-5 weeks.

Thanks a lot for everything !

Cheers,

Jean

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Hello Jean! -

Many thanks for writing in to Road Trip USA, and I hope I can help you plan a great trip.

The way you approach such a big trip is very revealing of your personality -- you sound very adventurous, which is great! Most (older...) people dream of being 19, but they tend to forget what it was like to be too young to rent cars, and to poor to stay in hotels. When I was 19, (100 + years ago...), I myself set off on a similar sort of adventure, with a backpack, a tent, a stove and $200 in my pocket, thinking I would "see the country" for 6 or so weeks, mostly by hitch-hiking).

My trip ended up lasting nearly 3 years (if indeed it ever ended...) -- and I didn't rent or buy a car the whole time. But this was a long time ago, when the world was (or at least in America, it seemed to be...) a more generous place

:-)

So even at 19, seeing the USA can be done -- and going with a friend will make your family feel a lot better about the whole thing, I'm sure.

Much as I love driving, I think maybe getting yourself a train pass would be the way to go -- you could travel around the whole country for a month, for something like $650. Without fear of having your "cheap" car break down in the middle of North Dakota, stranding you miles from anywhere.

Taking the train will give you a great overview of the US landscapes, and you can see a lot of places -- New York, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle -- without having to sit in raffic or pay $50 a day just to park. And while rural America is still very car-centered, most of the major national parks have public transportation links to the train system.

Also, there are good inexpensive HI hostels in most US cities -- $20 a night, which is $600 for your month, so you could afford to eat, too! And best of all, at hostels you'll be able to meet Americans and other travelers, which is very hard to do when you are cocooned in a car. (To buy the legal minimum Insurance etc for your own car, being a 19 year old foreigner, would cost you more than $2500 for a month, I'm sure.)

Then when you're 25, you can come back again and explore the places you like the look of. Though the world is going through some crazy times, I suspect the USA will still be here in 2020.

Hope this helps -- even if it's not exactly what you asked for. Let me know what you think, and

Happy Trails,


Jamie Jensen
--
Road Trip USA