Driving across America

[Scarlett]

I know it's a cliche but I would love to do this. Are there any set routes or suggestions as I'm sure that people do this all the time! I would like to obviously stay along the way, but basically have a bit of an adventure in a car, and see some of the country. Any ideas?

[MarkRae]

http://tinyurl.com/yz5dmmz

[sophie_1003]

I would love to do this too and started looking into it last year, I'd like to see the southern states so had a look at what I'd like to see, e.g. the Grand Canyon, a couple of the national parks, San Francisco amongst other stuff then was going to plan a route around that

[bednobs]

http://www.roadtripusa.com/
simply typing "driving across america routes" into a search engine cames up with loads of info

[bednobs]

whoops i see mark beat me to it"!

[Scarlett]

Yes I could google it but I wondered if anyone had any first-hand experience of this, thanks Mark.

[ganesh]

It is so vast that you've really got to limit yourselves and you don't say how long you want to go for. I went with family from San Francisco,down the Californian coast road to Hollywood,across to Las Vegas,across to Grand Canyon (a must!) back up through Death Valley ,Yosemite National Park,Lake Tahoe,and back down via the Napper Valley.
Brilliant,but did far too much in one month,spent a fortune and covered a very small part of America.Best holiday ever though and would recommend it!

[Scarlett]

Thanks Ganesh, that's interesting! Yes, I now see how massive it is. I would like to spend no longer than a month, possibly less due to work.

[Norberto]

In a month you could drive from coast-to-coast, but you wouldn't get to see much on the way. Much better to pick an area (west coast, east coast, south-east, etc.) and concentrate your travels around there.
If you are really short of time, go to Iowa for a day and it will seem like a month.

[Booldawg]

I did Washington DC to Houston. It was 2200 miles which I comfortably did in 2 weeks back in 2007.

Fantastic driving along the Skyline Drive in Virginina, across the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, aross Tennesse, Alambam and Mississipi. Dropped down into Louisiana to see the bayous etc then across into Texas.

It not like driving over here, I didnt get stuck in a single traffic jam and the whole journey cost me 70 pounds in petrol. Also no need to book into motels in advance, they're plentiful and always have lots o spare rooms.

TBH if I did it again I'd do Virginia, North Carolina and Tennesse; they're absolutely beautiful. Lousiana and Texas were boring to drive across, flat and featureless.

Also I got hit with a one way hire charge of about 250 quid. I wasnt sure what the charge would be until it appeared on my bill. I'd do a round trip next time.

[Booldawg]

I made a blog kind of thing of the journey;

http://www.booldawg.piczo.com/?cr=6

[mazzywoo]

Hi Scarlett. As everyone else is saying, there are so many fantastic places to see and many different ways of seeing them! Also, it would depend on whether you want to see some exciting cities or whether you'd like to see some of the amazing natural places (or a bit of both)! We have been to USA several times and enjoyed every minute of our trips-we hire a car and go as we please. Parts of Utah are fabulous-Bryce canyon, Arches national Park and Canyonlands north NP too. The Rocky mountains too are so very beautiful especially in the fall when the leaves change colour. Yellowstone NP is unmissable in my opinion-it's unlike anywhere else on earth with the geothermal activity and the wildlife. But then, Las vegas is worth a visit as well. Oh so many things to see over there!! This year, we are starting at San Fransisco, driving up the coast as far as Astoria then heading back down through Oregon and California, via Yosemite, Tahoe and Crater Lake then looping back to San fransisco.
There's loads of maps available on say, Amazon and some very good books (especially the Frommer guides) to help you choose where to go and of course the internet is great for looking at images of places and Trip advisor is worth a look.
I am sure that wherever you decide to go, you will love it Scarlett!!