US Roadtrip

[Longy]

Slight brag post, but im mainly asking if anyone has done this kind of thing before and has any general advice.

Me and my younger bro (just graduated from uni) are in the process of planning a trip, to various parts of the states by hiring a car and just going from place to place. He seems keen to do it in November, im more keen on Spring due to the weather, is this as a big of an issue as im making it out to be?

We are toying with various ideas most of which are based around starting and finishing in New York, looking to spend about a month to 6 weeks out there.

Any general pointers or tips?

[Royal Flush]

Jen and Dana have done an extensive drive across the US

[Graham C]

Did a month from LA to Seattle and loved it.  Was a while ago though, would love to do it again.

Tips?  Just enjoy it

[Suited_Jock]

Do the west coast
Include Vegas
??
Profit

[rex008]

Me and the wife did three weeks a few years ago:
San Francisco->Yosemite->Death Valley->Vegas->Palm Springs->San Diego->LA->San Fran
Fantastic trip. Was in May. The contrast from San Fran to Yosemite was amazing - "was that a bit of snow on the side of the road???" - got to Yosemite to find it about 6" deep all over and 6' in places. Mountain pass at the back not open, so drive to Death Valley took 10 hours (with snow chains for a bit of it). Which was then pretty hot. Amazing contrast. Vegas fantastic of course. Trip into Tijuana from San Diego was interesting - you just walk across the border and it's like stepping back in time - grotty place, but contrast is amazing. Drive up the coast and visit Hearst Castle - now there was a man who knew how to spend money!

One thing to beware of is that if you're hiring a car and you (or your bro) is under 25 you will pay a significant insurance premium, and some places won't hire you a car at all.

Don't underestimate how big the place is - romantic notions of going all the way across the country in a couple of weeks are fanciful - you'll spend 12 hours a day in a car.

We've also done a 2 week one from Boston->New York->Washington DC, which was pretty good also. Boston's a really nice place - very English. Washington is fairly impressive too. NY is great for a few days, but I wouldn't want to live there .

[thetank]

 He seems keen to do it in November, im more keen on Spring due to the weather, is this as a big of an issue as im making it out to be?

If you do it in November you can maybe catch a football game.

[Laxie]

Make sure you explain to the car hire crowd that you intend to travel around the States too.  Some have a clause in the contract... you can't leave the state you've hired it from. 

[Acidmouse]

Me and the wife did three weeks a few years ago:
San Francisco->Yosemite->Death Valley->Vegas->Palm Springs->San Diego->LA->San Fran

Now I bet that was a trip. Used to live in San Fran and we did the trip to Yosemite down to Palm springs, absolutely awesome trip! Really different climates and weather.

[Longy]

Cheers for the replies.

I am over 25 (sigh) and my brother can't drive anyway,so that isn't a stumbling block.

Good point Rex about doing the whole lot, when we first talked about we were all we will do this and that. Then realised there is no way we can't fit everything in, so probably just going to stick to one part of the US. I think the North Eastern part is looking fave New York, Boston, Niagara, Great Lakes, Washington , Philli etc.

Would be right in thinking there would be issues with taking the car into Canada?

[lazaroonie]

Cheers for the replies.

I am over 25 (sigh) and my brother can't drive anyway,so that isn't a stumbling block.

Good point Rex about doing the whole lot, when we first talked about we were all we will do this and that. Then realised there is no way we can't fit everything in, so probably just going to stick to one part of the US. I think the North Eastern part is looking fave New York, Boston, Niagara, Great Lakes, Washington , Philli etc.

Would be right in thinking there would be issues with taking the car into Canada?

not really.

one thing I would say is I have driven boston to niagara and beyond, and the journey isnt that interesting - standard route would be north from boston -> new hampshire -> green mountains vermont -> new york state )(albany) then across to syracuse and buffalo. but its mainly motorway after vermont and not much to see.

[cdw1111]

      I've been lucky enough to do several road trips around the USA and enjoyed every one of them,you'll have a blast.Americans away from the big cities are the most friendly most welcoming people you will ever meet,just stop in any small town,go to the local bar and people are just fascinated to meet a Brit as most have never even travelled out of they own state.
      If your'e going round the north east i recommend a weekend in D.C. the air and space musuem is worth the visit alone but all the sights are within walking distance of each other and the nightlife around the Georgetown uni. is,in there words awesome.However my favourite states are in the south,Georgia,Tennesee and the Carolinas,trips there have been some of the best holidays i've ever had(you just can't beat that southern drawl on a pretty girl).


P.S. on no account mention the Vietnam war in a derogatory sense to any grizzled old taxi driver as you may be invited to exit his cab staring down the barrel of his gun

[Colchester Kev]

I drove from Richmond, Virginia to Florida ... It was the most boring drive in the world, all concrete roads and nothing to see.  we were only going from A to B to get from my Brothers house to Disneyland, so we just went most direct route .... I am sure we could have taken a more scenic route.

I would love to just hire one of those massive RV's and tour all over the sates, one day I will do it.

[booder]

I would love to just hire one of those massive RV's and tour all over the sates, one day I will do it.

count me in

[Colchester Kev]

I would love to just hire one of those massive RV's and tour all over the sates, one day I will do it.

count me in

With your expertise in breakfasts, you are IN !!

[MC]

Something like this has always been on my mind, hope I get around to it at some point.

I really recommend the route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. I remember that with my parents when I was 15-16. Got to see the Redwoods, Death Valley, Palm Springs is a great stop off, and the Yosemite National Park is just gorgeous!


(Lol I just read back the replies on the summary below and saw someone had similar thoughts)

Highly recommened man!