Trip planning

[Jockey]

I'm planning a trip out West starting in mid-October. Tentatively planning in the 4 week time frame. Depending on where we end up going, it could be 3 weeks or could be 5 weeks.

What I am asking for are suggestions of places to visit. We will be taking the lower route due to time of year. Probably hard out of Chicago on 55 (old Rte. 66), and stay on in until Arizona where we would take a more southern route. The plan is to go all the way to the ocean, then head to San Francisco and then return thru Nevada and Utah.

We have no set amount of miles we need to travel each day - the 1st day will be 600-700 miles, but after that that's are no long daily pushes until the way home.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[MuggsyB]

I'm planning a trip out West starting in mid-October. Tentatively planning in the 4 week time frame. Depending on where we end up going, it could be 3 weeks or could be 5 weeks.

What I am asking for are suggestions of places to visit. We will be taking the lower route due to time of year. Probably hard out of Chicago on 55 (old Rte. 66), and stay on in until Arizona where we would take a more southern route. The plan is to go all the way to the ocean, then head to San Francisco and then return thru Nevada and Utah.

We have no set amount of miles we need to travel each day - the 1st day will be 600-700 miles, but after that that's are no long daily pushes until the way home.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Can you leave a few weeks earlier?  There's  the balloon festival in Albuquerque.  If not there are some really cool Pueblo monuments, Carlsbad Caverns, Dunes, Taos, Santa Fe, and a number of Hot Springs and places to Horeseback Ride in NM.  The food  and art galleries in SF are outstanding. Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabated home in the country if I am not mistaken.   

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm planning a trip out West starting in mid-October. Tentatively planning in the 4 week time frame. Depending on where we end up going, it could be 3 weeks or could be 5 weeks.

What I am asking for are suggestions of places to visit. We will be taking the lower route due to time of year. Probably hard out of Chicago on 55 (old Rte. 66), and stay on in until Arizona where we would take a more southern route. The plan is to go all the way to the ocean, then head to San Francisco and then return thru Nevada and Utah.

We have no set amount of miles we need to travel each day - the 1st day will be 600-700 miles, but after that that's are no long daily pushes until the way home.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Swing through New Mexico and kick George RR Martin in the ass.

[Skatastrophy]

Swing through New Mexico and kick George RR Martin in the ass.

frfr

[warriorchick]

Glow and I did a lot of Route 66 on our last seasonal trip back to Las Vegas.

Get a good Route 66 guide and stop at the stuff that looks interesting. I liked all the weird stuff - the giant statues, Cadillac Ranch, etc.

Be sure to stop at Cozy Dog in Springfield - birthplace of the corn dog. We were pleasantly surprised by Big Texan in Amarillo - the place with the 72 oz steak that is free if you eat the entire thing. We did not take the challenge, but the food we did order was surprisingly good and reasonably priced for a tourist trap.

[NCMUFan]

Glow and I did a lot of Route 66 on our last seasonal trip back to Las Vegas.

Get a good Route 66 guide and stop at the stuff that looks interesting. I liked all the weird stuff - the giant statues, Cadillac Ranch, etc.

Be sure to stop at Cozy Dog in Springfield - birthplace of the corn dog. We were pleasantly surprised by Big Texan in Amarillo - the place with the 72 oz steak that is free if you eat the entire thing. We did not take the challenge, but the food we did order was surprisingly good and reasonably priced for a tourist trap.

Do they have a wall of fame of people that ate the 72 oz steak?

[lawdog77]

I'm planning a trip out West starting in mid-October. Tentatively planning in the 4 week time frame. Depending on where we end up going, it could be 3 weeks or could be 5 weeks.

What I am asking for are suggestions of places to visit. We will be taking the lower route due to time of year. Probably hard out of Chicago on 55 (old Rte. 66), and stay on in until Arizona where we would take a more southern route. The plan is to go all the way to the ocean, then head to San Francisco and then return thru Nevada and Utah.

We have no set amount of miles we need to travel each day - the 1st day will be 600-700 miles, but after that that's are no long daily pushes until the way home.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Before Ziggy suggests it:

https://www.instagram.com/southcentralclown_edu/?hl=en

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Before Ziggy suggests it:

https://www.instagram.com/southcentralclown_edu/?hl=en

Well, Jockey is heading there for his class reunion.  It's the main reason for the trip.

[mix it up]

I've used this site on road trips. Very helpful.
https://roadtrippers.com/

[Jockey]

Well, Jockey is heading there for his class reunion.  It's the main reason for the trip.

Most of Scoop will be there. Word on the street is that you and Roqqet didn't have the grades to get in.

[Jockey]

I've used this site on road trips. Very helpful.
https://roadtrippers.com/

Thanks, Mix. Looks very helpful.

[JWags85]

I have a lot of respect for people who take/love long road trips.  I adore travelling and do a ton of it, but sittting in a car for full chunks of a day is my own personal idea of hell.  I used to do 6 hour drives solo many times from 20-25 or so.  Drove to and from NYC round trip 3-4 times including twice solo.  Thats about enough for me, I'm good.

I drove from Belgium to Switzerland a few years back.  Incredibly cool drive through gorgeous parts of Europe, 6 hours and change.  Enjoyed it but when we arrived I was cool not driving for a LONG time.

[Jockey]

Be sure to stop at Cozy Dog in Springfield - birthplace of the corn dog. We were pleasantly surprised by Big Texan in Amarillo - the place with the 72 oz steak that is free if you eat the entire thing. We did not take the challenge, but the food we did order was surprisingly good and reasonably priced for a tourist trap.

Interesting stuff. Iowa, Texas, and Oregon also claim inventing the corn dog.

[Jockey]

I have a lot of respect for people who take/love long road trips.  I adore travelling and do a ton of it, but sittting in a car for full chunks of a day is my own personal idea of hell.  I used to do 6 hour drives solo many times from 20-25 or so.  Drove to and from NYC round trip 3-4 times including twice solo.  Thats about enough for me, I'm good.

I drove from Belgium to Switzerland a few years back.  Incredibly cool drive through gorgeous parts of Europe, 6 hours and change.  Enjoyed it but when we arrived I was cool not driving for a LONG time.

My wife and I call it 'gypsy traveling'. We push the 1st day just to get a good start and then we just do what we want to do. After that, sometimes we'll go 50 miles a day; sometimes 300. Sometimes we'll stay a couple days at a place we weren't even planning on.

At some point we'll leave the Interstate highways to see the real America. Unlike you, though, we enjoy traveling by car.