Boston to LA USA roadtrip advice
Discussion
Leaving it a bit "last minute, aren't you?
Although unplanned stuff can be a lot of fun.
Not done that trip, but live in the midwest. Cities can be huge to get through, so if you're not stopping in the city itself, go around. Ring roads are 3 numbers, eg. I255
For context, I was driving to Vermont from Logan Airport last time I was there. Took 3 hours to get outside the city.
Pick your sites you want to see, stuff you wamt to do. Fiddle with those destinations in Google maps. They're always doing repairs on parts of the interstates, so get used to slowdown every now and then. Rest stops are by and large safe.
Have fun!
M.
Although unplanned stuff can be a lot of fun.
Not done that trip, but live in the midwest. Cities can be huge to get through, so if you're not stopping in the city itself, go around. Ring roads are 3 numbers, eg. I255
For context, I was driving to Vermont from Logan Airport last time I was there. Took 3 hours to get outside the city.
Pick your sites you want to see, stuff you wamt to do. Fiddle with those destinations in Google maps. They're always doing repairs on parts of the interstates, so get used to slowdown every now and then. Rest stops are by and large safe.
Have fun!
M.
Mortarboard said:
Leaving it a bit "last minute, aren't you?
Although unplanned stuff can be a lot of fun.
Not done that trip, but live in the midwest. Cities can be huge to get through, so if you're not stopping in the city itself, go around. Ring roads are 3 numbers, eg. I255
For context, I was driving to Vermont from Logan Airport last time I was there. Took 3 hours to get outside the city.
Pick your sites you want to see, stuff you wamt to do. Fiddle with those destinations in Google maps. They're always doing repairs on parts of the interstates, so get used to slowdown every now and then. Rest stops are by and large safe.
Have fun!
M.
Hi m8 , thanks for the reply , been planning it for 10 months . Was just after some advice incase i had overlooked something.Although unplanned stuff can be a lot of fun.
Not done that trip, but live in the midwest. Cities can be huge to get through, so if you're not stopping in the city itself, go around. Ring roads are 3 numbers, eg. I255
For context, I was driving to Vermont from Logan Airport last time I was there. Took 3 hours to get outside the city.
Pick your sites you want to see, stuff you wamt to do. Fiddle with those destinations in Google maps. They're always doing repairs on parts of the interstates, so get used to slowdown every now and then. Rest stops are by and large safe.
Have fun!
M.
The Terminator said:
Hi m8 , thanks for the reply , been planning it for 10 months . Was just after some advice incase i had overlooked something.
Walmart superstore are usually 24hrs, and usually have a pharmacy.Apart from the odd point of interest, there's pretty much nothing between the cities from st louis, Kansas city and Oklahoma city (depending on your route. Not much between Chicago & st louis either, just not as flat.
North route looks nice- boston-buffalo-chicago-omaha-denver-salina-cedar city-las vegas-LA
You'd see much of the different country types- city, river, forest, mountain and flatlands.
Use polarized sunglasses!
Mandatory PH content- time to beat is 24hrs 39mins, I believe
M.
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Just wanted to thank you for putting this tune in my head, I’ll be humming it all day long.
What a great way to cross the US on your first road trip, the sun will rise behind you and the time zone changes will help on the longer days.
Photograph everything, no matter how insignificant, when your home and you have the album up on the big screen on shuffle the memories will come flooding back, every cold beer, every meal, every iconic road sign……
The route writes itself, but enjoy Robert’s, it’s the best bar in America, in my opinion at least.
Safe travels and as Neil Tennant would say:
Go West
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Just wanted to thank you for putting this tune in my head, I’ll be humming it all day long.
What a great way to cross the US on your first road trip, the sun will rise behind you and the time zone changes will help on the longer days.
Photograph everything, no matter how insignificant, when your home and you have the album up on the big screen on shuffle the memories will come flooding back, every cold beer, every meal, every iconic road sign……
The route writes itself, but enjoy Robert’s, it’s the best bar in America, in my opinion at least.
Safe travels and as Neil Tennant would say:
Go West
This sounds a great trip and I'm sure you'll both have a lovely time.
I did a road trip around New England in April and I really enjoyed it. I only had 10 days but I covered a lot of the region, visiting the coast, forests and the mountains. I chose a town to stay as late as possible due to roads being boring or congested and this allowed me to tweak my route as I saw fit. I stayed in the centre of town when I arrived somewhere so I could walk around town to find a restaurant or bar rather than staying in a roadside motel on some nondescript highway.
Other drivers were always polite and patient, even driving through central New York was less stressful than driving around London. I always had to pay for fuel before filling up (on 2 occasions I was asked by petrol station staff if I would stay and chat if they bought me a coffee!). Lovely people, especially away from the cities but politically very divided, easy to avoid politics if you want though. I was surprised how expensive New England was but I understand that some parts of the U.S. are cheaper.
I'll look forward to you posting about your trip on your return.
Safe travels.
I did a road trip around New England in April and I really enjoyed it. I only had 10 days but I covered a lot of the region, visiting the coast, forests and the mountains. I chose a town to stay as late as possible due to roads being boring or congested and this allowed me to tweak my route as I saw fit. I stayed in the centre of town when I arrived somewhere so I could walk around town to find a restaurant or bar rather than staying in a roadside motel on some nondescript highway.
Other drivers were always polite and patient, even driving through central New York was less stressful than driving around London. I always had to pay for fuel before filling up (on 2 occasions I was asked by petrol station staff if I would stay and chat if they bought me a coffee!). Lovely people, especially away from the cities but politically very divided, easy to avoid politics if you want though. I was surprised how expensive New England was but I understand that some parts of the U.S. are cheaper.
I'll look forward to you posting about your trip on your return.
Safe travels.
2 GKC said:
What car are you renting?
Can make or break the experience.Muscle cars are fun but on poor roads (yes, they do have them in parts) they can be tiring and annoying plus limits luggage.
Smaller cars are fine but if you’re doing hours and hours day after day, they can be equally tiring.
Get yourself a V8 SUV and you’re golden. Softly sprung, unstressed engine, tons of room and zero effort to do thousands of miles. Fuel is cheap over there so the bigger the better. Try and get an American one for the full experience.
The car makes a huge difference on a road trip so choose wisely.
Essarell said:
What a great way to cross the US on your first road trip, the sun will rise behind you and the time zone changes will help on the longer days.
Photograph everything, no matter how insignificant, when your home and you have the album up on the big screen on shuffle the memories will come flooding back, every cold beer, every meal, every iconic road sign
This, especially the bold bit. Is more important than you ever think it will be.Photograph everything, no matter how insignificant, when your home and you have the album up on the big screen on shuffle the memories will come flooding back, every cold beer, every meal, every iconic road sign
valiant said:
Get yourself a V8 SUV and you re golden. Softly sprung, unstressed engine, tons of room and zero effort to do thousands of miles. Fuel is cheap over there so the bigger the better. Try and get an American one for the full experience.
The car makes a huge difference on a road trip so choose wisely.
And this. The car makes a huge difference on a road trip so choose wisely.
I will be having a mooch about NY State and Connecticut next spring, but am planning a monstrous trip in 27 when I need to take some extended leave from work. But for both - big US size SUVs.
Edited by mattyn1 on Thursday 18th September 11:36
valiant said:
Get yourself a V8 SUV and you re golden. Softly sprung, unstressed engine, tons of room and zero effort to do thousands of miles. Fuel is cheap over there so the bigger the better. Try and get an American one for the full experience.
They may make more sense across the pond compared to here, but you'll still feel like you're piloting a boat. I've hired a Yukon XL when we needed a car for 6 people and it was great for that purpose, but if it's just the two of you then I'd say V8 muscle car all the way.Out of interest how much is the extra fee for one way car hire?
Buy Road Trip USA from Amazon to help plan your trip. It’s amazing how many curiosities there are to see even along the least promising routes
Im also looking at a 1 month trip going east to west then back west to east (canon balling it on the way back if needed)
Im planning on doing route 66 on the east to west leg, something you could easily do in the 3 weeks you have, even time to relax and enjoy a bit of Santa Monica at the end.
Alternatively pretty much the best national parks (except the biggie, Yellow Stone, ) are more south based so might be worth keeping that in mind for your adventure.
Also the time of year, north is cold and snowy if you go Nov to April, south rather warm in July and August
As other said, the car makes or breaks it, i live in the US and drive a RAM 1500 truck with the 5.7hemi, its an ideal mode of transport for long distances, no fatigue at all when driving as it has all the creature comforts like heated and air con seats, loads of space inside, plus the bed for storage and of course the ever effortless Hemi engine, the Suburban, Escalade and Tahoe SUV's are all similar as they are based on the truck chassis and have same engines pretty much, just more seats in the back instead of a truck bed.
However when i go i dont plan on taking it, instead, as a masochist, im going to try and go classic, looking right now for a Jensen interceptor to buy for the trip, or a 69 mustang fastback. Any car i get will need some work to make it as reliable as possible, so if i cant buy and finish it before the start it will have to be the RAM
Last idea, how about RVing it?
As i understand west to east coast is a cheaper rent as most people travel east to west (so they need the RV back again at the start) , look up cruise America, never used them but seen them advertised alot
For sure let us know what route your are considering!
Im planning on doing route 66 on the east to west leg, something you could easily do in the 3 weeks you have, even time to relax and enjoy a bit of Santa Monica at the end.
Alternatively pretty much the best national parks (except the biggie, Yellow Stone, ) are more south based so might be worth keeping that in mind for your adventure.
Also the time of year, north is cold and snowy if you go Nov to April, south rather warm in July and August
As other said, the car makes or breaks it, i live in the US and drive a RAM 1500 truck with the 5.7hemi, its an ideal mode of transport for long distances, no fatigue at all when driving as it has all the creature comforts like heated and air con seats, loads of space inside, plus the bed for storage and of course the ever effortless Hemi engine, the Suburban, Escalade and Tahoe SUV's are all similar as they are based on the truck chassis and have same engines pretty much, just more seats in the back instead of a truck bed.
However when i go i dont plan on taking it, instead, as a masochist, im going to try and go classic, looking right now for a Jensen interceptor to buy for the trip, or a 69 mustang fastback. Any car i get will need some work to make it as reliable as possible, so if i cant buy and finish it before the start it will have to be the RAM
Last idea, how about RVing it?
As i understand west to east coast is a cheaper rent as most people travel east to west (so they need the RV back again at the start) , look up cruise America, never used them but seen them advertised alot
For sure let us know what route your are considering!
Edited by Peeping Turtle on Thursday 18th September 12:22
Edited by Peeping Turtle on Thursday 18th September 12:23
mattyn1 said:
Did you do the trans Canada hwy?
In hindsight, I'm pretty sure we must have done....to Winnipeg. tbh I wasn't paying much attention to road no's/names...just drove to the next stop. We started in Vancouver, went up to Whistler, then Kamloops, Banff and into Calgary for the stampede (which was truly amazing), Medicine Hat, Regina, Winnipeg (we may have stopped in a couple of other places too), then got a flight to Toronto and finally train to Montreal. All in all, 3 weeks. Apart from a moose in the middle of a housing estate, largest animal we saw was in the 3 weeks was quite a small chipmunk 
Ezra said:
In hindsight, I'm pretty sure we must have done....to Winnipeg. tbh I wasn't paying much attention to road no's/names...just drove to the next stop. We started in Vancouver, went up to Whistler, then Kamloops, Banff and into Calgary for the stampede (which was truly amazing), Medicine Hat, Regina, Winnipeg (we may have stopped in a couple of other places too), then got a flight to Toronto and finally train to Montreal. All in all, 3 weeks. Apart from a moose in the middle of a housing estate, largest animal we saw was in the 3 weeks was quite a small chipmunk
Sounds like you did some/a good chunk of it. V Interesting......
Edited by mattyn1 on Thursday 18th September 17:15
Thanks for all the replys , will try to answer the comments.
planned route is -
Boston, Rhode island, Connecticut, New youk then up to Niagra falls , then Texas to visting Gas monkey and the big texan.
Grand canyon , Roswell , Las Vegas and Finish at LA. (all subject to change)
Hopefully getting a Dodge Ram 1500 , but you never know.
Taking a drone to get some extra pics.
Cant wait .
And yes i am aware of the Cannon ball / Gumball record. The wife isnt lol.
planned route is -
Boston, Rhode island, Connecticut, New youk then up to Niagra falls , then Texas to visting Gas monkey and the big texan.
Grand canyon , Roswell , Las Vegas and Finish at LA. (all subject to change)
Hopefully getting a Dodge Ram 1500 , but you never know.
Taking a drone to get some extra pics.
Cant wait .
And yes i am aware of the Cannon ball / Gumball record. The wife isnt lol.
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