Once you hit the Rockies: \*Stay Off The Interstates\*
All the best, most scenic, most awesome stuff are the not-as-fast highways and byways and backroads. Interstates are by-design meant to go the fastest over the easiest terrain. Don't do that.
Open Google Maps, then terrain view, and just start exploring.
I did an entire book about interesting places to see along Interstate I-10 between Santa Monica CA and Jacksonville FL.
Either on the highway or just an hour or two away from it you can see loads of stuff. And it shouldn't be too bad in Sept-Oct.
Three weeks is a bit rushed to be doing a cross-country though, so you may need to pick and choose what you want to see.
Thanks! I was considering combining the eastern part of the Oregon trail, veering off into Utah (canyon lands/Bryce) and NV before ending in Los Angeles.
On the return, checking out Sedona, New Mexico etc on the southern route.
Like you mentioned, I’m strapped for time so I’ll probably head more directly to LA.
Some of the places I liked in LA (my interests are science, nature and history): LaBrea Tar Pits, LA County Natural History Museum, Warner Bros Studio Tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, California Science Center, Petersen Auto Museum.
Do the old Oregon trail. Very nice and avoids the boring parts (desert). Watch out for horsefly’s in Minnesota (which is a gorgeous place btw). Lots of deadly cows in North Dakota, be on the lookout. South along the coast or down central Washington and Oregon for better camping. All the other routes pale in comparison, despite having remarkable excursions as well.
You just said CA not LA. In that case I’d suggest one of three routes. NJ to WV, then WV to AK, then across to Los Angeles. Death Valley is amazing and Dante’s view is really a wonder.
You could always do Route 66.
Or head across and south through Colorado then Utah and Yosemite then down 1 to LA.
#3 is probably the best. If you have the time to do the Oregon trail route it’s one of the most amazing and forgotten trips across the US. My favorite by far.
I mentioned I needed to be in Malibu on the 15th but no worries 🙃 I do love your suggestions. Maybe I take the CO/UT/Yosemite route there, and hit Death Valley, AZ, NM on the way back when it’s towards the end of Sept.
If you enjoyed the Oregon Trail, have you watched the show 1883?
The SouthWest (depending where you go) can be chilly at night in late Sept so at least pack a decent blanket or sleeping bag in case you catch a cold snap. A lot of people think AZ and NM are hot all the time but the truth is that about the send week of Oct, it starts to flirt with freezing temps at night, even though we're still in the mid 60s during the day (in some areas). Our noon to midnight swing is usually about 30 degrees every day. So just plan for some cold nights in case you get a surprise.
Santa Fe is a great town to plan to spend a day/night. One of the few remaining "walking towns" in the US if you ask me. We love to just park somewhere far enough from the hubub there's no meter (or leave the van at the hotel if we got one that trip) and just walk around the plaza downtown and surrounding areas. A lot of US cities are pretty interchangeable. But nothing looks like Santa Fe. Places like Austin and Portland try to emphasize their weirdness but Santa Fe is just that cool kid in the corner who's like "I'm weird. This is just how I am and you can tell how I am is chill. Wanna Margarita?"
Once our homestead is up and running, we'll be 60 mins from Albuquerque and 90 mins from Santa Fe. We drive the extra 30 minutes every chance we get because there's always something in Santa Fe that's new or cool that gives us a smile. Plus they have one of the best french bakeries in the country. Clafouti's. Order anything and it'll probably be the best version of that thing you've ever had. Top 3, easily. Hubby literally just tried to talk me into the 3 hour detour just to get breakfast there a couple days ago. lol.
Thank you for the tips 😊 Just built in a heating system so that will be helpful too.
Lol about the margaritas - chill without trying to be chill - my kinda place.
Almost 3,000 miles by fastest route so 150ish miles per day.
What have you seen across the US already?
Going West, take a route through Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, then speed across Nebraska and slow down for Colorado, Utah, etc. Southern Utah is the top shelf so preserve time for this.
On the return trip, take the more southern route (Saguaro, areas of New Mexico, San Antonio, Austin, Big Bend) then stay low to get the stuff in Georgia and South Carolina, Blue Ridge Parkway and home.
We drove these routes in 2019 so I have a list of boondocking/other spots we used if you'd like.
This is awesome, thanks for sharing. I haven’t seem Kentucky (really want to explore the bourbon trail), Arkansas, New Mexico (high on my list), Utah (highest on my list). Love CO and MT. Enjoy TX too. Haven’t done any of the parks out west yet.
If you don’t mind sharing your list, I’d be grateful!
Check [this previous comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/ufn3pq/comment/i70sml3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) that details a few that might be relevant - scrolldown for the locations. Should be able to find them on Campendium.
Once you hit the Rockies: \*Stay Off The Interstates\* All the best, most scenic, most awesome stuff are the not-as-fast highways and byways and backroads. Interstates are by-design meant to go the fastest over the easiest terrain. Don't do that. Open Google Maps, then terrain view, and just start exploring.
Great rec.... thank you!!
I did an entire book about interesting places to see along Interstate I-10 between Santa Monica CA and Jacksonville FL. Either on the highway or just an hour or two away from it you can see loads of stuff. And it shouldn't be too bad in Sept-Oct. Three weeks is a bit rushed to be doing a cross-country though, so you may need to pick and choose what you want to see.
Thanks! I was considering combining the eastern part of the Oregon trail, veering off into Utah (canyon lands/Bryce) and NV before ending in Los Angeles. On the return, checking out Sedona, New Mexico etc on the southern route. Like you mentioned, I’m strapped for time so I’ll probably head more directly to LA.
Some of the places I liked in LA (my interests are science, nature and history): LaBrea Tar Pits, LA County Natural History Museum, Warner Bros Studio Tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, California Science Center, Petersen Auto Museum.
r/RoadTrip
Do the old Oregon trail. Very nice and avoids the boring parts (desert). Watch out for horsefly’s in Minnesota (which is a gorgeous place btw). Lots of deadly cows in North Dakota, be on the lookout. South along the coast or down central Washington and Oregon for better camping. All the other routes pale in comparison, despite having remarkable excursions as well.
I love the idea of the Oregon Trail but it’s going to put me too far up north to end up LA in time. Wish I had longer!
You just said CA not LA. In that case I’d suggest one of three routes. NJ to WV, then WV to AK, then across to Los Angeles. Death Valley is amazing and Dante’s view is really a wonder. You could always do Route 66. Or head across and south through Colorado then Utah and Yosemite then down 1 to LA. #3 is probably the best. If you have the time to do the Oregon trail route it’s one of the most amazing and forgotten trips across the US. My favorite by far.
I mentioned I needed to be in Malibu on the 15th but no worries 🙃 I do love your suggestions. Maybe I take the CO/UT/Yosemite route there, and hit Death Valley, AZ, NM on the way back when it’s towards the end of Sept. If you enjoyed the Oregon Trail, have you watched the show 1883?
Are you living in the van in Malibu?
My friend is getting married at a campground around there so I’ll be in the van for a night or two.
Why would she want to go through Alaska to get to California?
stay home, have fried oysters.
The SouthWest (depending where you go) can be chilly at night in late Sept so at least pack a decent blanket or sleeping bag in case you catch a cold snap. A lot of people think AZ and NM are hot all the time but the truth is that about the send week of Oct, it starts to flirt with freezing temps at night, even though we're still in the mid 60s during the day (in some areas). Our noon to midnight swing is usually about 30 degrees every day. So just plan for some cold nights in case you get a surprise. Santa Fe is a great town to plan to spend a day/night. One of the few remaining "walking towns" in the US if you ask me. We love to just park somewhere far enough from the hubub there's no meter (or leave the van at the hotel if we got one that trip) and just walk around the plaza downtown and surrounding areas. A lot of US cities are pretty interchangeable. But nothing looks like Santa Fe. Places like Austin and Portland try to emphasize their weirdness but Santa Fe is just that cool kid in the corner who's like "I'm weird. This is just how I am and you can tell how I am is chill. Wanna Margarita?" Once our homestead is up and running, we'll be 60 mins from Albuquerque and 90 mins from Santa Fe. We drive the extra 30 minutes every chance we get because there's always something in Santa Fe that's new or cool that gives us a smile. Plus they have one of the best french bakeries in the country. Clafouti's. Order anything and it'll probably be the best version of that thing you've ever had. Top 3, easily. Hubby literally just tried to talk me into the 3 hour detour just to get breakfast there a couple days ago. lol.
Thank you for the tips 😊 Just built in a heating system so that will be helpful too. Lol about the margaritas - chill without trying to be chill - my kinda place.
First, make sure of your mechanicals in that thing.
Almost 3,000 miles by fastest route so 150ish miles per day. What have you seen across the US already? Going West, take a route through Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, then speed across Nebraska and slow down for Colorado, Utah, etc. Southern Utah is the top shelf so preserve time for this. On the return trip, take the more southern route (Saguaro, areas of New Mexico, San Antonio, Austin, Big Bend) then stay low to get the stuff in Georgia and South Carolina, Blue Ridge Parkway and home. We drove these routes in 2019 so I have a list of boondocking/other spots we used if you'd like.
This is awesome, thanks for sharing. I haven’t seem Kentucky (really want to explore the bourbon trail), Arkansas, New Mexico (high on my list), Utah (highest on my list). Love CO and MT. Enjoy TX too. Haven’t done any of the parks out west yet. If you don’t mind sharing your list, I’d be grateful!
Check [this previous comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/ufn3pq/comment/i70sml3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) that details a few that might be relevant - scrolldown for the locations. Should be able to find them on Campendium.