Need help with cross country road trip

[metrock]

Well, I figure this summer will be my only chance to do a massive cross country road trip (with my girlfriend and best friend). I just got out of the Navy and am currently going to school. so, with a job out of the way I figure that I have nothing better to do with my summer than take a trip across the country. I fiigured that with all the places I wanted to go, that I will be about a 3 week trip. I started crunching some numbers in my head. Between the cost of gas, the places we are going to visit and lodging, things are adding up. the only place I may be able to save a buck is crashing at the homes of my extended family in: Saint Paul, New York City, South FL and Texas. But outside of that, I would have to get a hotel. Anyone out there wannna offfer some inexpensive lodging for 3 road warriors? Ha-ha. Just an idea. I am also looking for suggestions on places to go that I dont have on the list bellow. Right now the list is kinda full. But I may be able to squeeze something in there. Also suggestions on the places I am going, etc. Just over all, I need help figuring this out. So, I am turning to all you wonderfull TPR guys. Thanks for the help!

 

Here is the list of places I have so far.

 

Leaving from SoCal

Yosemite

Virginia City, NV

Salt Lake City, UT

Mount Ruchmore/Crazy Horse Monument

Yellowstone

St Paul, MN (visit family, Valleyfair, MOA)

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

Chicago, IL

Indiana Beach

Holiday World

Kings Island

Cedar Point

Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum (Cleveland, OH)

Boston, MA (signt seeing, Six Flags)

New York City (visit family, Coney Island)

Gettysburg, PA

Washington DC

Richmond, VA (Kings Dominion)

Williamsburg, VA (sight seeing, Busch Gardens)

Orlando, FL (Disney/Universal)

New Orleans (tourist crap)

Dallas, TX (SFoT)

Roswell, NM (get abducted or something)

Grand Canyon

Home

[kidcoaster]

In three weeks I think you will be pushing for time with all those stops.

[ginzo]

You could try some camping. I wouldn't do it personally, but it's cheap. If you do camp, try to schedule your trip for early summer. Camping in August could suck.

 

Another suggestion is to try to hit a lot of Six Flags parks, because you can buy those dirt cheap season passes at SFMM. Then you can save on park admissions by using the passes.

[Jeezus Juice]

Cool, I finally have time to respond to your topic.

 

My wife and I did a massive cross-country trip in 2004. We went to 45-50 parks in about 45 days for around $5,000.

For reference: SoCal-SFFT-SFAW-SFOT-FC-Bells-WOF-SDC-SFStL-HW-PKI-DW-PCW-PKD-BGW-WashingtonDC-SFA-SFGAdv-NYC(coney,playland)-Quassy-SFNE-Grestescape-LaRonde-PCW-Niagra-MFI-Seabreeze-SFDL-Wald-CP-Funspot-MiA-IB-SFGAm-Dells-VF-Adventureland-SFEG-Lagoon-Reno-Norcal

 

We're also doing it again this year, with a route similar to yours. I have a few things to recommend:

 

1.Camping!

We used KOA campgrounds almost exclusively. Tent sites averaged $20 a night. There is a free KOA guide book available with phone numbers, locations, prices, and facility listings nationwide. You can even get a discount card that gets you 10-20% off each stay. You don't need a lot of equipment. We do "car camping" where the only extra stuff we bring is a small dome tent, sleeping bags, and toiletries.

The savings add up. The last thing you want to do is settle for some fleabag motel for $90 because it's late at night and you're tired of driving. That will eat up your budget quick!

 

2. Forget Florida!

I know it's tempting but the last thing your going to want to do after 2 weeks on the road is a 16 roundtrip down the penninsula to a place that requires a week or more to truly enjoy...especially in the summer.

Fly down to florida in october or january when you have nothing to do, prices are the cheapest, weather is the best, and crowds are non-existant.

We were planning on the same thing but after Dollywood heading for the atlantic coast and points north was a MUCH better idea than florida would've been!

 

3.Get a map

It sound obvious but this helped me out a lot. I went to AAA and got a full map of the US and put it on my wall. I took a hi-lighter and marked everthing of interest I could find, even if I didn't think I'd be going there. That made it MUCH easier to just "connect the dots" and find the most efficient route. It saved on backtracking and helped me add things I'd be close too, ect.

Also, you're going with 2 other people. It will help having a large map to go over so you are all on the same page as to what you want to see, scope, driving distances ect. An unhappy person in the back seat can ruin a trip.

 

4. Season passes?

I'm assuming you are probably interested in amusment parks (why else would you be here? ) Having a Six Flags pass, and especially a Cedar Fair (knotts) pass will make it very easy to stop at which ever park you're driving by, SFKK for example, and run in for an hour or so and grab some credits. This saves you time and a ton of cash, and you get to see a lot of new things quickly and easily.

 

I can't wait to join you on the road this summer. We are heading out in May (and again in August) for another month-long coaster trip. This time we're heading out to SLC and up to Yellowstone-Rushmore-Minnesota-Dells-CP-PA- to WV to look at houses. We're sweeping through the south to pick up some park and state credits and going back to CA somehow, haven't decided on the best route yet.

 

Let me know if you have any more questions!

 

-Don "Highway Star" Garrison