Aussie Need's Help with USA trip!!!

[Mickey_079]

Hey,

 

Myself and 3 other friends are planning a trip to the US of Awesome and just need some help or a few hints.

 

We plan to stay at Anaheim for a week, then Vegas for 3 nights and then head over to Orlando. We wanted to road trip cross country rather than fly just so we can experience a bit of the country and not just major tourist attractions.

 

My question/s are:

 

How long would the trip take roughly if you take Route I-40 (to stop in at Memphis)?

 

Is the drive hard, hazardous, easy, road conditions, easy for an Aussie to navigate on?

 

Would you actually recommend this for 3 people who have never visited the state's before (I've been before but uh I still wouldn't know my way around).

 

I just basically need some advice and tips on travelling across the country, even tips on locations to visit would be recommended (obvious parks already covered).

 

I would REALLY appreciate it!! THANKS!!!

[downunder]

I did from Miami to Los Angeles on a Trek America tour years ago and there is a lot of things against driving. There is a lot of dead space going through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (I didn't check where that road you mentioned goes though).

 

The best stuff in the southern United States IMO are in the corners sort of. On the west I liked San Diego, San Fran, Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon & Monument Valley. In the east - New Orleans, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and Florida Keys (I can't comment on Nashville or Memphis).

 

Personally I'd do a loop on the west coast starting in Los Angeles, then go over to the east coast and do a loop starting in Orlando. Just my opinion.

[timfreeman]

While there are many things to see, not sure you'd accomplish much going across I-40 as none of them are there. There aren't many big must-dos on that route. Add to it that Las Vegas to Memphis is a good 24 hour drive (not counting stops, sleep, etc), and Memphis to Orlando is another 14 hours, you'd be better off flying to Memphis if it was a must stop on your trip, then flying to Orlando. It shouldn't add much to the cost, both are major hubs for airports.

[Mickey_079]

Thanks for you help.

 

You gave me EXACTLY what I wanted and needed to know. I've already been to Memphis (flew in for a day to see Gracelands then flew out). It isn't a major stop, my girlfriend just wanted to see it if it was on the way.

 

Unfortunatly I can't do the trip back to the other side as we are going north and stopping off at Washington DC, NYC and then to Canada to go boarding and see Niagra Falls.

 

We actually wanna see a fair bit on the east coast, as mentioned places like Grand Canyon, San Fran, Vegas and also head into Tijuana for a day, it's been about 12 years since I've been in Mexico... cheap Corona's!! Back in 2008 we caught buses, but didn't visit as many places, so would bus be the way to go or would driving be better? The let down with the bus was we couldn't stay as long at SFMM and Knott's at night.