US Roadtrip - Your thoughts on this route
Discussion
I am in the process of booking all the hotels now 
(I like to do this so it's something less to worry about once there. Plus, my times are very restricted whilst i'm there!).
I think i'll take your advice and spend one less night in Badlands and move it over to Mt Rushmore/Custer area. This has the added benefit of slightly shorting the time to Rocky Mountain NP/Denver.
Does anyone have advice on a sim card for my iPhone? I need data far more than calls.
(I like to do this so it's something less to worry about once there. Plus, my times are very restricted whilst i'm there!).I think i'll take your advice and spend one less night in Badlands and move it over to Mt Rushmore/Custer area. This has the added benefit of slightly shorting the time to Rocky Mountain NP/Denver.
Does anyone have advice on a sim card for my iPhone? I need data far more than calls.
Are there any places to stay actually at the badlands? When we were there, and admittedly it was probably 15 years ago, there didn't look like much/anything.
Rapid City should be your base for this area, Stay there two nights and do the badlands as you arrive from Sioux falls. the only problem I see with this is if you want to do sunset/rise photography there. Then get up earlish to do mt rushmore in the morning, then crazy horse for lunch and drive around custer SP and the Norbeck scenic byway and needles highway, returning to mt rushmore for sunset and the lighting of the presidents. Then bugger off to Denver the next day. Unless your into bear parks and proper tourist traps that will be plenty of time in this area.
As for sim cards, I'm interested also, never really found a good solution that isn't a pain to keep going for multiple trips or just to set up, not helped by the abundance of free wifi never really leaving us too unconnected. Ok so we have been known to check winter road conditions, book hotels, plan routes sitting outside Mc Donald's. But nowadays even a shopping mall in the ass end of nowhere will likely have free wifi if you realy failed to find Mc Taco or BurgerBucks etc
Another way to do the hotels and what we have done on the last couple of road trips is to have a plan, but book hotels a day or two ahead. Keep an eye on cancelation policies as most will be either 6pm local or T-24, ok so not advance purchase rate, but oftern you can get the same rate with flexibility using your AA card and the AAA rate on our last trip we were all over the place with hotels, sometimes we had three booked for the same period and then just cancelled when our plans firmed up, or we just checked out early from a few places when we got bored of the skiing and decided to go and find better conditions elsewhere.
Rapid City should be your base for this area, Stay there two nights and do the badlands as you arrive from Sioux falls. the only problem I see with this is if you want to do sunset/rise photography there. Then get up earlish to do mt rushmore in the morning, then crazy horse for lunch and drive around custer SP and the Norbeck scenic byway and needles highway, returning to mt rushmore for sunset and the lighting of the presidents. Then bugger off to Denver the next day. Unless your into bear parks and proper tourist traps that will be plenty of time in this area.
As for sim cards, I'm interested also, never really found a good solution that isn't a pain to keep going for multiple trips or just to set up, not helped by the abundance of free wifi never really leaving us too unconnected. Ok so we have been known to check winter road conditions, book hotels, plan routes sitting outside Mc Donald's. But nowadays even a shopping mall in the ass end of nowhere will likely have free wifi if you realy failed to find Mc Taco or BurgerBucks etc
Another way to do the hotels and what we have done on the last couple of road trips is to have a plan, but book hotels a day or two ahead. Keep an eye on cancelation policies as most will be either 6pm local or T-24, ok so not advance purchase rate, but oftern you can get the same rate with flexibility using your AA card and the AAA rate on our last trip we were all over the place with hotels, sometimes we had three booked for the same period and then just cancelled when our plans firmed up, or we just checked out early from a few places when we got bored of the skiing and decided to go and find better conditions elsewhere.
Edited by ViperDave on Sunday 21st April 23:00
I think I might just get a tmobile 30day prepaid sim when I arrive.
Rapid city isn't ideal for badlands for me as I need to be close to allow easy acces at the right times (though it could of course end up raining, it is that time of year it seems!). Therefore I'm staying in the park for one night, then over to keystone (right next to mt Rushmore) the night after. This makes everything easy and means I am close to what I need to be close to.
I am just over half booked up for hotels now, and am going to have to spend the next month or so getti to know areas and where to go. I will be reading all the photographing the southwest books!
I'm going to get some sports tickets sorted too. I'm hoping I can see an nhl (possibly nba) playoff game, but that's very much dependant on how all the teams for where I'm going do! Mlb is always an option though. When I'm in Chicago there's a cubs v white sox game each day. Any thoughts on Memorial Day evening at cellular field vs a 1pm mid week game at wrigley? I find baseball a little dull... But usually enjoy the experience of being in the stadiums seeing these things live.
Rapid city isn't ideal for badlands for me as I need to be close to allow easy acces at the right times (though it could of course end up raining, it is that time of year it seems!). Therefore I'm staying in the park for one night, then over to keystone (right next to mt Rushmore) the night after. This makes everything easy and means I am close to what I need to be close to.
I am just over half booked up for hotels now, and am going to have to spend the next month or so getti to know areas and where to go. I will be reading all the photographing the southwest books!
I'm going to get some sports tickets sorted too. I'm hoping I can see an nhl (possibly nba) playoff game, but that's very much dependant on how all the teams for where I'm going do! Mlb is always an option though. When I'm in Chicago there's a cubs v white sox game each day. Any thoughts on Memorial Day evening at cellular field vs a 1pm mid week game at wrigley? I find baseball a little dull... But usually enjoy the experience of being in the stadiums seeing these things live.
Edited by Matt.. on Sunday 21st April 23:38
Does anyone have any thoughts on where i can stay for 3 nights (prior to flying out)? Ideally south LA area? Also somewhere that's easy to get out of with fun roads near by for the Corvette 
My first thought was San Clemente, but maybe Newport Beach would be better?
I just want a nice town to walk around with a good beach (obviously June is not the time for sunny weather in coastal California, but you never know!). Decent-ish restaurants would be good to.
My first thought was San Clemente, but maybe Newport Beach would be better?
I just want a nice town to walk around with a good beach (obviously June is not the time for sunny weather in coastal California, but you never know!). Decent-ish restaurants would be good to.
I have gone for Laguna Beach.
Are there any fun roads to drive near there? I think i might take a day to go out to Joshua Tree NP too.
The route is looking something like this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=iad&daddr=...
Are there any fun roads to drive near there? I think i might take a day to go out to Joshua Tree NP too.
The route is looking something like this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=iad&daddr=...
I leave for this on Thursday!
The trip is as follows:
1. Washington DC
2. Pittsburgh (NHL playoff game)
3. Indianapolis
4. Indianapolis (Indy 500, NBA playoff game)
5. Chicago
6. Chicago
7. Chicago (MLB game)
8. Sioux Falls
9. Badlands NP
10. Mt Rushmore
11. Rocky Mountain NP (Trail Ridge Road)
12. Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak)
13. Great Sand Dunes NP
14. Ouray (Black Canyon of The Gunnison NP, Million Dollar Highway)
15. Moab (Dead Horse Point SP)
16. Moab (Arches NP)
17. Moab (Canyonlands NP)
18. Monument Valley (Moki Dugway, Gooseneck Bend)
19. Page (Horseshoe Bend)
20. Page (Antelope Canyon)
21. Grand Canyon NP
22. Grand Canyon NP
23. Laguna Beach (pickup Corvette)
24. Laguna Beach
25. Laguna Beach
It's a long way, and a little crazy, but should be fun Just hoping i don't get too much rain in the first few weeks! RMNP looks very snowy still too.
The trip is as follows:
1. Washington DC
2. Pittsburgh (NHL playoff game)
3. Indianapolis
4. Indianapolis (Indy 500, NBA playoff game)
5. Chicago
6. Chicago
7. Chicago (MLB game)
8. Sioux Falls
9. Badlands NP
10. Mt Rushmore
11. Rocky Mountain NP (Trail Ridge Road)
12. Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak)
13. Great Sand Dunes NP
14. Ouray (Black Canyon of The Gunnison NP, Million Dollar Highway)
15. Moab (Dead Horse Point SP)
16. Moab (Arches NP)
17. Moab (Canyonlands NP)
18. Monument Valley (Moki Dugway, Gooseneck Bend)
19. Page (Horseshoe Bend)
20. Page (Antelope Canyon)
21. Grand Canyon NP
22. Grand Canyon NP
23. Laguna Beach (pickup Corvette)
24. Laguna Beach
25. Laguna Beach
It's a long way, and a little crazy, but should be fun
Just hoping i don't get too much rain in the first few weeks! RMNP looks very snowy still too.Matt.. said:
I leave for this on Thursday!
RMNP looks very snowy still too.
Trail ridge road is scheduled to open may 24th so barring a big storm/avalanche you should be good. Even when its open in the early season there will still be 10ft of snow piled up at the side of the road at the pass.RMNP looks very snowy still too.
you can check conditions here
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status....
Have fun
ViperDave said:
Trail ridge road is scheduled to open may 24th so barring a big storm/avalanche you should be good. Even when its open in the early season there will still be 10ft of snow piled up at the side of the road at the pass.
you can check conditions here
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status....
Have fun
you can check conditions here
http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status....
Have fun
That's the road yesterday... Hopefully it will be ok when i get there
I've just done the double in Indianapolis. Indy 500, then NBA conference final (the Heat destroyed the Pacers!). A fun day, though not so fun was driving back in the dark with lots of rain! That's not fun with badly lit roads with poor road markings! Especially when the roads are 5+ lanes!
I am starting to post a few snapshots on Instagram if anyone wants to look. Obviously there will be proper photos later, but it's fun to do this too!
http://www.instagram.com/h_matt_
A random point... Penguins (NHL) fans create an amazing atmosphere that i will remember for a long time. The Pacers fans do not!
I've got a Dodge Charger rental, and the challenge with it is getting 30mpg+. It's achievable, but i'm wondering whether i should get it swapped for something a little less thirsty!
I am starting to post a few snapshots on Instagram if anyone wants to look. Obviously there will be proper photos later, but it's fun to do this too!
http://www.instagram.com/h_matt_
A random point... Penguins (NHL) fans create an amazing atmosphere that i will remember for a long time. The Pacers fans do not!
I've got a Dodge Charger rental, and the challenge with it is getting 30mpg+. It's achievable, but i'm wondering whether i should get it swapped for something a little less thirsty!
Edited by Matt.. on Monday 27th May 05:33
I know what you mean with wet American roads in the dark.
Keep the charger, don't forget the US Gallon is 4/5 the size of the UK one. so that 30mpg is more like 36 mpg uk and I doubt you will get anything better unless you want to drive a Prius around, and I know you don't want to do that end of the day as much as the merkins complain about the high gas price, its still very cheap.
Looks as if trail ridge road is being closed overnight due to icy conditions from snow melt, which implies its open in the daytime. NPS haven't updated their status page but COTRIP has the details
http://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htm
Keep the charger, don't forget the US Gallon is 4/5 the size of the UK one. so that 30mpg is more like 36 mpg uk and I doubt you will get anything better unless you want to drive a Prius around, and I know you don't want to do that
end of the day as much as the merkins complain about the high gas price, its still very cheap.Looks as if trail ridge road is being closed overnight due to icy conditions from snow melt, which implies its open in the daytime. NPS haven't updated their status page but COTRIP has the details
http://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htm
Edited by ViperDave on Monday 27th May 07:33
My stay in Chicago is up. I am off to South Dakota in the morning (though weather.com suggests it might not be nice weather for the drive!).
I will be posting properly in the future (though you can check my Instagram for pics... linked too above). However, one random point about Chicago... The John Hancock Observatory is so much better than the vastly more popular Willis/Sears Tower Skydeck. It's not even close. I spent about 15mins at the Skydeck, but many hours and two visits to John Hancock. John Hancock has the best views, far less crowds, no queues, no bag search/aiport style security, and they dont care if you spend hours there sat at the window with a chair moved from the cafe I did also happen to spend two hours there last night during a huge lightning storm... that really was amazing (once all the school kids had stopped screaming!).
I will be posting properly in the future (though you can check my Instagram for pics... linked too above). However, one random point about Chicago... The John Hancock Observatory is so much better than the vastly more popular Willis/Sears Tower Skydeck. It's not even close. I spent about 15mins at the Skydeck, but many hours and two visits to John Hancock. John Hancock has the best views, far less crowds, no queues, no bag search/aiport style security, and they dont care if you spend hours there sat at the window with a chair moved from the cafe
I did also happen to spend two hours there last night during a huge lightning storm... that really was amazing (once all the school kids had stopped screaming!).
There will be proper photos when I get back, and maybe even a video. Instagram is for the snapshots, and to let people know where I am (I am ignoring most comms like email and Facebook!). I quite like Instagram though! I've tried to resist it before this trip
I am on my way to Colorado Springs right now, and should be going up Pikes Peak in the morning.
My rental had less than 350 miles on it when I picked it up. Now 12 days later I'm about to have added 3,000 miles to that!
Although driving in the US is really easy (especially with a sat nav with lane data), there is one thing that becomes very annoying. Tailgating! It seems that everyone in the US does this.
I am on my way to Colorado Springs right now, and should be going up Pikes Peak in the morning.
My rental had less than 350 miles on it when I picked it up. Now 12 days later I'm about to have added 3,000 miles to that!
Although driving in the US is really easy (especially with a sat nav with lane data), there is one thing that becomes very annoying. Tailgating! It seems that everyone in the US does this.
Edited by Matt.. on Tuesday 4th June 01:50
Matt.. said:
Although driving in the US is really easy (especially with a sat nav with lane data), there is one thing that becomes very annoying. Tailgating! It seems that everyone in the US does this.
I only commented this morning that Americans are either good drivers with great spatial awareness and know where the corners of their cars are, or very lucky, this was after another minivan put its flasher on and slotted into a gap in front of me barely big enough for said minivan. This is not an unusual occurrence I have found and I know which of the options above I think it is lol.Edited by Matt.. on Tuesday 4th June 01:50
Never found things to be too bad on the big open roads of the west though, just avoid 1) salt lake city, (god on their shoulder, keeping them from certain death) 2) I80 from the Oakland bridge to Sacramento (just too busy), and in the east, I4 from Tampa to Orlando (old folks doing 65 in all 4 lanes)
It's only really a problem near the cities, everywhere else there's not so much traffic 
Yes, they seem to be able to slot into any gap, and cope well with all lanes basically doing what they like (and not overtaking lanes so much). They also drive a lot slower than we do. I'm glad my sat nav tells me speed limits though, as they're not always very obvious!
I do prefer the roads in the US than back home though!
Anyway, enough about that
Pikes Peak in the morning, then on to Great Sand Dunes NP.
Yes, they seem to be able to slot into any gap, and cope well with all lanes basically doing what they like (and not overtaking lanes so much). They also drive a lot slower than we do. I'm glad my sat nav tells me speed limits though, as they're not always very obvious!
I do prefer the roads in the US than back home though!
Anyway, enough about that
Pikes Peak in the morning, then on to Great Sand Dunes NP.
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