USA Road trip !! Any sugesstions?

[6BMW]

Ok a childhood dream is finally materialising - a USA roadtrip!

A mate and I are off to the US next month for 13 days. We arrive in NYC and have a Chrysler 300c 5.7 Hemi at our disposal courtesy of Dollar Rent a Car.

We will be driving up to Pennsylvania to go and meet me mates sister and also thought about driving to Ohio and Washington DC.

Any other suggestions? Didn't realise that the USA is so bloody massive - NYC to Florida is like 1300 miles!

Any tips of do's and don'ts? All advice appreciated.

[fatboy b]

Make sure you tell the rental people you're going out of State. Some need to know for some reason (insurance I think). It's not a problem, just so long as they know.

ETA - if you're going to Ohio - drop by the Dayton air force museum. Worth a look.

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 30th July 12:24

[Mutley]

Dependent where you are planning to end your trip, depends on what you can fit in. But it doesn't take long to drive Intersate. Just remember to keep money to hand for tolls.

If you're going to Ohio, could you stretch the trip upto Chicago? Is a lovely city with a small town feel. Go to a baseball game of in the evening a Jazz/Blues clubs. Or on a more southern tack, via Indianapolis and the Mueseum at the Speedway?

Best thing, work out what you want to do, then see if it fits in with the time frame

Edited by Mutley on Friday 30th July 12:47

[F i F]

Any USA road trip I've done, the part which has been enjoyed the most is, almost without fail, when we've left the Interstate and gone onto 'normal' roads and eaten in non chain places overenighting as far as possible in non chain hotels / motels.

[Nickyboy]

If you're heading thru PA then visit Centralia, home of the 40 year underground fire.

[5potTurbo]

If you're going for 13 days, perhaps Ohio and Chicago aren't the best things to try and see, unless you want to spend the majority of your time behind the wheel, driving?
It's easier to go to the local, domestic flights only, airports and jump on a plane.

You do have plenty of time to drive up from Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls, then back to NYC via Boston. (I drove from Niagara to NYC - not via Boston - in about 7 hours last Monday)

Enjoy!

Oh, and the tip about telling the rental company about out of state use is very important!

[Elroy Blue]

Definitely recommend a baseball or football game. The atmosphere is amazing (the actual game is almost secondary). Fantastic experience...and make sure you get a big foam finger

[Original Poster]

Elroy Blue said:

Definitely recommend a baseball or football game. The atmosphere is amazing (the actual game is almost secondary). Fantastic experience...and make sure you get a big foam finger

As above I watched the San Francisco baseball team several years, ago, incredible atmosphere!

[illmonkey]

Nickyboy said:

If you're heading thru PA then visit Centralia, home of the 40 year underground fire.

Woah. Crazy, just read up on this, fascinating.

[6BMW]

for the tips all

We'll be doing NYC - Pennsylvania - Washington DC - New Jersey - Buffalo - NYC

If anyone knows of any scenic routes along these rather than bog standard highways then please do shout

[joe20vt]

Atlantic City may be worth swinging by of you want the mini Veagas experiance.

[6BMW]

yep thats what i meant by New Jersey - Atlantic City...

[louiebaby]

Have a read of Dave Gorman's book "America Unchained" for some ideas of how to not become a corporate we out there. (It's not a lot of good for ideas near where you're headed though.)

I just got back from a road trip around the USA, if you're going in the Autumn, think about where the best place to see scenery will be. (Upstate NY or Vermont maybe?)

The American Football season will be starting soon, I'd love to go to one of their games. The college games might be more cost effective than the NFL though.

[Don]

6BMW said:

Ok a childhood dream is finally materialising - a USA roadtrip!

A mate and I are off to the US next month for 13 days. We arrive in NYC and have a Chrysler 300c 5.7 Hemi at our disposal courtesy of Dollar Rent a Car.

We will be driving up to Pennsylvania to go and meet me mates sister and also thought about driving to Ohio and Washington DC.

Any other suggestions? Didn't realise that the USA is so bloody massive - NYC to Florida is like 1300 miles!

Any tips of do's and don'ts? All advice appreciated.

Do have a good time. Don't actually drive too far. America's motorways are the same as anyone else's there's nothing to see. Plan on covering less ground and actually stopping to see things. You'll find getting between the things you want to see pretty fascinating in and of itself - particularly if you don't use too many of the freeways.

And DON'T commit traffic violations. You can plead ignorance but it won't wash and if you ever, EVER want to visit the States again you'll pay up any fines you incur. So just don't.

Consider getting Sat Nav. I've heard people just buy one on the first day since they're so cheap these days. Or you can actually order them on the web with North American maps...