Discussion
Guessing there are a few people on here who have done this before.
Basically we're going out to Rhode island to see some family in june, and want to take 10-14 days to try see as much as possible, how far do you think we could get in 5-7 days in one direction then obviously back to RI. There will be 2 drivers and car choice at the minute is either a Camaro SS or GT500.
Any recommendations on routes, places to stop (not looking for any luxury, it will be me and my dad) and things to see, anything you can add that might help!
Kyle
Basically we're going out to Rhode island to see some family in june, and want to take 10-14 days to try see as much as possible, how far do you think we could get in 5-7 days in one direction then obviously back to RI. There will be 2 drivers and car choice at the minute is either a Camaro SS or GT500.
Any recommendations on routes, places to stop (not looking for any luxury, it will be me and my dad) and things to see, anything you can add that might help!
Kyle
You ought to consider the distances involved. Probably be better to fly to Chicago or St Louis as a starting point and do the drive from there. From Rhode Island to the start of 66 in Chicago is roughly a thousand miles. From there, if you actually want to see Route 66 you're on 2 lane roads so progress will be slow.
Driving down historic 66 through Illinois can be very boring. It's flat, major cities are hundreds of miles apart and you're going to be looking at where soybeans and corn comes from for quite some time.
The drive itself can easily be done, while enjoying yourself, in a week. Trouble is, once you've reached California you're now about 3,000 miles from Rhode Island.
Suggest fly to Chicago or LA, rent a car one-way and then fly back to the UK from either LA or Chicago.
Driving down historic 66 through Illinois can be very boring. It's flat, major cities are hundreds of miles apart and you're going to be looking at where soybeans and corn comes from for quite some time.
The drive itself can easily be done, while enjoying yourself, in a week. Trouble is, once you've reached California you're now about 3,000 miles from Rhode Island.
Suggest fly to Chicago or LA, rent a car one-way and then fly back to the UK from either LA or Chicago.
I've done R66 (well it's mostly I40 now) from Tulsa then all the way to Las Vegas (with a few detours to Rosswell etc). It's proper boring driving for the most part. There's a few places that happen to be on R66 that are worth seeing (Williams for one) but that's out of range from the far east unless you drive all day every day.
Also, there are long long stretches with few places to fuel these days. Your choice of cars, whilst very petrol head like may do you no favours for range. That and the rather strict enforcement of speed limits everywhere. Our friends in Tulsa drive to Dallas every so often and little towns like Okmulgee have Police that will stop you 1-2 MPH over. None of that 10% stuff we have over here!
As Captain says a one way trip is best. I'd say LA is pushing it unless you want to put in a few VERY long driving days, or not see much.
Also, there are long long stretches with few places to fuel these days. Your choice of cars, whilst very petrol head like may do you no favours for range. That and the rather strict enforcement of speed limits everywhere. Our friends in Tulsa drive to Dallas every so often and little towns like Okmulgee have Police that will stop you 1-2 MPH over. None of that 10% stuff we have over here!
As Captain says a one way trip is best. I'd say LA is pushing it unless you want to put in a few VERY long driving days, or not see much.
Thanks for the replies, is there anything else you'd recommend over it places to go etc Route 66 was just a thought its my dads birthday and he just wanted to do something a bit different.
What about heading into Texas?
Don't have to use the full 10-14 days driving, just want some nice open roads!
Kyle
What about heading into Texas?
Don't have to use the full 10-14 days driving, just want some nice open roads!
Kyle
You can cover quite a bit of ground in the USA in a day. Me and a mate drove from the east coast of Florida, through Texas, to California and back to NW Kansas in 2.5 weeks which was 7500 miles without going hard.
It very much depends on what you want to do. Do you just crack on and cover the miles, stopping a long the way for a quick squizz at the odd tourist trap or do you do less miles and have a really good look. The place is vast and there is loads to see that you never hear about away from the normal touristy stuff.
I have driven over 700 miles in a day in the US in a lorry pulling an over sized load
It very much depends on what you want to do. Do you just crack on and cover the miles, stopping a long the way for a quick squizz at the odd tourist trap or do you do less miles and have a really good look. The place is vast and there is loads to see that you never hear about away from the normal touristy stuff.
I have driven over 700 miles in a day in the US in a lorry pulling an over sized load
kylelord said:
Thanks for the replies, is there anything else you'd recommend over it places to go etc Route 66 was just a thought its my dads birthday and he just wanted to do something a bit different.
What about heading into Texas?
Don't have to use the full 10-14 days driving, just want some nice open roads!
Texas is boring. Avoid.What about heading into Texas?
Don't have to use the full 10-14 days driving, just want some nice open roads!
As a suggestion, get a flight to Charlotte and get yourself up into the Appalachians. Roads will be empty, and head for Deals Gap. All the roads in that area are hugely good fun. If you need more info drop me a line.
The problem with 'nice open roads' is that they are generally 'nice boring open roads', and try any speed and you'll be meeting plenty of cops. Deals Gap, and the Appalachians are good fun, and twisty.
Plus you can see the tourist trap that is Gatlinburg. (With THE MOST EXPENSIVE petrol in North America).
Rhode Island is a reasonable place to start from to see a good bit of New England, and might be worth looking into. Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are close, so are Boston and New York if you fancied it. The White Mountains and areas around Lake Winnipesaukee aren't far either, and if you want real wilderness, head to Northern Maine.
I mention this because we did 10 days in New England as part of our honeymoon a couple of years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This might make sense, without doing epic miles, you'll never see all of America in two weeks. Why not cover a really beautiful area well, and next time try California and Nevada, for something completely different. (Which we did a couple of months ago.)
I mention this because we did 10 days in New England as part of our honeymoon a couple of years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This might make sense, without doing epic miles, you'll never see all of America in two weeks. Why not cover a really beautiful area well, and next time try California and Nevada, for something completely different. (Which we did a couple of months ago.)
louiebaby said:
Rhode Island is a reasonable place to start from to see a good bit of New England, and might be worth looking into. Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are close, so are Boston and New York if you fancied it. The White Mountains and areas around Lake Winnipesaukee aren't far either, and if you want real wilderness, head to Northern Maine.
I mention this because we did 10 days in New England as part of our honeymoon a couple of years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This might make sense, without doing epic miles, you'll never see all of America in two weeks. Why not cover a really beautiful area well, and next time try California and Nevada, for something completely different. (Which we did a couple of months ago.)
+1, those are good tourist spot suggestions, if you just want to drive I'm sure there are plenty of good roads through the numerous State Parks in those states.I mention this because we did 10 days in New England as part of our honeymoon a couple of years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This might make sense, without doing epic miles, you'll never see all of America in two weeks. Why not cover a really beautiful area well, and next time try California and Nevada, for something completely different. (Which we did a couple of months ago.)
IMHO combining R66 and Rhode Island in a single trip is a bit like trying to pop across to Vladivostok on a trip to Moscow, leave it for another time when you can do it justice, the exception being if you can firstly fly to the west coast and pick whatever car you are using up there in which case it becomes far more doable.
As others have already stated, route 66 can be very tedious. I drove for 12 hours on it in one day (6 to the destination and 6 back), and apart from an interesting run-in with heavily armed hillbillies (think hills have eyes without the massacre) I was bored witless for the majority of the journey. Plenty of other interesting places to see and things to do.
The interstate is boring and best avoid it. But you can make it more interesting following the old road. That in parts runs out, as others have said do it one way.
Or drive up the Pacific coast fly into San Fran... Cool city, Alcatraz etc and make your way down to LA then onto San Diego, then back to LA and fly back out of San Fran (internal flights are cheap)
Or drive up the Pacific coast fly into San Fran... Cool city, Alcatraz etc and make your way down to LA then onto San Diego, then back to LA and fly back out of San Fran (internal flights are cheap)
My suggestion.
North up the Hudson and Mohawk and head for Niagara. Very tourist but well worth the visit.
Across Ontario and head up through Michigan which is very pretty and North Penisnula is nice once you are over the Macinac bridge. You can even get a cornish pasty in Marinette
Then you can head for Duluth and a return trip on the Trans Canada highway and then through Ottowa then Maine
About 3000 miles
You should check if there is a mileage limit on your hire car
North up the Hudson and Mohawk and head for Niagara. Very tourist but well worth the visit.
Across Ontario and head up through Michigan which is very pretty and North Penisnula is nice once you are over the Macinac bridge. You can even get a cornish pasty in Marinette
Then you can head for Duluth and a return trip on the Trans Canada highway and then through Ottowa then Maine
About 3000 miles
You should check if there is a mileage limit on your hire car
Edited by ant leigh on Sunday 30th December 22:54
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