Cross-country drive, NC to CA

Dunn

Dunn

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A friend of mine is moving to Cali and I'm making the cross-country drive with her. I'm very excited as I've always wanted to do this. While I will be using this opportunity to take lots of photos, I'm mainly looking for advice of interesting routes to take or areas to visit.
We will have 2 weeks to reach Santa Clara. So, we can't just go wherever we want, but we have a little wiggle room to stop and explore a few places. Any suggestions for scenic routes to take instead of major highways? Any hidden gems along the way? How about food? Can't forget about great food to eat along the way. I'm particularly interested in the western part of the country.

Here is a rough outline of the route we are planning on taking, but it its definitely open to alterations: Google map
We will definitely be stopping in New Orleans and Austin and at the Grand Canyon.
Thanks guys!
 
If you're going to the Grand Canyon, take a side trip to Winslow, AZ and visit the Meteor Crater.
 
Definitely southern Utah over northern Utah. That was a boring drive.
 

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If you're not married to the southern route, you might want to consider US 64 / Interstate 40 (your choice) to Oklahoma City and then catch the remnants of Route 66 across to California. Oh, and you can throw in a side trip to Roswell and send us a report. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Rocky+Mt,+NC/Santa+Clara,+CA/@35.4745606,-97.2946019,11z/data=!4m74!4m73!1m65!1m1!1s0x89ae811263dedc7d:0xf09baabb349601c7!2m2!1d-77.7905339!2d35.9382103!3m4!1m2!1d-79.6524725!2d35.7395244!3s0x885341528dc83d51:0x6e326de5715fe61b!3m4!1m2!1d-81.5145417!2d35.9065236!3s0x8851209d783c43a5:0xc338f93be23b95f2!3m4!1m2!1d-81.9483092!2d35.4153387!3s0x885746852a1197bb:0x331c319ac4d8ac87!3m4!1m2!1d-82.2551372!2d35.4556595!3s0x8859e2fb8b0461c9:0x7d5d33f7149cf39d!3m4!1m2!1d-82.5928733!2d35.3100414!3s0x8859bfba3eadd005:0xcae6f20896e84b65!3m4!1m2!1d-82.8144741!2d35.1425393!3s0x8859af2e6833025d:0xbcb2b45e9730a52e!3m4!1m2!1d-83.112932!2d35.1419239!3s0x88591b057b0a0fff:0x6d0fe772d4370d53!3m4!1m2!1d-86.3818842!2d35.0749637!3s0x88622dd3786927c1:0x436c6669ccd9f70c!3m4!1m2!1d-86.973912!2d35.183628!3s0x886301fb734e32eb:0xc23b500061cf2ff4!3m4!1m2!1d-90.53478!2d35.2690399!3s0x87d5abdaa05df5db:0xb1c2a92738b9cd77!3m4!1m2!1d-90.8519919!2d35.2557969!3s0x87d45ee12cb6a0a7:0xadf590f8ae7f5d5b!3m4!1m2!1d-91.1732993!2d35.2697423!3s0x87d47ee1e7702a8b:0x13a049fd2f4e1dff!1m5!1m1!1s0x808fb7815c08c193:0xe475a47ca3c0bfc0!2m2!1d-121.9552356!2d37.3541079!3e0
 
Sedona is beautiful and is on your way given that you'll have to hit the I-40 from the Grand Canyon. Also, Google map takes you from I-40 to Bakersfield on your way to Santa Clara. Other than police making drug busts there's not much to see in Bakersfield. If you head south on the I-15 from the I-40, consider taking it all the way to the westbound I-10 and take it all the way to the ocean in Santa Monica and its pier, the western terminus of Route 66. Then you can make your way up the coast.
 
I've actually been thinking about the exact same idea...was about to do it next summer, but I don't think I'll have the time for something like this.

Still on the agenda, though. Anyways, good luck with the trip. Don't forget to post photos here :D
 
When ?

I suggest from Grand Canyon -> Vegas -> Death Valley -> Mono Lake -> Yosemite -> Santa Clara. That is, if the Yosemite pass is open. If the pass is closed you can enter Yosemite park from the south (Fresno) and skip Mono Lake.

Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the country.

I like south Utah, too, but if you have never been to Death Valley, it's really stunning.

You can see San Simeon / PCH from Santa Clara on a day trip, another time.

Roland.
 
I've forgotten how many times I've driven coast-to-coast or east coast to Albuquerque, NM.
This trip could be a great one but you need to consider the season. From now until March, much of the country north of I-40 (and including some of that interstate) will be quite snowy and even in the desert the roads get closed very regularly.

Also remember that taking a southern route then heading north to see something like the Grand Canyon is quite a detour. Yes, you'll have the time to do it but there is the expense too. Just remember that the west is huge. A detour from I-40 to Roswell, for exapmle is a round trip of almost five hours.

If you do happen to stop in Albuquerque, eat at Padilla's Mexican Kitchen and maybe at The Frontier. If you hit Santa Fe, go to the Santa Fe Bite (same owners of the old Bobcat Bite but in a new location) for possibly the best burger you'll ever have.

Enjoy your trip and the big skies!

Phil Forrest
 
Another vote for southern Utah (stunning!), Carlsbad Caverns, and Meteor Crater.

I have no idea if you're into this sort of thing, but in the off-chance you feel like taking a look, the outdoor rocket & missile display at White Sands, NM is definitely worth a couple of hours.

Sounds like a great trip!
Scott
 
Thanks for the suggestions! Definitely some good looking stuff that I didn't know about. I just wish I had time to see it all. It's going to be tough choosing.
kevin m said:
If you can, I recommend southern Utah. I recently drove cross-country myself, and Utah was shockingly beautiful, even from I-15. I'm planning a march trip to highway 12 in March based on just passing through in Sep, that's how beautiful it is. :)

http://www.utah.com/byways/highway_12.htm
Click to expand...
I don't think we'll make southern Utah, but I have heard great things. Maybe on the next trip!

madNbad said:
If you're going to the Grand Canyon, take a side trip to Winslow, AZ and visit the Meteor Crater.
Click to expand...
Great suggestion! Thanks!

kxl said:
Sedona is beautiful and is on your way given that you'll have to hit the I-40 from the Grand Canyon. Also, Google map takes you from I-40 to Bakersfield on your way to Santa Clara. Other than police making drug busts there's not much to see in Bakersfield. If you head south on the I-15 from the I-40, consider taking it all the way to the westbound I-10 and take it all the way to the ocean in Santa Monica and its pier, the western terminus of Route 66. Then you can make your way up the coast.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip! We'll probably alter that. Boring cities are the worst.

AlwaysOnAuto said:
Only comment I have is this, I'd add the Carlsbad Caverns to the list.
What time of year are you going?
Click to expand...
We're leaving the day after Christmas to maximize time. My friend has to start work January 12th.

Phil_F_NM said:
I've forgotten how many times I've driven coast-to-coast or east coast to Albuquerque, NM.
This trip could be a great one but you need to consider the season. From now until March, much of the country north of I-40 (and including some of that interstate) will be quite snowy and even in the desert the roads get closed very regularly.

Also remember that taking a southern route then heading north to see something like the Grand Canyon is quite a detour. Yes, you'll have the time to do it but there is the expense too. Just remember that the west is huge. A detour from I-40 to Roswell, for exapmle is a round trip of almost five hours.

If you do happen to stop in Albuquerque, eat at Padilla's Mexican Kitchen and maybe at The Frontier. If you hit Santa Fe, go to the Santa Fe Bite (same owners of the old Bobcat Bite but in a new location) for possibly the best burger you'll ever have.

Enjoy your trip and the big skies!

Phil Forrest
Click to expand...
Thanks, Phil! Yeah, looking at a map is misleading at how close things are. I try to keep reminding myself of this. But, I have to see the grand canyon. And we're not too worried about expense since her new employer is paying for her travel and accommodation so we really just have to buy food. So, kudos for the food suggestions. Can't pass up some good grub.

Anymore suggestions? Places to eat?
 
I'd use the Interstate system to get you from one point of interest to the next if you want to maximize time spent on site.
Will you be in a car that can take advantage of the speed limits afforded out west?
 
If you haven't driven through the west before, distances are decieving. The trip from the south rim of the Grand Canyon to Winslow is the better part of a full days driving. Once you cross the Mississippi and move into the "wide open spaces" you'll figure it out quickly. Good luck with your trip. My wife and I just finished one to the east coast returning to the Pacific Northwest, five weeks, eighty one hundred miles.
 
If you're planning on stopping in Las Vegas (always a great one day stop) dinner on the patio at Paris, watching the water show at Bellagio as you dine, is worth the stop. Try to make reservations before you arrive.
 

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