How long cross country road trip

The US is a huge country, which means that the weather can vary considerably and in all seasons. On the other hand, heavy summer rains can make driving along the Gulf Coast treacherous, while spring snow can fall as far south as Denver. The off-peak seasons of spring and fall tend to be the best times to drive, providing mild temperatures and perfect weather for both sight-seeing and cruising. However, to avoid pitfalls, check the weather daily during your cross-country road trip.

Although the USA is the birthplace of the smartphone, its mobile networks can leave something to be desired, particularly in the deserts of the Southwest. The most famous stretch of road in the United States is Route 66 , and while the highway is now defunct, you can still drive portions of the proverbial Mother Road. Driving between landmarks of the route, including London Bridge yes, the original London Bridge! Another advantage of using Route 66 as a primer for your cross-country road trip is all the bucket-list attractions that sit in close proximity to it, including the Grand Canyon, White Sands National Monument, and the St.

Louis Arch, to name just a few. The most basic variant of this itinerary would see you drive between Seattle and New York or vice-versa, sticking mostly to interstate highways as you visit cities like Minneapolis and natural wonders such as the Great Lakes.

You can make a counter-clockwise loop that takes you south to Savannah or even Miami! Whatever route and time-frame you opt for, driving cross country promises to be an unforgettable adventure on the road.

Depending on your route, the coast-to-coast drive across America ranges in distance from approximately 2, to 3, miles. If you're prepared to clock eight-plus hours behind the wheel per day, the shortest route should takes four days and the longest six. Hugging the northern end of the United States takes the longest of any of the cross-country routes.

Not only is this is the widest point of the country, but your driving route must steer under the Great Lakes. If you start at Houlton, Maine, at the border with New Brunswick, Canada, with Pacific Beach State Park in Washington state as your final destination, the trip is just over 3, miles and clocks in at 51 hours. Breaking it down into six driving days of a little over eight hours each, you should plan for five nightly stops before reaching the Pacific.

With few large cities along the middle portion of this route, traffic congestion is rarely a concern. Places where you might want to spend more time at along the way include Lake Erie and Chicago, home of world-class museums and gleaming skyscrapers. Click here for all 1,! Want even more travel tips? Sign up here for the Daily Travel Tip newsletter!

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First trip was I and it took us about 6 days driving rental van. The second time we took I in a car two adults and a child — what an adventure! Winslow, AZ, Grand Canyon. If you have any thoughts on that — would love to hear them! We just drove from Tucson, AZ to St. We have been isolating at home since March and are in a risk group due to our age. After significant research we decided that driving was safer than flying for us. We packed a cooler with all the food we needed for breakfast and lunches, stopping only for gas and to sleep, and got carry out for dinner.

We did not use any public restrooms along the way. Since it was getting close to 6pm, I paid in advance to guarantee our room for late arrival. Although we have stayed at many nice Hampton Inns previously, this one was certainly substandard and NOT cleaned thoroughly. The outside doors and elevator were positively grimy. The bathroom floor had hair on it. Fortunately, we brought our own pillows. In spite of prepaying for the night, I wish we had left and found an alternative.

Although they stated masks were mandatory at the front door, many people probably construction worker staying there were coming and going through the side door and elevators without masks. My point in relaying this information is twofold:. I have voiced my concerns directly to Hilton about our stay.

I took a road trip with my two boys when they were 8 and 11 around We used the whole summer plus some extra days The total distance was 14, miles as we boxed the United States visiting 40 plus states and many National Parks.

No reservations were made and many deviations were made. It was a great learning experience for them and they have repeated the trip with there own families. The boys kept log books and map details as it was a life changing experience. Choose from lists of the best coastal drives, cross-country journeys, trips for kids, awe-inspiring views, and more. This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike.

From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.