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Driving to California
Arethusa
Universal Cathode
in Zocalo v2.0
Damnit, I meant to get this thread up earlier.
On Monday, I'm leaving home and heading out West. I'm leaving from Connecticut (moving back to California after some time away, really) and heading to Fountain Valley; I know someone there who's offered to let me stay with her until I can find a room mate and a job. Once I do that, need to figure out what I'm doing with school (community college for a bit, then a transfer in the UC system is the plan).
As for the actual drive, I really have no idea what I'm doing. I've been looking over mapquest and google earth to try and plan for the last few days, and while I have some rough ideas, I'm sure there are routes to take and routes to avoid that I know nothing about. Definitely don't have money (perhaps you have gathered this from the community college), but I wouldn't mind stopping at less touristy places. In terms of actually, say, sleeping, I'm mainly planning on finding safeish places to park and sleeping in my car. It's not what I'd prefer, but it's cheap.
This is possibly insaneAny tips for driving over? Anything I should go out of my way to see? I've never done this before, any advice, general or otherwise, would be appreciated.
On Monday, I'm leaving home and heading out West. I'm leaving from Connecticut (moving back to California after some time away, really) and heading to Fountain Valley; I know someone there who's offered to let me stay with her until I can find a room mate and a job. Once I do that, need to figure out what I'm doing with school (community college for a bit, then a transfer in the UC system is the plan).
As for the actual drive, I really have no idea what I'm doing. I've been looking over mapquest and google earth to try and plan for the last few days, and while I have some rough ideas, I'm sure there are routes to take and routes to avoid that I know nothing about. Definitely don't have money (perhaps you have gathered this from the community college), but I wouldn't mind stopping at less touristy places. In terms of actually, say, sleeping, I'm mainly planning on finding safeish places to park and sleeping in my car. It's not what I'd prefer, but it's cheap.
This is possibly insaneAny tips for driving over? Anything I should go out of my way to see? I've never done this before, any advice, general or otherwise, would be appreciated.
Comments
As far as things to do along the way, well, in Dayton, there is the Air Force Musem which is pretty damn cool. Indy of course has the speedway if you are into racing. Not much else from Indy to St. Louis, which is where I'm at. Then its pretty much dead until LA, except the Grand Canyon.
Jake
From there, depending on your target, drop south more or go west.
West, just stay on I80 until California. It comes in near San Francisco.
South, then west, drop south on I76, then I71, to I70 and stay on I70 to Utah. In Utah, switch to I15 to head down to the Los Angeles area.
If you're going to northern CA, take I80 and switch to I5 around Sacramento. No direct route for that area.
I've been on parts of I70 in the southwest. It's ordinary, no cars, middle of nowhere, "last gas for 100 miles" signs, and such. I recommend picking up a small tank of gas to carry in your car for some of the more deserted areas. No good to run out of gas and have to walk 50 miles to get some. Also, keep a jug of water when in the southwest - easy to get dehydrated there.
Interstates are interstates. You want to avoid construction and tolls when possible, but that's not entirely able to be done. I don't know where to get that info besides just watch maps.
If you subscribe to the lobbying organization AAA, you can get maps from there for free. If not, I highly recommend you get maps for every state you're going to travel through from another source (such as freind with AAA membership).
If you want check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium couldn't recommend a better place to see the fishies!
If you're well south, go east-west through Texas. There is a section that suddenly "drops" on the main interstate. Nothing like that elsewhere. Not sure exactly where that is though.
I know you're not sightseeing as such, but there are a lot of neat places to check out in terms of national parks on the way in the southwest and California:
Bryce Canyon
Choco Canyon
Zion Canyon
Arches
Canyonlands
Monument Valley
Carlsbad Caverns (stay late for the bats)
Lasen Volcano
Many, many various indian ruins
These are all really neat places :)
That state may be nice elsewhere, but the rest stops and bathrooms suck!
Arizona is nice. If you go past Winslow, be sure to stop and see Berringer (Meteor) crater. Only 10 miles off of I40.
Some of the cities that I40 goes through are a nightmare (and a lesson) in finding the right lane to stay in.
You budgeted enough for gas? It gets more expensive the further West you go...
Sleeping in your car at the rest stops is probably your best bet...
When we came East we did that a lot, an we also spent a few bucks at KOA camp grounds and state parks once in a while.
Depends on what you can afford.
Be very catious and reserved about your personal business and money.
Common sense stuff... :)
[B]Becuase of tolls and construction on I70, you might want to stay up along Lake Erie/Lake Ontario until Cleaveland, then drop south. From Conneticut, take I84 to I80.
From there, depending on your target, drop south more or go west.
West, just stay on I80 until California. It comes in near San Francisco. [/B][/QUOTE]
Heh, if you do that you'll pass within 30 minutes of where I live in OH.
Still unsure whether I should take I70 across or I80 (either way, heading to Denver and then I15 into California, most likely). I kind of want to stop in Columbus to see someone, but I keep hearing bad things about I70. Any suggestions?
I70 in MD is good. But you have no reason to come that far south.
I70 in PA is a toll road - expect to spend about $12 (as of 2 years ago) for a full-lenth trip on the PA Turnpike. That's why I'd recommend I80. Also, I80 is further north and from what I understand isn't as rugged a road through the Appalachians.
No matter what you take, there are two major crossings that you have to do: the Appalachians and the Rockies. If you're not taking the senic, slow route, keep to the interstates.
As for I70 vs I80 in the plains states, I've never been on either out there, so someone else will have to tell you. However, interstates are interstates. There is very little variation in terms of quality of traffic: they are all bad near cities.
If you are heading to Denver, come on down I70, that will be the most senic route through the Rockies, and you can go through Vegas! If you are looking for most direct, to southern CA take I40, to northern take I80.
Jake
PM me if you want my phone number.
[B]Actually, I'd really like to take the scenic slow route across the Appalachians and the Rockies. Any suggestions that wouldn't take me unreasonably far from my planned route? [/B][/QUOTE]
Route 30 between York and Pittsburgh through PA is very scenic. It runs through Gettysburg and follows a parallel course with I-76/70, and doesn't cost anything. Once you get to about 40 miles from Pittsburgh, however, it gets poopy. Get off 30 at Irwin and get on the Turnpike (I-76) to go West. Or get off 30 at Rt 119 and head south which leads to where I-76 (the Turnpike, a toll road) and I-70 (free) split.
[B]The Smokies are in Tennesee (or somewhere south of here). I70/I80 cross in Penssylvania. [/B][/QUOTE]
Sorry, I'll go put my geography dunce cap on now, I just thought the Smokies was a nickname for most of the Appalachians...
Jake
[B]If you take I-70 through Missouri, you'll come very near Whiteman AFB, home of the B-2 bomber...their air show is this weekend June 17/18, so there should be a lot of planes in the air, and on the ground:) I'm but ten miles out from there. if you need anything, PM me, or IM me. [/B][/QUOTE]
Red,
You live near Warrensburg?
Jake
[B]Red,
You live near Warrensburg?
Jake [/B][/QUOTE]
In Warrensburg, actually:) My wife is attending Central Missouri State.
Jake