"Nisman" (nisman)
07/12/2015 at 18:51 • Filed to: None
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"Nisman" (nisman)
07/12/2015 at 18:51 • Filed to: None | 0
| 21 |
I am beyond excited for what will be only my second voyage out the time zone and west of the Mississippi. I finally get to see the west while helping a friend move from Cleveland to LA in two short weeks. We are going to attempt the drive in two days which is feasible driving in shifts, especially since we are both seasoned long haul road trippers. That being said, it isn’t a sightseeing trip, but we still want to see some sights along the way. My question is this: which route should we take?
These routes above are the two fastest according to Google, one takes us through Chicago, Denver and Las Vegas. The other takes us through St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque to name a few. I am currently leaning towards the northern route since the scenery and cities will be more interesting, but I am concerned about encountering more traffic along the way. For those who have done it, which route did you take and would you do it again? It does not have to be one of the above routes, we are open to anything. Also note that I am flying home, so I have to choose one route.
As far as LA goes, what do I need to do while I’m there? I am planning on renting a motorcycle on Sunday August 2nd so I can ride up the PCH to Malibu Cars and Coffee, and also ride Deer Creek Road, the snake and a couple of others. I’m open to suggestions for bars, restaurant, coffee and roads. What do you suggest Oppo?
1111111111111111111111
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 18:57 |
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The scenery is better through new Mexico and Arizona imo. But I think your favorite will be driving the grapevine into the LA basin.
ly2v8-Brian
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 19:04 |
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That Southern route will likely be the most interesting throughout. But you'll miss Chicago, Utah, and Colorado.
Conan
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 19:04 |
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Northern route is a blast.
smobgirl
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 19:06 |
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I’ve never not been caught in traffic in Chicago. That said, you’re going to have some wonderful and some incredibly boring scenery either route. Nebraska is sheer hell. Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico are gorgeous, all in different ways. If you go through Arizona and New Mexico, be very, very certain that the a/c in the car is up to the task (and Nevada... I was stuck on a bus with no a/c through Las Vegas once at 3 am, and it was still 104 out. A lot of people I didn’t know well saw me in my underwear that trip.)
DrScientist
> 1111111111111111111111
07/12/2015 at 19:11 |
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i believe the grapevine is rte 5 from LA into the central valley (or vice versa). if coming from the east you wont be coming in this direction, rather, coming in from barstow.
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DrScientist
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 19:14 |
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2 days from cleveland to LA is going to be tight. if that schedule is a definite i wouldnt expect to do ANY real stopping. let alone stop for any of the more interesting stuff a bit off the route.
my one suggestion is to start moving just before dawn on both days so at least you get to do as much driving in sunlight as possible.
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1111111111111111111111
> DrScientist
07/12/2015 at 19:21 |
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I’ve only done the drive to LA a couple times, and from i5. So I could be wrong.
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DrScientist
> 1111111111111111111111
07/12/2015 at 19:29 |
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yeah, grapevine is i5, which heads northwest out of LA. most likely he’ll be coming in from the northeast. i mean, you can go over that way, but its not the most direct.
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1111111111111111111111
> smobgirl
07/12/2015 at 19:44 |
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Yeah, no joke about that heat.
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Nisman
> DrScientist
07/12/2015 at 19:47 |
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Yeah we are planning on leaving at 5am EST both days. The plan is to stop a couple of times for shift changes and fuel but ultimately I am just looking for the most scenic/mostly direct route.
boxrocket
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 19:48 |
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Come through Saint Louis. Meet some fellow Oppos, and if it’s at a mutually agreeable time, I’ll buy you and your traveling companion a meal, or at least road snacks.
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Nisman
> boxrocket
07/12/2015 at 19:59 |
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That’s an incredibly generous offer, and it’s one of the reasons I love oppo so much. Since we are trying to do it in two days, stopping in St. Louis probably wouldn’t work for us being only 8 hours, but we might be driving through depending on the route that we take. Either way I will keep your offer in mind, and thank you!
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boxrocket
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 20:06 |
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Understandable. Depending on your fuel stops and timing, something could be worked out where I could bring you a locally-based care package of sorts, but I get that it may not be realistic to stop (especially as fuel tends to be pricier closer to big cities, though ours tends to be among the cheapest in the country).
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Nisman
> boxrocket
07/12/2015 at 20:27 |
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Cool man! Thank you again. I’ll let you know a day or two beforehand if we will be able to time a stop there.
John_Harbinson
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 21:05 |
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I’ll be out in CA from the 19th or so to the 25th, we’re roadtripping as well! Whole family piled in the Jetta wagon, taking the southern route out because I’m touring a few colleges (Clemson tomorrow) on the way out. Planning on splitting off for the two days we’re in LA and renting a mustang convertible, just to see what it’s like, even if it’s the V6. Enjoy the drive!
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Nisman
> John_Harbinson
07/12/2015 at 21:21 |
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Thanks same to you! Have an awesome time. Make sure you drive all of the famous roads!
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 21:38 |
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I have driven the southern route. If you had time to stop, there are some fantastic things to see.
Don’t forget that you will be gaining time each day as you cross time zones and an extra hour when you cross into Arizona (they don’t observe daylight savings time).
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John_Harbinson
> Nisman
07/12/2015 at 23:43 |
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Well, it’ll be the second time I’ve done it, so I’ll be sure to check most of the remaining ones off the list (I’m 17) last time we got the big ones, top gear’s lonliest road in America, route 66, highway 550 in Colorado, 11000 or so feet, so we had a snowball fight in August, then out in California, lombard st. PCH (San Francisco to LA) and Rodeo drive, Golden Gate bridge, amongst others. Some of the truly great roads though, can be found back east, although I have not driven angeles crest or the snake, both of which I aim to hit on this trip, as well as the tail of the dragon. Should be a good one!
stuttgartobsessed
> Nisman
07/13/2015 at 00:27 |
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Do the northern route. Denver and Utah offer amazing scenery (and Denver is a great place!) and there are some cool national parks you can stop off at if you are so inclined. As far as L.A., check out Petrolicious’ guide: http://www.petrolicious.com/petrolicious-a…
Dusty Ventures
> Nisman
07/13/2015 at 08:54 |
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I’ve now crossed on 90, 80, 70, and 40. Having done those, I am now convinced I-80 through Iowa and Nebraska is among the worst, if not the worst, drives in the country. 800 uninterrupted miles of, well, this:
Your southern route has a few less-than exciting sections (your first four states after Ohio won’t be overly thrilling, but they’re still better than Nebraskowa). But in Texas you’ll pass and be able to stop at Cadillac Ranch , and the sights, scenery, and roadside oddities in New Mexico and Arizona will make the whole thing worth while.
(My photo)
As a bonus, much of your southern route runs along/near Route 66.
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Dusty Ventures
> smobgirl
07/13/2015 at 09:03 |
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I spent a few Augusts desert racing in Nevada. Vegas manages to hold onto the heat all night long because the roads and buildings absorb it all during the day and radiate it at night (that’s my theory anyway). And standing around in a full race suit in 115 heat is another hell entirely.