Road Trips

[Alkasquawlik]

I've been throwing this idea around in my head for awhile, and I've decided I want to go ahead with a road trip this upcoming summer.

I would probably go late June for a week or two.
I would drive up the coast through Oregon and Washington, and then cut east and try to make it to Montana and Wyoming, then come down south through Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, and then cut over to Socal and back up to the Bay Area.

I would camp at night to save money, and to experience a "real" road trip, none of this staying in hotels.

I have absolutely no concrete plans and everything is up in the air right now.

Does anyone have advice or suggestions? Any particular things I should see?

[scatterbrain]

have you recently read or watched Into the Wild?

[Alkasquawlik]

have you recently read or watched Into the Wild?

ya, but im not going to go camping by myself in the complete wilderness for weeks on end....tool

[scatterbrain]

oh, well i wasnt going to suggest that. but forget it

[mrsleeve]

glacier park in NW MT if you get over this way. You can spend a month in that park and not see it all or see the same thing twice.

If I am home this summer while you get up this way I can show you some other neat places in the area.

Edit: Oh if you are camping watch out for bears they will destroy a car to get to the food, I recommend you eat all your meals out of your car and camp site once you get in to bear country.

[318isbmw]

Pretty jealous of those plans. Sounds like one heck of a trip. Bringing food in a cooler also helps save money, just something to keep in mind. Stuff like pasta salad that you can make before you leave and keep in the cooler and eat when you want. Just one suggestion I had.

[e34john]

Montana has speed limits now right?

[ZM Blue Devil]

Just do it, its awesome...I did one last summer NJ to VT to WI now hooked, would like to do another one this summer.

I made plans ahead of time and met up with a couple of members along the way.

Take lots of pics and post when you get back.

[mrsleeve]

Montana has speed limits now right?

yes and have had since 97 IIRC the feds threatened to cut off all federal highway funding dollars but the state would still have to pay. If the state didnt impose a speed limit again FYI its 75 on interstates, main state highways are 70 and some main roads, everything else is 55 or as posted

[87e30]

Glacier national is awesome! I drove over there a few summers ago when I was like 15 with my parents, but it really is a pretty place.

And yes there are speed limits, but it's open and flat so you can cruise at a brisk place in the right areas.

[Holland]

AZ isn't too bad, just watch for the speed camera's, the state is getting excessive with them, especially the mobile ones.

[Alkasquawlik]

Pretty jealous of those plans. Sounds like one heck of a trip. Bringing food in a cooler also helps save money, just something to keep in mind. Stuff like pasta salad that you can make before you leave and keep in the cooler and eat when you want. Just one suggestion I had.

Ya, that would be something I would do. Just buy bulk food and keep it in the car. Paying for fast food takes a toll on your bank account....fast. It's insane.

Just do it, its awesome...I did one last summer NJ to VT to WI now hooked, would like to do another one this summer.

I made plans ahead of time and met up with a couple of members along the way.

Take lots of pics and post when you get back.

Any advice on how you planned it?
How long were you on the road? Money you spent?

I don't have a whole lot of money, so I would be basically camping at campgrounds to sleep, eating basic foods, and splitting gas money with a friend or two.

I've just always wanted to drive past those sights you only see in pictures. The huge mountain ranges in Montana, the huge deserts in Arizona, etc etc

[Alkasquawlik]

Glacier national is awesome! I drove over there a few summers ago when I was like 15 with my parents, but it really is a pretty place.

And yes there are speed limits, but it's open and flat so you can cruise at a brisk place in the right areas.

OK cool, I'll write Glacier National as a place to visit.
There was a guy who posted in a thread about a month or so ago who was in Colorado and drove on some road. I forget the name, it was "something Trail" or something along those lines.

That looked really cool to drive on and experience.

[e34john]

AZ isn't too bad, just watch for the speed camera's, the state is getting excessive with them, especially the mobile ones.

I hate Arizona cause of that, and the roads are so damn long and boring too, speed cameras hidden in mini vans WTF!

Montana has speed limits, wonder how strict their cops are. I heard Germans were comming over for a while just to drive in Montana. Saw that on the Autobahn special a few years back.


Your trip sounds awesome. I was planning on going up to Big Sur this Fall. Taking the truck so I can rough it for a few days so the trip won't be as fun as yours. Nervous to take my E30 anywhere far anyways.

[87e30]

You're from cali... so hmm. Not sure what there is for you to see in the northwest other than just the different weather. I mean the surroundings are a lot different looking but I can't think of something that you must see. Personally, I can't think of anything to see in oregon. haha. Downtown seattle may be worth seeing? Space needle? But all around the northwest you will be driving in view of mountains and trees. And very foresty like hikes, bikes, and views are a plenty. Plus the san juans or something along the coast. But that's a bit more out of the way. Just all things to think about.