Driving across the country

[appynole]

Anyone ever done this? My oldest son is coming home from Belgium and few months back he decided to go to school on the West coast where he's been living with the family who owns/manages this Jr. Development team. He wants to continue his cycling opportunities while going to school. From my understanding there's more opportunities there than there is here in NC.

With that said we have to get his car out there before school starts. Our trek will begin in Atlanta, (as I'm down there for an 8U football tourney) so I'm thinking the 1-20 to I-10 route is what we need to take. Has anyone ever driven this route and are there any (must see) sightseeing spots that would be good to stop at? (Don't what to venture to far from the interstate as I'll be on a tight time frame) I'm giving myself about 4-5 days to do the trip.

Thanks in advance for any advice on making the trip.

 

[wbnolefan]

I have nothing to offer but how does 8u football work? What size field are they on?

 

[appynole]

I have nothing to offer but how does 8u football work? What size field are they on?

Normal field... it's a tourney of 8 or so teams across the Southeast (from what I understand from the coach) and played just like any other tourney. I believe this is a double elimination deal. Kids cannot turn 8 before Aug 1st.

 

[F4Gary]

I20/I10 is probably the least scenic. I40 is better. You could even cut down from Flagstaff through Sedona.

 

[csklad]

Doesn't it depend where on the west coast you are going? Did I miss the destination in the post?

 

[F4Gary]

I assumed Southern Kalifornia.

 

[Lemon Thrower]

i-10 sucks.

take a slightly northerly swing.

from atl, go through chattanooga, 24 tthrough the mountains to nashville, then to st louis, omaha, sioux falls, across SD to the badlands, then to cody, yellowstone, through the tetons to jackson hole. from there, i think you can get to monument valley, lake taho, sequoia national forest, yosemite, pacific coast highway.

 

[appynole]

duh sorry left that out….yeah that's kind of important….heading to Anaheim

 

[KitingHigh]

7 times
10 5 times
40 once
80/90 once (this is the best one for sight seeing)

 

[BelemNole]

Yeah, I took a similar drive about 20 years ago except that I started in VA. Don't take I-10, especially not in the summer. It's hot and ugly. I'd head north and take 24/64 up to 70 and go thru Denver with a possible side trip to visit RMNP. Then down thru Utah and possible side trips to Bryce or Zion and on the I15 thru Vegas to Anaheim. Really doesn't add too many more miles than the I10 route and is infinitely more interesting.

 

[ggmike1992]

I've been as far as Four Corners and back, but that was on a motorcycle. Was on I-20 from Jackson, MS, to west Texas. Not much to see but we were just trying to click off some miles. Drove from Tally to San Antonio on I-10 (down to Laredo on I-35). That was brutal. It's very disheartening to cross into Texas on I-10 and see a sign that says El Paso 800-some odd miles. Glad I didn't have to do that.

 

[Fijimn]

El Paso 854 miles from Orange, Texas. Once you get past San Antonio and the hill country, it's 450 miles of nothing...absolutely nothing. To put it in prospective , El Paso is basically the midpoint between College Station and Southern California. I suggest going up and over...much better.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Are you doing it for fun or speed?

About a month or so ago I did a trip that was almost all the way across the country for fun. Started in Tallahassee and went up to Memphis care of Birmingham, then over to visit my in laws new medical school in Arkansas, then over to Amarillo before dipping down to Alamagordo and back up to Santa Fe, then up through Southern Colorado and did all of the Big Five (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion) in Utah plus Grand Staircase, Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point and Pink Coral Sands. Then we spent a day and a half in Vegas and flew back (we rented a car one way).

 

[goldmom]

I20/I10 is probably the least scenic. I40 is better. You could even cut down from Flagstaff through Sedona.

Gary with da truf. I-40 is far more scenic - Arkansas is sort of pretty past Little Rock, then get through Oklahoma and the panhandle of Texas from Amarillo on is not bad. I-40 through Albuquerque, Gallup, Winslow, Flagstaff, etc. is a lot more interesting than the moonscape of I-10. A bit cooler weather too. Just east of Flagstaff, jump on 89 north and then take the Grand Canyon cutoff to the park. The highway along the south rim is wonderful and then you can get back on 89 south and zig off at 64 to Williams and pick up I-40 again. One day side trip or less and there's a check off on your bucket list. I mean, everyone wants to see the Grand Canyon, or at least they should.
There used to be some of the original Route 66 between Williams and Kingman that is worth taking as well. Just for the history, but the scenery is pretty good, too.

 

[BloodyNoseJose]

El Paso 854 miles from Orange, Texas. Once you get past San Antonio and the hill country, it's 450 miles of nothing...absolutely nothing. To put it in prospective , El Paso is basically the midpoint between College Station and Southern California. I suggest going up and over...much better.

Very true. I-10 is boring as hell once you pass San Antonio and driving I-10 through Texas sucks in general since it is so long and there isn't anything good along the interstate. You get to see El Paso/Juarez though, which will make you happy to live in this country.

 

[travnole]

Gone across twice.

If you go south Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns are no brainers.

I-10 thru west TX is probably the lamest stretch of drive in the US.

 

[appynole]

Yeah, I took a similar drive about 20 years ago except that I started in VA. Don't take I-10, especially not in the summer. It's hot and ugly. I'd head north and take 24/64 up to 70 and go thru Denver with a possible side trip to visit RMNP. Then down thru Utah and possible side trips to Bryce or Zion and on the I15 thru Vegas to Anaheim. Really doesn't add too many more miles than the I10 route and is infinitely more interesting.

Belem what does the RM stand for? Assume the NP is for National Park.

Sounds like what most are posting is stay away from southern route.

 

[Grad91]

The only good thing about I-10 (btw, I-20 dead ends into 10 in West Texas) is the ability (after San Antonio) to exceed 100 mph for long stretches, thereby greatly reducing the time across country. I'm a bit older now and not as interested in speed, but back in the day, I-10 was like one long continuous drag strip.

 

[appynole]

Are you doing it for fun or speed?

I'd like to say it's sorta both. I do have a time frame to get back but seeing this is my "last alone dad trip" with him before he exits the nest (so to speak of) I'd like to have as much fun as possible with him. One of the reasons I choose to do the drive with him and not his Mom. She'll fly out there.

He has mentioned on his bucket list for trip:
1. Have some BBQ (I think our NC BBQ is pretty good but I'm open for some suggestions) Memphis?
2. He wants to see Grand Canyon.
3. Now that he's 18 he wants to see Vegas and play a table or few.

So sounds like we'll be hitting the I-40 route based off his wishes. What's are some must BBQ places alone the way? Memphis our best option?

I have 1 week to do the trip (Sun-Fri. is what I have scheduled for now) Could possibly fly home Sat or Sun and just miss my other son's football jamboree on following Sat.

 

[F4Gary]

For the Grand Canyon, as Goldmom suggests, take 89 north out of Flagstaff to 64 west. That takes you along the Little Colorado and the Desert View Watchtower/Navajo Point and into the GCNP. Go all the way to Grand Canyon Village. Then you can take 180/64 south to Williams. If you have less time, stay in Williams and drive north on 64 to the Village and then go east as far as you want before you have to turn back due to time constraints.

Also, the Meteor Crater just south of I40 between Winslow and Flagstaff is kind of an interesting 2 hr side trip.

 

[BelemNole]

Belem what does the RM stand for? Assume the NP is for National Park.

Sounds like what most are posting is stay away from southern route.

Rocky Mountain. Not too far out of Denver and worth a visit.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I'd like to say it's sorta both. I do have a time frame to get back but seeing this is my "last alone dad trip" with him before he exits the nest (so to speak of) I'd like to have as much fun as possible with him. One of the reasons I choose to do the drive with him and not his Mom. She'll fly out there.

He has mentioned on his bucket list for trip:
1. Have some BBQ (I think our NC BBQ is pretty good but I'm open for some suggestions) Memphis?
2. He wants to see Grand Canyon.
3. Now that he's 18 he wants to see Vegas and play a table or few.

So sounds like we'll be hitting the I-40 route based off his wishes. What's are some must BBQ places alone the way? Memphis our best option?

I have 1 week to do the trip (Sun-Fri. is what I have scheduled for now) Could possibly fly home Sat or Sun and just miss my other son's football jamboree on following Sat.

Definitely stop by Memphis for BBQ. I'm a Western/Piedmont NC style fan myself but there are some great places in Memphis. It seems like some people through a hissy fit about it either because it uses direct heat or because it's not sickeningly sweet like their tastes, but getting the dry rub ribs (especially the lamb although the pork is good, but I like the lamb far better) from Rendezvous is a classic eating experience that can't be beat by much if anything. Also dyers burgers in Beale street can't be missed for your second meal.

You'll be cutting through Oklahoma City and Amarillo and both have great steakhouses and Amarillo has some decent Texas style bbq. In Oklahoma City, Cattleman's is a fantastic and reasonably priced steakhouse where you can also try the lamb fry (lamb testicles sliced thin and deep fried, I was skeptical too but they are great. Better than the veal "prairie oysters" you get in Texas and Colorado). In Amaraillo, the Big Texan is a famous steak place that basically invented competitive eating...it's where the famous 72 ounce steak challenge was invented decades (and almost a century ago). Tyler's BBQ in Amarillo is always listed as one of the top BBQ places in Texas.

A couple stop off ideas at Memphis and Amarillo. 1) The Memphis zoo is one of three or maybe four zoos in the US that has Great Pandas and is a pretty nice zoo all around. 2) Palo Duro or the Texas Little Grand Canyon is right near the Big Texan. 3) Check ahead and see who is playing on Beale Street.

 

[cfbfan23]

I'd like to say it's sorta both. I do have a time frame to get back but seeing this is my "last alone dad trip" with him before he exits the nest (so to speak of) I'd like to have as much fun as possible with him. One of the reasons I choose to do the drive with him and not his Mom. She'll fly out there.

He has mentioned on his bucket list for trip:
3. Now that he's 18 he wants to see Vegas and play a table or few.
.

I think you've got to be 21 to hit the tables in Vegas.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I think you've got to be 21 to hit the tables in Vegas.

Yep. I missed he said that. It's 21 to gamble in Vegas. Most of the Native American tribal casinos in and around the country are 18 which is where the OP probably got the idea his son could gamble.

 

[goldmom]

Rocky Mountain. Not too far out of Denver and worth a visit.

Just outside of Estes Park, which is a fun place to visit as well. Think of "The Shining".

 

[appynole]

appreciate all the responses so far...