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PGBusLady's avatar
PGBusLady
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016

Cross Country Trip

My husband and I recently purchased a 29' Fleetwood for a cross country trip 3 years in the making. We'll be leaving at the end of June and have 6 weeks to see the best and worst that America has to offer.Departing from Va.heading North to Niagara Falls then West . We would like to visit most of the National Landmarks Grand Canyon,Yellowstone,Yosemite,Mount Rushmore etc. My questions for the experienced ones on this site are : Which routes to take? Scenic vs. interstate is ok. Which landmarks are must see which ones should be avoided? Which National / State parks are recommended . Remoteness / Wilderness with no hook ups is appealing. Which cities should be avoided because of traffic,high crime or not as accommodating should we have to Wallydock for a night or two.What are some other things to see between the East coast and West coast we may not have thought of.Any and all feedback will be appreciated both positive and negative to help some newbies on what we are calling the once in a lifetime trip.

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  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Jun 11, 2016
    That is a rather open-ended question!

    I was fortunate enough as a kid to get to take a generally similar trip with my mom, a year and a half after my father passed away. We were tent camping with the periodic motel room. 10 year old me very much enjoyed the trip, and we did get to see many worthwhile things...and, of course, missed many others given the time constraints. Yes, there is a lot of highway time, and having more time would of course be nicer, but if you wait until you can spend months and months making a trip you very well could end up never getting anywhere.

    Some highlights (from that trip and other traveling I've done):
    • The Corning Glass Museum is well worth visiting (though it may well be practically local to you)
    • Niagara falls
    • The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village outside of Detroit (two days would not be too much there; the place is huge)
    • The Badlands--I really enjoyed that.
    • Yellowstone (Huge, one could spend weeks there; also, it was very cold camping in late October when we were there; 6F in the morning in a tent is definitely chilly.)
    • CA 1, the Pacific coast highway (depending on your comfort with heights and twisty roads and driving your RV, you may wish to skip that!)
    • Hoover dam (take a tour if you go).
    • Carlsbad Caverns
    • The American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge, KY) was much better than we anticipated.
    • Monticello
    • Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive


    I was not so impressed with Mt Rushmore (for me, it's in the category of "yep, now I've seen it" and, for some reason I can't entirely explain, the Grand Canyon. I suspect I'd have a different opinion of the latter now, or with more time to actually explore/hike it.
  • bgum's avatar
    bgum
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    Avoid DC, Atlanta, and Houston traffic. Once you get past central Texas no more traffic problems until Calif.
  • obgraham's avatar
    obgraham
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    Six weeks to see all the USA?

    Naaah. Can't be done.

    You'll just get a taste. Pick some area to explore in more detail, otherwise you're going to be on the road more than seeing stuff.
  • SpeakEasy's avatar
    SpeakEasy
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    If you have any interest in American history, and in particular, Cold War era history, you should take the time to tour the Minuteman Missile National Historical site. You can tour the underground missile launch facility. This is not the missile silos where the actual nuclear warheads were kept, but it is the control facility for many of those silos. Absolutely fascinating for this baby-boomer. It's in west-central South Dakota, very near the Badlands National Park.

    Minuteman Missile National Historical Site


    -Speak
  • NYCgrrl's avatar
    NYCgrrl
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    PGBusLady wrote:
    My husband and I recently purchased a 29' Fleetwood for a cross country trip 3 years in the making. We'll be leaving at the end of June and have 6 weeks to see the best and worst that America has to offer.Departing from Va.heading North to Niagara Falls then West . We would like to visit most of the National Landmarks Grand Canyon,Yellowstone,Yosemite,Mount Rushmore etc. My questions for the experienced ones on this site are : Which routes to take? Scenic vs. interstate is ok. Which landmarks are must see which ones should be avoided? Which National / State parks are recommended . Remoteness / Wilderness with no hook ups is appealing. Which cities should be avoided because of traffic,high crime or not as accommodating should we have to Wallydock for a night or two.What are some other things to see between the East coast and West coast we may not have thought of.Any and all feedback will be appreciated both positive and negative to help some newbies on what we are calling the once in a lifetime trip.

    Wow! Planned for 3 years but just researching your route and where to stay 2 weeks out?!? Sooo the antithesis of OCD me, LOL.

    Don't visit NYC due to lack of WM, traffic and accommodations.
    Have fun out there !
  • SpeakEasy's avatar
    SpeakEasy
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    Alabama Jim wrote:
    Just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore is Custer State Park. Please don't miss it. You will drive the needles highway, see bison, and can stop and feed the wild burros. Utah has beautiful National Parks, well worth looking at. Another beautiful National Park is Roosevelt NP in Western ND. Glacier NP in MT. is great. The best ghost town I have located is Bannack, MT.

    Have fun and be safe. May God be with you and please keep us posted. We all live through others adventures.


    I agree completely about Custer State Park. I think it is a real gem. I would only add that it might be advisable to set up camp in Custer before driving the Needles Highway. I, personally, wouldn't want to pull an rv through that highway. Maybe that's just me.

    -Speak
  • Alabama_Jim's avatar
    Alabama_Jim
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    Just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore is Custer State Park. Please don't miss it. You will drive the needles highway, see bison, and can stop and feed the wild burros. Utah has beautiful National Parks, well worth looking at. Another beautiful National Park is Roosevelt NP in Western ND. Glacier NP in MT. is great. The best ghost town I have located is Bannack, MT.

    Have fun and be safe. May God be with you and please keep us posted. We all live through others adventures.
  • rollingslow's avatar
    rollingslow
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    If your going to mt rushmore dont miss the crazy horse memorial..enjoy your trip

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