You don't say where 'out west' is but we are based in MD less than an hour from the Atlantic beaches. We have done the West Coast 3 times & Alaska 3 times.
Being retired you have no reason to do high milage marathons every day. There is no need to use interstates with all of the traffic in a big hurry to get to wherever.
Enjoy the view at a slower pace on the roads that used to be the main roads before the interstates were built. Use a road like 50. It runs from Sacramento, CA. to Ocean City, MD. Lots to see between those 2 points.
From 35,000' you get one helluva view of nothing.
