New York to California - best route

[nystitcher]

Hi all - my husband and I and our 2 dogs will be going to CA soon. We would like to take the most direct and "fastest" route going out and then we'll take longer and see some sites on the way back. Can someone recommend the best route to take? We are starting from Long Island and ending in the Oakland area. We figure on driving a few hundred miles everyday, staying in a campground for the night, etc, We will be in a C class (diesel). Thanks for any tips! Dawn

[nystitcher]

DrewE wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
Our normal trip from Seattle to Albany NY is 5 days. We have done it is as little as 48 hours (5 drivers) and fuel stops only, that doesn't happen any more.
I don't like I80 & 90 east of Chicago, I'd do the I-70 & I-74 to 80 at Davenport.

That's probably what I would do as well. If I could spare a little more time, I'd probably think about staying on I-70 all the way to its terminus and then take US-50. That would undoubtedly be slower, and I think involves more grades and other potentially dangerous roads. However, the chance to go through Glenwood Canyon on what is arguably the most scenic bit of Interstate highway in the country alone would make it well worth consideration for me.

Edit: Whoops, really late to the party. Sorry about that.

Thanks for the reply DrewE! No worries about being late though I have never heard of Glenwood Canyon so now I will look it up. I'm learning so much from everyone on this forum, it's great. It was kind of crazy to do our trip in such a short time. We definitely want to get out West again and I hope we can have more time to take scenic routes. 🙂 Enjoy the weekend!

[nystitcher]

Escargot wrote:
I'm from NYC, relocated to Berkeley, CA. (Berkeley is adjacent to Oakland.)
I take 80 all the way whenever I return to NY. The trip usually takes me 5 days.

I've considered 70 but I'm unfamiliar with the weather patterns and prefer to avoid tornadoes and other "exciting" weather.

Thanks! Yes we did take 80 all the way out and really had no problems except for the usual construction all over. Took us 5 days also. Went up to Montana and through Yellowstone on the way back and then took 90 to Il and back to 80. Hit so much traffic in Chicago - definitely did not time that right!

[nystitcher]

Oh I love that photo Busskipper - very cool! Yes my photo is through the front window - have a good zoom on the camera. Here's a photo from our family's house (ranch!) in Cali. That's GoldenBoy upfront and the RV in the background!

[Escargot]

I'm from NYC, relocated to Berkeley, CA. (Berkeley is adjacent to Oakland.)
I take 80 all the way whenever I return to NY. The trip usually takes me 5 days.

I've considered 70 but I'm unfamiliar with the weather patterns and prefer to avoid tornadoes and other "exciting" weather.

[DrewE]

Tom/Barb wrote:
Our normal trip from Seattle to Albany NY is 5 days. We have done it is as little as 48 hours (5 drivers) and fuel stops only, that doesn't happen any more.
I don't like I80 & 90 east of Chicago, I'd do the I-70 & I-74 to 80 at Davenport.

That's probably what I would do as well. If I could spare a little more time, I'd probably think about staying on I-70 all the way to its terminus and then take US-50. That would undoubtedly be slower, and I think involves more grades and other potentially dangerous roads. However, the chance to go through Glenwood Canyon on what is arguably the most scenic bit of Interstate highway in the country alone would make it well worth consideration for me.

Edit: Whoops, really late to the party. Sorry about that.

[Busskipper]

nystitcher wrote:
testing to see if this works! Photo from Wyoming

WORKS! no mirror - is that through the front window - No hood -

This Family is the example of yes you can, or "I Will" after all those trips they moved with the Kid...

Continue to share your trip, you might find it's a lot of fun the second time TOO!

Busskipper

Some of the roads are not Straight.

[2gypsies1]

...and they said it couldn't be done....you showed 'em! 16 days cross-country with NO reservations. Congratulations and a beautiful pic of Wyoming. Great job on driving, too. 🙂

[nystitcher]

testing to see if this works! Photo from Wyoming

[Busskipper]

nystitcher wrote:
Thanks Busskipper!! Yeah some days 400miles but I think we did have some 600+ days too! What's the trick to post photos here??

Should be Easy - just follow these directions.

[nystitcher]

Thanks Busskipper!! Yeah some days 400miles but I think we did have some 600+ days too! What's the trick to post photos here??

[Busskipper]

nystitcher wrote:
Hi all!

I didn't have time to write after our trip but wanted to just say that we did it! Had a wonderful whirlwind of a trip to CA and back in 16 days! We stayed the first night in PA at a Cracker Barrel :-), then a private campground in Elkhart, IN. Then it was KOAs the rest of the way, NB (Gretna), WY (Rawlins), and NV (Winnemucca). Stayed 3 days in Cali with the family saw our niece graduate H.S. so accomplished that goal. Headed back to NY taking the northern route through Yellowstone. It was incredible even though we only saw a tiny bit of it. The ride back we stayed in NV (Winnemucca again!), Montana (West Yellowstone, 6 miles from the park), WY (Buffalo), Ohio (Stoney Ridge) and PA (New Columbia). The PA KOA was a "Holiday" one and it was the nicest of all, go figure. Had no reservations at all, just used the road atlas and KOA campground book and would call on the road and reserve the night. A little scary but also so great to feel free! The RV did fantastic, really could handle the hills out there, I was impressed and even drove it. Okay it was only about 200 of the 6,000+ miles but I did it! Hit a pothole when we got on the Clearview Expwy in NY and blew one of the airbags so now in for service. Oh well!!! And our dogs did fantastic, such little troopers I was very proud of them. Thanks for everyone's tips, advice and encouragement I do appreciate it. Still can't believe we did it. I took a million photos, yes most of them from the RV but I am nuts about photos anyway. Happy Trails!!

You took it easy - only 375 miles a day - Now Post a few of the good Photo's.

Congrats,

[nystitcher]

Hi all!

I didn't have time to write after our trip but wanted to just say that we did it! Had a wonderful whirlwind of a trip to CA and back in 16 days! We stayed the first night in PA at a Cracker Barrel :-), then a private campground in Elkhart, IN. Then it was KOAs the rest of the way, NB (Gretna), WY (Rawlins), and NV (Winnemucca). Stayed 3 days in Cali with the family saw our niece graduate H.S. so accomplished that goal. Headed back to NY taking the northern route through Yellowstone. It was incredible even though we only saw a tiny bit of it. The ride back we stayed in NV (Winnemucca again!), Montana (West Yellowstone, 6 miles from the park), WY (Buffalo), Ohio (Stoney Ridge) and PA (New Columbia). The PA KOA was a "Holiday" one and it was the nicest of all, go figure. Had no reservations at all, just used the road atlas and KOA campground book and would call on the road and reserve the night. A little scary but also so great to feel free! The RV did fantastic, really could handle the hills out there, I was impressed and even drove it. Okay it was only about 200 of the 6,000+ miles but I did it! Hit a pothole when we got on the Clearview Expwy in NY and blew one of the airbags so now in for service. Oh well!!! And our dogs did fantastic, such little troopers I was very proud of them. Thanks for everyone's tips, advice and encouragement I do appreciate it. Still can't believe we did it. I took a million photos, yes most of them from the RV but I am nuts about photos anyway. Happy Trails!!

[Bumpyroad]

JimFromJersey wrote:
Take I-287 off the Island to I-78. Follow it to just east of Harrisburg, where it kinda turns into I-81. Follow I-81 down to Hagerstown MD. Hop on I-70 but just for a little bit to Hancock MD, then get on I-68. Follow I-68 to Morgantown VA then get on I-79 NORTH. That will hook you back up to I-70 in Washington, PA.

services are a little scarce and not easy access on I-68/I-79 so fuel up/etc. before that section.
bumpy

[Busskipper]

nystitcher wrote:
Greetings from America's Heartland! We ended up leaving Long Island last Friday night about 7:30 pm. It was a good choice as we hit no traffic on the 2 bridges! That was making me the most nervous. Drove a few hundred miles and stayed at a Cracker Barrel in PA??. Next night camp in IN then next night KOA in Nebraska. Should hit Wyoming soon. Loving the beautiful USA!

Take lots of Pictures to Document the "TRIP" - Lots of PICTURES - as things will become a blur - keep the Mirror out of the Pictures - I'm pretty sure you are not taking the time to get out of the Vehicle:S .

Don't be afraid to take pictures right out the front window - I mean that's what you are seeing for most of the trip.

You should be almost there.............. Can't wait to hear the plans on the trip BACK.

BOL,