Help me plan the trip of a lifetime...at the last minute.
October 18, 2017 12:40 PM Subscribe
I'm moving to Santa Barbara, CA from Richmond, VA in two weeks. My amazing friend is taking a couple of weeks off work to drive out with me in my little VW Jetta. Help us plan an epic road/camping/hiking trip...at the last minute. More details inside.
We have two weeks to spend on our trip (from October 31-November 13 ish) and we want it to be epic. We are equipped with a national parks pass and all the gear we need to camp and backpack overnight. So far, we are planning to take Rt. 40 almost the whole way, stopping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, and Flagstaff, AZ...which will give us the opportunity to explore the Grand Canyon....but we need help fleshing out our plans. I am very familiar with Northern AZ, so that's the part of the trip I'm most excited about and prepared for....but I'm coming up short on the rest. I am open to any suggestions for:
-Stopping points: Are there any must-see places along the way? Epic places to camp/hike this time of year (we are both in good shape, and the less people we see on the trail, the better)? Cute towns we might not get to visit otherwise? We are willing to "detour" since we have a lot of time to get to CA, and Flagstaff is basically the only place I'm firm on visiting.
-Things we absolutely should not leave home without, but may not have thought of
-Can't miss restaurants along the way (We both love food of any and every kind, but unfortunately she cannot eat gluten)
We are trying to keep things pretty cheap and camp as much as possible, but are open to staying in AirBnBs or hotels for a few nights.
Any and all advice is appreciated!!
We have two weeks to spend on our trip (from October 31-November 13 ish) and we want it to be epic. We are equipped with a national parks pass and all the gear we need to camp and backpack overnight. So far, we are planning to take Rt. 40 almost the whole way, stopping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, and Flagstaff, AZ...which will give us the opportunity to explore the Grand Canyon....but we need help fleshing out our plans. I am very familiar with Northern AZ, so that's the part of the trip I'm most excited about and prepared for....but I'm coming up short on the rest. I am open to any suggestions for:
-Stopping points: Are there any must-see places along the way? Epic places to camp/hike this time of year (we are both in good shape, and the less people we see on the trail, the better)? Cute towns we might not get to visit otherwise? We are willing to "detour" since we have a lot of time to get to CA, and Flagstaff is basically the only place I'm firm on visiting.
-Things we absolutely should not leave home without, but may not have thought of
-Can't miss restaurants along the way (We both love food of any and every kind, but unfortunately she cannot eat gluten)
We are trying to keep things pretty cheap and camp as much as possible, but are open to staying in AirBnBs or hotels for a few nights.
Any and all advice is appreciated!!
Seconding Santa Fe! Check out the inside of the La Fonda hotel, even if you don't stay there, and be sure to walk around the square. Honestly, you could spend a week just looking at all the cool stuff on the square - shops, architecture and history. And Canyon Road is packed full of art galleries.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:25 PM on October 18, 2017
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:25 PM on October 18, 2017
Plugs for detours in New Mexico, east to west:
- Tucumcari, NM, is a quaint town that's trying to capture (and capitalize on) its Route 66 peak, with some local displays and museums (Tucumcari Historical Museum; Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum; New Mexico Route 66 Museum; and Tucumcari Railroad Historic Museum); I haven't eaten there, besides at Del's Restaurant, who have their menu online
- Santa Rosa is home to the Blue Hole, a natural deep water feature, which is a quick peak unless you want to go for a swim (official website with contact info, but no hours that I see); I haven't eaten at any restaurants of note there
- on the east side of the Sandias, you can find Tinkertown, a quirky outsider art immersive experience worth a detour IMO, and then you can hike on and around Sandia Mountain(s)
- Albuquerque is the biggest city in this rural state, so there's a TON of stuff to do here. Tell me what you like and have time to do, and I'll give you more information. Personal weird pick: American International Rattlesnake Museum, "an animal conservation museum" that feels like a (significantly improved) roadside zoo experience, with tons of snakes in terrariums, plus other reptiles and snake-related stuff. If that's too weird or offputting, there are a number of other interesting museums in ABQ. But if you do go to the rattlesnake museum, you're in Albuquerque Old Town, which is a nice little detour of its own. On the topic of food, I'll point to Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog and its ABQ restaurant index as a way to help pick the best of the best in the city (he has a broader New Mexico index, but he doesn't have something in every town).
- You can stop in and see the Pueblo of Laguna, but continue on to the Pueblo of Acoma to get a tour Sky City, as a more tourist-focused experience, compared to wandering through a living historic community. (You'll miss the public feast days, but you can check that calendar and plan to come back around those events, if you so wish.)
- Grants is pretty small, but has some museums and galleries, including the mining museum; if you want a longer detour off the beaten path, the Land of Fire and Ice, aka Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave, is about half an hour south from Grants.
- I'm not too familiar with Gallup, but the city's website identifies some features and attractions.
Santa Fe is about 45 minutes north of Albuquerque, for sake of planning. As halation noted, there's a lot more there, and fun ways to get there besides I-25 (mainly Turquoise Trail, but you can also get there by routing through Jemez Springs and Los Alamos, but that's closer to 3 hours, FWIW).
If you want to get out and trek around, there are a ton of trails, even from I-40. Here's All Trail's page for New Mexico as a starting point.
And another catch-all reference: All of the Cool Stops and Attractions on I-40, a user-made list of locations on Roadtrippers.com.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:30 PM on October 18, 2017
- Tucumcari, NM, is a quaint town that's trying to capture (and capitalize on) its Route 66 peak, with some local displays and museums (Tucumcari Historical Museum; Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum; New Mexico Route 66 Museum; and Tucumcari Railroad Historic Museum); I haven't eaten there, besides at Del's Restaurant, who have their menu online
- Santa Rosa is home to the Blue Hole, a natural deep water feature, which is a quick peak unless you want to go for a swim (official website with contact info, but no hours that I see); I haven't eaten at any restaurants of note there
- on the east side of the Sandias, you can find Tinkertown, a quirky outsider art immersive experience worth a detour IMO, and then you can hike on and around Sandia Mountain(s)
- Albuquerque is the biggest city in this rural state, so there's a TON of stuff to do here. Tell me what you like and have time to do, and I'll give you more information. Personal weird pick: American International Rattlesnake Museum, "an animal conservation museum" that feels like a (significantly improved) roadside zoo experience, with tons of snakes in terrariums, plus other reptiles and snake-related stuff. If that's too weird or offputting, there are a number of other interesting museums in ABQ. But if you do go to the rattlesnake museum, you're in Albuquerque Old Town, which is a nice little detour of its own. On the topic of food, I'll point to Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog and its ABQ restaurant index as a way to help pick the best of the best in the city (he has a broader New Mexico index, but he doesn't have something in every town).
- You can stop in and see the Pueblo of Laguna, but continue on to the Pueblo of Acoma to get a tour Sky City, as a more tourist-focused experience, compared to wandering through a living historic community. (You'll miss the public feast days, but you can check that calendar and plan to come back around those events, if you so wish.)
- Grants is pretty small, but has some museums and galleries, including the mining museum; if you want a longer detour off the beaten path, the Land of Fire and Ice, aka Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave, is about half an hour south from Grants.
- I'm not too familiar with Gallup, but the city's website identifies some features and attractions.
Santa Fe is about 45 minutes north of Albuquerque, for sake of planning. As halation noted, there's a lot more there, and fun ways to get there besides I-25 (mainly Turquoise Trail, but you can also get there by routing through Jemez Springs and Los Alamos, but that's closer to 3 hours, FWIW).
If you want to get out and trek around, there are a ton of trails, even from I-40. Here's All Trail's page for New Mexico as a starting point.
And another catch-all reference: All of the Cool Stops and Attractions on I-40, a user-made list of locations on Roadtrippers.com.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:30 PM on October 18, 2017
Cannot recommend the tamales and other items at El Modelo in Albuquerque enough. Its a kind of odd spot, right on the railroad tracks, mostly for take out (although they have a couple of picnic benches outside to use. Pretty sure that the tamales would be fine for your gluten free friend.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:43 PM on October 18, 2017
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:43 PM on October 18, 2017
Malpais National Park, near Grant, NM, and right off of 40.
It is absolutely beautiful -- and isolated and surreal (ancient lava fields, sink holes, pinon pine trees everywhere). I promise you won't see anyone hiking the trails! A great place to camp.
Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Also beautiful.
posted by Cwell at 1:53 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
It is absolutely beautiful -- and isolated and surreal (ancient lava fields, sink holes, pinon pine trees everywhere). I promise you won't see anyone hiking the trails! A great place to camp.
Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Also beautiful.
posted by Cwell at 1:53 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
For Albuquerque, I'd just add that you should stop at The Frontier. It is really good for breakfast especially, they have green chili, which you should really get some of while you're there, and it's just one of those places you go when you're in Albuquerque. They even sell t-shirts so you can prove it later.
I'd also recommend the El Dorado Panaderia for lunch, and for some baked goods for you. They are a really great panaderia, but they also have lunch options including some that should be gluten free, so you can get yourself some pastries and stuff without tormenting your friend in the process.
posted by ernielundquist at 3:15 PM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'd also recommend the El Dorado Panaderia for lunch, and for some baked goods for you. They are a really great panaderia, but they also have lunch options including some that should be gluten free, so you can get yourself some pastries and stuff without tormenting your friend in the process.
posted by ernielundquist at 3:15 PM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Do you like fancy hipster coffee shops? We stopped in one in Nashville maybe 1 mile off I-40. It was crema, and it was delicious.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 3:27 PM on October 18, 2017
posted by Ms Vegetable at 3:27 PM on October 18, 2017
On I-40 you'll be coming right through Asheville NC, which means you could tour the Biltmore House, largest private home in the country, French Chateau built by Cornelius Vanderbilt. It's not cheap but it's an experience of Belle Epoque living by robber barons.
posted by MovableBookLady at 3:55 PM on October 18, 2017
posted by MovableBookLady at 3:55 PM on October 18, 2017
In New Mexico, most of the travelers I've had have wanted to see Meow Wolf .
posted by yohko at 8:18 PM on October 18, 2017
posted by yohko at 8:18 PM on October 18, 2017
I would recommend taking the Interstates as little as possible if not avoiding them altogether. Pretty much every Interstate has parallel US highways within twenty miles or so. I wish I had enough time on my recent cross country drive to continue on US highways instead of interstates once I got east of Kansas City. But I can say that west of Kansas City I found the US highways to be well maintained and very interesting. There are parks and towns and industries and historical markers and farms and people and restaurants. The interstates are homogenized and bland. The only thing with the US highways is you generally have to remember to slow down when you are entering towns/the speed limit drops but you can still make decent time. Looking at google maps, driving time from Richmond to Santa Barbara is 39hrs using Interstates. If you use the "avoid highways" feature it says 53 hrs. "Avoid highways" is actually "avoid interstates" not "avoid highways". I'd say the extra 25% or so time you would spend driving by avoiding interstates is very much worth it.
posted by GregorWill at 8:42 AM on October 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by GregorWill at 8:42 AM on October 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
A friend of mine has a bit of a Route 40 obssesion and created this comprehensive website: http://www.route40.net
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 10:30 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 10:30 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
-Things we absolutely should not leave home without, but may not have thought of
Get that Jetta thoroughly checked-out by a mechanic before you go. You don't say how old it is, but...it's a VW.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:08 AM on October 19, 2017
Get that Jetta thoroughly checked-out by a mechanic before you go. You don't say how old it is, but...it's a VW.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:08 AM on October 19, 2017
@Jasper--
I don't think he is planning on taking US Highway Route 40, despite saying he is taking "Route 40". I think he is planning on taking Interstate 40 which goes close by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Oachita National Forest as well as through Flagstaff, while US Highway Route 40 passes well north of all of those. Great link though!
posted by GregorWill at 6:34 PM on October 19, 2017
I don't think he is planning on taking US Highway Route 40, despite saying he is taking "Route 40". I think he is planning on taking Interstate 40 which goes close by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Oachita National Forest as well as through Flagstaff, while US Highway Route 40 passes well north of all of those. Great link though!
posted by GregorWill at 6:34 PM on October 19, 2017
I recommend taking US 93 to Vegas, from there Nv160 blue diamond highway to Pahrump, get gas, Nv372 becomes Ca178.
Ca.highway 178 is the route through Death Valley to panamint valley,Trona wildrose Rd. to Ridgecrest Ca.
Ca Highway14 south past Red Rock Canyon and mojave Ca to Ave D
(Ca.Highway138) west to the Interstate 5 north to frazier park road
to lockwood valley road, this road ends at state highway 33, Ojai is south.
highway 150 from Ojai to Santa Barbara . this is the beautiful scenic route no traffic jams .
posted by hortense at 10:51 PM on October 19, 2017
Ca.highway 178 is the route through Death Valley to panamint valley,Trona wildrose Rd. to Ridgecrest Ca.
Ca Highway14 south past Red Rock Canyon and mojave Ca to Ave D
(Ca.Highway138) west to the Interstate 5 north to frazier park road
to lockwood valley road, this road ends at state highway 33, Ojai is south.
highway 150 from Ojai to Santa Barbara . this is the beautiful scenic route no traffic jams .
posted by hortense at 10:51 PM on October 19, 2017
I-40 goes right by (possibly through) Petrified Forest National Park. It's worth a visit, especially if you already are going to have a National Parks Pass.
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:15 PM on October 20, 2017
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:15 PM on October 20, 2017
To be sure, individual tastes very but having made multiple cross country road trips, I wouldn't miss Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks in southwestern Utah. Zion is a little over 2 hours from the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Then I would head southwest on I-15 to Nevada's Valley of Fire, which is on the way back to I-40. Then on to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In my experience, spending half a day at the Grand Canyon was more than enough. I love to explore and the adventure of not knowing what's around the corner on a great hike, but the Grand Canyon just felt like peering into a massive crevasse and quickly quenched my appetite for it. Knowing Arizona, as you stated, it's probably no secret that Sedona has incredible scenery and countless outstanding hiking trails. Lots of unique shops and restaurants in Sedona too. Tent camping tips to stay warm at night here. Also, from experience, try to plan ahead and set up camp early in the day. Pushing daylight, setting up a tent in pitch darkness almost ruined a friendship. Hope you have a great time!
posted by dudiggy at 12:32 AM on October 21, 2017
posted by dudiggy at 12:32 AM on October 21, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
The OK-TX leg is pretty empty, as I recall, so, you know, be prepared for that with lots of snacks and music. There are not likely to be too many camping opportunities, so you may want to blow through that leg in as close to one shot as you can.
There's an old-timey soda fountain in Albuquerque! And you're an easy drive from Santa Fe, which is worth a detour; there are other interesting littler towns along there, too, like Madrid and Abiquiu, and places like Tent Rocks and Bandelier and Ghost Ranch. There are hot-spring-bathing-type opportunities in that area, also, if that's of interest: Jemez Springs, Ojo Caliente, or (for a less rustic experience) Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe.
posted by halation at 1:05 PM on October 18, 2017 [4 favorites]