Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with roadtrip

Roadtrip in the square states. Weird attractions?

unknowncommand — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:02:33 -0800

At the end of July, my sister and I will be taking a roadtrip from Denver to southern Kansas, though we hope to explore some of the square states nearby. We have 7 days. We like really weird and/or traditional and/or "outsider" attractions, and we will be scouring Roadside America for suggestions. Do you have any personal recommendations? Some examples of the stuff we like include the World's Tallest File Cabinet in Burlington, VT, the Orange Show in Houston, TX, the Wigwam Motel in San Bernadino, and the Camera Obscura in Santa Monica, CA. Piggyback question (sorry!) is what sort of odd or delicious foods available only in these states...

Roadtrip from Columbus OH

Pantalaimon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:25:55 -0800

Roadtrip ideas from Columbus OH I am planning to to go on a 2-3 day long roadtrip this summer. I moved to Columbus, OH recently and am not familiar with the surrounding region's attractions. So please tell me some interesting natural, cultural, artistic points of interests that's worth a visit on a roadtrip starting from Columbus.

Thanks!

Agoraphobia, schmagoraphobia.

pluckemin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:05:14 -0800

I'm going on a road trip this summer. I have weird fears about being in the middle of nowhere. What can I expect in terms of frequency of rest stops, etc.? I'm particularly neurotic about never being too far away from a bathroom, but I also just don't like the idea of being hundreds of miles away from civilization. I think 90 percent of the battle is knowing what to expect, so I can mentally prepare myself (and the other 10 percent is resisting the urge to avoid beverages to the point where I get dehydrated).

We're going from Chicago to the Grand Canyon, traveling primarily on interstates through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Particularly states like NE, WY, and SD I tend to think of as totally desolate (I've never been anywhere between Chicago and California), but on the other hand interstates sound nice and accommodating. So what can I expect? Will there be hundred-mile stretches with no gas stations or rest stops to be found, or is there really nowhere in this country that hasn't been blighted by civilization?

Ideas for a Travelogue

aladfar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:32:01 -0800

A pal of mine is planning on setting up a website for a road trip, and in addition to integrating a blog, he'd like to track simple bits of data & information. Here's what he's thought of so far: — Miles driven
— Hours driven
— Gas pumped
— Cost breakdowns: gas, hotels, food
— Travel Scrabble record/scores
— The license plate game
— Amusing townspeople

He'd love to integrate a few more. Ideas? Are there other inspiring road trip sites out there?

While we're on the roadtrip topic: any tips on getting online from the road? Hotel and cafe wifi is OK, but what about tethering a cell phone? He's on TMobile (but might switch to AT&T in anticipation of getting a new iPhone).

How to fairly split costs on a roadtrip

biwa-shu — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:51:04 -0800

What's the fairest way to split gasoline and other costs between riders on a roadtrip? We will travel in Japan, and there are many variables in our trip, but I imagine the same information could be used in light of the rise in gas prices in north america!

-One person will incur costs traveling by train to our start point.
-We will travel by toll road.
-We will pick one person up along the way, incurring costs when we exit from the toll road. Does that rider pay the entire cost? Is he responsible for his share of our entire toll burden, or only the cost from his point of pickup?
-Also, should all riders split gasoline evenly, or only depending on how far they travel (eg: we split gas 3 ways until we pick up our 4th rider, then split it 4 ways)?

Because I own the car, I am interested in collecting as much money as I can--I have to think about oil, wear and tear, and cleaning time. Would it be fair to split the entire cost of our trip between all the riders evenly?

Road trip: Up the Mississippi, across the UP and Canada, through the Adirondacks, and back to Chicago

sandor — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:47:10 -0800

YARQ: Yet Another Roadtrip Question. My wife and I are taking a circle tour kinda-sorta of the Great Lakes, going west from Chicago, up the Mississippi, through the UP, east to Montreal, south through Vermont and Adirondacks, and down to Pittsburgh before heading home. Basic question here: what should we do? More specifically the route is: Chicago → Iowa City → Trempealeau, WI → Mississipi River → Minneapolis → Apostle Islands/Lake Superior → Upper Peninsula → Mackinac Island → Sault Ste Marie → Sudbury, Ontario → Montreal → Quebec City → Lake Champlain, Vermont → Adirondack Mountains → Niagara Falls → Pittsburgh → Ypsilanti, Michigan → Chicago

And here is the vaguely USA-shaped route we're probably-maybe taking, via GoogleMaps.

The goal here is to see as much small-town stuff as big-town stuff, if not more. We've got ourselves the Road Trip USA book, which has been very helpful. But there are a lot of empty gaps still.

If you've been on these routes, what should we make a point of stopping to see? Most important to us are the restaurants. I'd be happy to base the entire route on hitting three good spots a day. Then come mini-golf courses, offbeat museums, beautiful parkland, and worthwhile hotels. There are too many choices out there; help us narrow it down?

Best places to go in the Canadian Okanagan

matildaben — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:24:53 -0800

We'll be passing through the Canadian Okanagan on a road trip from Seattle to Banff. We'd like to spend a day or two in the Okanagan on the way. Any tips on the best places to go/eat/drink/see while we're there? We like good eating, wine, and photographing pretty places.

Belgian Beer Road Trip

srboisvert — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:17:37 -0800

I am planning a Belgian beer road trip for the fall. Any tips? The only items that I know I must do is to visit Bruge and get a case of Westvleteren (I am very familiar with the other Trappiste delights so there is less need to hunt them down). Any other must see and do things? Is it worth making the trip to other breweries?

I'll be driving from the UK and might be considering some camping as well. If others have done this kind of thing I would love to here about the routes taken.

Take [Us] Back to Old New Brunswick

Pollomacho — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:47:09 -0800

Road Trip Filter: Help us plot our road trip to Canada! Difficulty: active toddler. Once again my wife and I head into the wilds of New Brunswick (Canada, not New Jersey). Normally, we’d fly or breeze on up, but this is our first trip back to her family farm since the birth of our wiggly and “busy” daughter. Ideally, we’ll take two days of driving from DC to near St. John. Please hive mind, help us plot a trip that involves minimal driving and traffic snarls but maximum beauty, interest, and spots to stop, change diapers, pump her full of food and allow her to run and scream for a bit. Bonus points for a great place to stop for the night where we’d all have a great time or any ideas for making a two day road trip with an active pre-terrible-two more pleasant! Thanks in advance!

Extra bonus: Daddy loves lobster rolls.

Where should we go for a weekend getaway?

MaryDellamorte — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:02:37 -0800

The boyfriend and I would like to get away for a weekend. Somewhere interesting within a five hour radius of Richmond, VA. Where to go? We aren't looking for anything beach related since he's from VA Beach and we both hate the water and the sun. Also, DC and Charlottesville are played out. I was thinking either somewhere out west in the mountains, or maybe even Philadelphia since Mapquest says its roughly five hours from here. But really, I am open to any suggestions. Bonus points for destinations with great vegan restaurants, interesting museums, or antique stores. Thanks!

What to do at night in a small hotel room in a small country town?

b33j — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:13:46 -0800

My husband and I are going on a road trip this weekend and have plenty of places and things to do during daylight hours. It's just the two of us (yay, no kids!) and we'll no doubt chat all day during the drives, hikes, sightseeing. We need something to do between checking in and going to sleep. I'd like an activity that's cheap, and involves the both of us. Nights are in prebooked hotels in very small country towns (that is, we don't have the option to keep driving until we need to sleep). We don't drink. One laptop between the two of us, with no guarantee of internet access. Apart from the obvious bedroom romps, what the hell else do we do during the night time? Normally at home, we (introverts) work (online), study(online), interact with the kids, he plays WOW (not installed on my laptop). Not big TV watchers.

We're Australian, married 17 years, 40+, travelling through Central NSW.

Roadtrip! Dallas to Denver

verevi — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:33:40 -0800

I'm driving from Dallas to Denver and want to make the trip fun: 1)Where should we stay overnight along the way? 2)What interesting things should we see and do along the way? I'd rather drive less the second day, so I imagine I should stay somewhere north of Amarillo (Possibly in New Mexico?). I am driving with my mother who is accustomed to very nice hotels, so I am not looking for budget-minded recommendations. Are there any nice little towns with cute and nice hotels somewhere approximately mid-way between Dallas and Denver? Any interesting historical or culture experiences to be had? Any great places to eat?

Any and all recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Trans Canada Roadtrip

niccolo — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:35:11 -0800

In two weeks I am taking a roadtrip across Canada from Ottawa to Vancouver (I'll be living in Vancouver for the next year). I have 4-5 extra days I can use along the way (i.e. non-travel days). I want to spend these mostly in Alberta and BC. What's awesome in Alberta and BC, where should I stay/visit? I am male, 25, and I will be traveling alone. I will be staying mostly in hostels.

What would be the perfect roadtrip vehicle for a four-person cross-canada trip?

cmyr — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:54:29 -0800

In August, a friend and I are planning on driving from montreal to vancouver, where we will meet two friends of ours finishing their summer reservist stints, go camping for a bit somewhere in B.C., and then drive home. The majority of our friends' gear can be shipped home via military mail, but we will need to take all of our stuff out with us, and take our friends' camping + living stuff back to quebec. What would be the perfect vehicle for this trip? I'm planning on buying a vehicle specifically with this trip in mind, which I will store/sell once I get back to quebec. I am willing to purchase from any quebec/ontario metro area, and am also willing to purchase from anywhere in the states that's less than a 14h drive from montreal.

I'm interested in something fun, and something that may not be particularly practical; I initially thought there would only be two of us on this trip, and was looking into an E30 convertible, but that's no longer practical.

So, given the criteria that 4 full-sized man-boys and all their crap must be able to comfortably travel for over 3000 miles, what are our viable options? I'm now leaning towards an older volvo station wagon, but i'm pretty fickle and am sure I'll have a better idea shortly.

other stuff:

-my budget would be around 10k for something awesome, and 5k as a sort of general target.

-I don't really like SUVs, although something like an older land-rover could be fun.

-The CAF are covering my two friends' travel costs, up to a certain limit, which means we probably don't have to pay for fuel on the trip back.

-practicality is cool and all, but I have all the rest of my life to learn from my mistakes, and only so long to make 'em.

-I'm sure i've forgotten something important, so let me know and I'll try to clarify.

so without further ado, motorhead-mefites, gimme your best shot.

RoadtripFilter: Fastest way to MO from NJ?

adamdrici — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:31:12 -0800

I-80 vs. I-70: Which will get me to Missouri from New Jersey with the smaller headache? I am driving out to Maryville, MO (~two hours NW of K.C.) from New Jersey this weekend. I've found two alternate routes, I-70 and I-80. Directions show them to be pretty much equal mileage and time-wise. But Google Maps never drove a car.

Anyone make a similar drive before? Suggestions on which route would be the better choice?

Thankee.

Looking for songs about Kansas City for a roadtrip - please help?

inatizzy — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:49:29 -0800

My little brother just graduated from school in Indiana and is moving to Kansas City. (the Kansas side) He'll be driving there from the eastern side of Missouri and I want to make him a mix for the road but I'm coming up short on songs! I've already got a few obvious ones but I can use your help filling out my list. I am open to ones about Kansas City, the state of Kansas, the state of Missouri, the midwest, road tripping, America in general, and maybe even graduating/starting out in the adult world. (in descending order of preference :) Serious songs, silly songs, any genre... it's wide open. The songs don't even need to be entirely about these things, if they just mention it, it is enough.

Any suggestions? thanks in advance. :)

Help California (or western Nevada/Arizona) entertain us!

guruguy9 — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:42:03 -0800

Please provide some suggestions for an entertaining 1 day road trip based out of Los Angeles. We've already traveled to Death Valley, Salton Sea... A friend and I have been taking 1 day road trips every few months to explore, take photos and experience some of the more ridiculous attractions within striking distance of Los Angeles. Previous trips include: Death Valley, Barker Ranch, The Salton Sea (East and West sides in separate trips including Salvation Mtn, Slab City etc), Mexico boarder towns, Calico Ghost Town, Cave Tours, Ship Wreck in Long Beach, and the Dinosaurs from the Wizard (CALIFORNIA!!!).

We’re out of ideas.

What other fun, odd or otherwise drive worthy destinations can be experienced in one full day from LA (our longest trip was just under 20 hours there and back largely because we were lost on the back roads of Death Valley – but we saved stranded Russian immigrants!). Have to say, LA county attractions are out unless they are amazing as we’re looking to hit the highways or dirt roads. Any other suggestions appreciated!

What to see in Ireland?

Grither — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:19:27 -0800

Driving through the northern half of Ireland next week, does anyone have any suggestions on castles, sights, breweries, or distilleries that we shouldn't miss? We're renting a car in Belfast on the 27th of May, and driving around Ireland with only a vague route of Belfast->Galway->Dublin and back to Belfast on the 1st of June.

Obviously we're going to the Guinness Brewery, and the Cliffs of Moher, but I was wondering if any Mefites had any other suggestions of great places to see that might be somewhat along the way.

We have no hostels booked other than in Belfast and Dublin, so there's definitely room for variations of the route. I don't think we'll have time to get down to Cork and more southerly points, but suggestions for there are welcome as well!

Oh, also, will a US car charger for an iPod work in a European car? Or do they have different voltages in their cigarette lighters? Do they even HAVE cigarette lighters? Thanks in advance!

Road trip! Mendocino to Calgary in 4 days.

jimmythefish — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:09:25 -0800

Honeymoon-ish road trip from Mendocino CA to Calgary AB. Routes? Sights? Places to stay? Greetings Hivemind,

I'm getting married on June 14th on Vancouver Island. My wife and I are driving down to Mendocino for a few days at a bed and breakfast and then planning to head across the western states and back to Calgary. We have four days in which to do so before we need to be back for work on the Monday. I recognize that we'll need to do some longer days in the car but plan to see some stuff as well.

I'm very familiar with Washington, Oregon and California but have never driven through Nevada or Utah or southern Idaho before.

I'm looking for preferred routes, notable bed and breakfasts, etc. This might be late for some quality planning but we're on the adventurous/outdoors-minded side and don't mind being flexible or staying at an el cheapo if nothing else comes up.

We won't be camping (for a change) and have a penchance for photography and nice places to hike/run. Not looking for heart shaped beds.

4 day road trip on the US' East Coast: What to see, where to stay, what to eat?

unsupervised — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:23:32 -0800

Roadtrip along the US' East Coast from New York to Port Canveral, FL with 4 days to make the drive. Where should we stop along the way to enjoy ourselves? It's just my wife and myself, so there's no children to consider. The roadtrip is from July 17th-20th (considering leaving after work on the 16th to give us even more time). We'll be taking I-95 down and it'll take us through New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Florida.

This isn't the first time we'll be making the drive but it is the first time we're stopping along the way for anything more than a place to sleep.

We've never really gotten to enjoy North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia so our plans are to make that the focus of most of our free time there, stopping in Raleigh, NC, Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA, but we can easily be swayed elsewhere (although Savannah is calling us).

We'd also like to end up within 4-5 hours of Port Canaveral on the final night, the 19th, so we can get to our cruise relatively early. We've picked St. Augustine, FL, mainly because it seems central to a bunch of places we plan to hit up from Roadfood. We're certainly not tied down to the place so other recommendations are welcome.

We're always on the lookout for good eats, preferably with a local flavor, but it's nice to have somewhere to explore when the eating's done.

So where should two hungry travelers expand their horizons along the eastern seaboard?

Honeymoon Roadtrip Advice!

HBWonderful — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:22:48 -0800

In order to avoid involvement in the general wedding preparations, I selflessly offered to book our entire honeymoon as a surprise. The plan is to spend 3 weeks in August touring the North-Eastern states. So far, however, I have only managed to book flights from England to New York and back. I now have 2 flights, 3 weeks apart, and a big void between them. After exhaustive research on this site, tripadvisor and others, I am just exhausted. I'm not much closer to finalizing plans, let alone getting anything booked. Perhaps you could help? This is the long-list of places I am considering visiting. Despite several visits to the US I haven't been to any of these previously. I don't suppose I can fit them all in in just 3 weeks though:

NYC
Boston
The White Mountains
The Green Mountains
Cape Cod
Rhode Island
Bar Harbor
Portland, ME
Stowe
Lake George or similar in the Adirondacks
Martha's Vineyard

As a rough driving guide I was thinking of heading up the Hudson into the Adirondacks, then across VT into Maine to Bar Harbor, then back down Route 1 along the coast towards Boston, then off to Cape Cod area, RI, CT and back to NYC.

Our likes:
Easy (for me) to moderate hiking and biking
Great scenery; lakes, mountains, forests, cityscapes etc.
Good food of all varieties, from world-class restaurants to Lobster rolls from roadside shacks.
Shopping, outlet malls etc.
Sunbathing, picnics and lazy adventures
Blagging our way into upmarket parties at yacht clubs, private resorts and the like.

Some problems:

How much of this can I realistically fit into 3 weeks? I don't want to be on the road every other day
If you were going to do this route, what would you cut out? What would be a must-see?
Am I too late to book some of these places in August?
I am hiring a car. We are staring in NYC for the first few days. I have no problem with driving in cities (even on the wrong side of the road) but will I need one in NYC?

Diners Drive-Ins and Dives from SF to Portland

sir_rubixalot — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:09:04 -0800

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives road trip from SF to Portland (farther if needs be). So I am a big fan of the aforementioned show, I love the idea of taking a road trip/traveling to random dive/diner restaurants. I would love to take a road trip from SF to Portland all the while hitting some great diners/dives.

I found some good posts about west coast road trips (1, 2, 3, and 4) but I feel my question is a bit more specific. If anyone can even recommend diners/dive between SF and Portland that would be perfect.

Music recommendations for a desert road trip?

Roman Graves — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:34:22 -0800

Music for the Great American Southwest? In a couple of months I'll be taking my first road trip through the Southwest (West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona). Help me set the mood. What's some of your favorite music for long desert days and nights on the road? Individual song and album recommendations appreciated.

Road trip! Wisconsin to Arizona

charmston — Sun, 11 May 2008 09:24:05 -0800

From Thursday-Saturday, I'll be moving from Eau Claire, WI to Mesa, AZ. I have to drive. Money-saving tips? Day 1: Eau Claire, WI to Wichita, KS
Day 2: Wichita, KS to Albuquerque, NM
Day 3: Albuquerque, NM to Mesa, AZ

I have family to stay with in Wichita, but will have to get a hotel in Albuquerque. I'm open to tips ranging from gas station rewards programs to driving tips.

First roadtrip ever

oldtimey — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:31:00 -0800

In two months I'll be going to a conference in Denver, CO. I want to drive there. I am a new driver (at age 30, and have owned my car for six weeks). Really, I've been on a ton of long roadtrips before -- but never driving, and never by myself. Can I make the 18-hour trip?? Any tips? Google Maps says the total drive time is 18 hours, so I've planned on the drive taking 2 (or 3) days. I'll probably stay in hotels rather than camp. The previous AskMe threads about long-distance driving have been VERY helpful. So far my longest drive-time has been 1.5 hours, so I will need to practice -- if I learn to drive 6 hours at a time, will 9 feel about the same? Are there any scary stretches of road on I-80 W//I-76 between Michigan and Colorado? What else should I know to become an experienced driver who just happens to be new to all of this?