I apologize for the long post (and posting it in multiple places). Not sure where to post something like this. In early April of 2008, I will start a three-week journey driving from Raleigh, NC most likely ending in Sacramento, CA. I have bought a book called “120 Scenic Drives in America” and I am using this to help guide my route. The real purpose of the trip is to see the country, significant points of interest along the way, and just get away.
Below is what I have laid out thus far – and is subject to change based on my fellow TA’s advice. I have attempted to split it up to drive around 200 miles/day. The places that seem a bit strange to stop are those places along my routes that have a TA highly rated place to stay that are in my price range ($100/night). I frequent Hampton Inns and that class of hotel. I will need internet connectivity along the way as I will be working some.
Any input or advice on my journey would be very much appreciated. I am very open to your suggestions – I have received awesome advice from you guys thus far.
Day 1: Raleigh, NC to Lewisburg, WV. One of the “scenic drives”, the Midland Trail, starts in White Sulphur Springs, WV to and goes to Charleston, WV. 244 miles.
Day 2: Lewisburg, WV to Morehead, KY. Finishes the Midland Trail. 225 miles.
Day 3: Morehead, KY to Bowling Green, KY. Route includes the “Bluegrass to Pennroyal” drive. 248 miles.
Day 4: Bowling Green, KY to Metropolis, IL. Finish the “Bluegrass to Pennroyal” drive and get a little gambling in Metropolis. 163 miles.
Day 5: Metropolis, IL to Marian, IL via the “Shawnee Hills Scenic Byway” along the IL/KY border. 122 miles.
Day 6: Marian, IL to Jefferson City, MO. Will start the “Missouri Rhineland” drive. 262 miles.
Day 7: Jefferson City, MO to Kansas City, MO. Have friends there. 160 miles.
Day 8: Kansas City, MO to McPherson, KS. Will be doing the “Kansas East and West” drive. 215 miles.
Day 9: McPherson, KS to Goodland, KS. 271 miles.
Day 10: Goodland, KS to Walsenburg, CO. 272 miles.
Day 11: Walsenburg, CO to Espanola, NM. 258 miles.
Day 12: Espanola, NM to Gallup, NM. 222 miles.
Day 13: Gallup, NM to Sedona, AZ. 213 miles.
Day 14: Sedona, AZ to Williams, AZ via the Grand Canyon. 250 miles.
Day 15: Williams, AZ to Laughlin, NV. 146 miles.
Day 16: Laughlin, NV to Las Vegas, NV. 100 miles.
Day 17: Las Vegas, NV to Stovepipe Wells, CA. 152 miles.
Day 18: Stovepipe Wells, CA to Lone Pine, CA. 88 miles.
Day 19: Lone Pine, CA to Lee Vining, CA. 123 miles.
Day 20: Lee Vining, CA to South Lake Tahoe, CA. 110 miles.
Day 21: South Lake Tahoe, CA to Sacramento, CA. 110 miles.
Day 22: Fly back to North Carolina.
Driving Across Country - Need Adviceenjoy the bbq in kcmo, it%26#39;s world class! also try to get by jess and jim%26#39;s in martin city for steak.
Driving Across Country - Need AdviceDay 9 %26amp; Day 10 ... If you are going from McPherson, KS to Walsenburg, CO, I don%26#39;t understand why you%26#39;re going to Goodland, KS on the way !?! Is there something up that way that the book says you should see? If not, just go West from McPherson. You would have several options ... start SW to Hutchinson and visit the Kansas Cosmosphere or the Carey Salt Museum (down in a mine), then go W on US 50 to Dodge City, then US400 to Colorado. Or, you could, go W to Great Bend, go SW on US 56 to Pawnee Rock - a Santa Fe Trail landmark, and the restored old Fort Larned is worth a visit, then hit Dodge, and W to Colo. Or, at Great Bend, you can go W on K-96, a good state highway that takes you through wheat growing country ... stop at Scott City and detour North about 10 miles to Lake Scott State Park, a canyonesque oasis carved out of the plains ... interesting rock formations nearby ... you want to see this before you get to Colorado or you won%26#39;t be impressed any more! You could take more time to see more ';stuff'; if you just continue West, rather than going back up to I-70 to Goodland.
Other tips ... before leaving McPherson, visit the Maxwell Game Preserve, east about 10 miles to Canton, then north about 8 miles, where there are herds of bison and elk.
Towards the end of this leg, between Las Animas CO and La Junta CO, there is Bent%26#39;s Old Fort, a ';real deal'; old Santa Fe Trail fort with lots of real Wild West history (not like the pretend kind they have in Dodge City).
Thanks NotDave. I think I will head South/Southwest out of Kansas City and skip Goodland and Walesenburg altogether. I will post a new schedule in a few weeks or so.
Again, thanks!
A site that may be on interest to someone on their way across Kansas or wanting to take some day trips would be to go to on of our local television stations web site. www.kwch.com and click on the eight wonders of Kansas link. There are videos for four of the sites and a new one will be added each week after it is televised on air. You can do a search for the places listed but not yet shown and find information about them.
Thanks Patrick. I will take a look.
Also look at http://www.kansastravel.org
Hi, I suggest you stop at Furnace Creek rather than Stovepipe Wells (there is nothing there) also travel on to Bishop rather than Lone Pine. You should also give yourself more time in Las Vegas - unless you%26#39;ve done it al before. Have a great time!
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