Helpful Americans Please:)

[Hurrikane]

LOL lots of great advice here, must answer some of the comments made....

There's no way in the world I'm driving 10,000 miles acrosds the USA in anything less than an american-built V8, the engine that's designed for the job. We're steering more towards something we can spend the odd night in, like a Suburban or the afore-mentioned Astro Van... or something entirely impractical bought purely because it looks cool (saw a primered '68 firebird with massive back tires that could easily sway me on purchase day).

I meant £1000, which is closer to $2000. I must point out that I've had close to fifty cars now, and none have cost more than that. Cheap cars are my area, and the bigger the better They don't always last but you can just throw them away

Gas costs around $9 a gallon here, and I drive an old Jag that does around 18 mpg on average. $3-$4 a gallon still seems like free fuel to me, and we budgeted $1000 for fuel anyhow

Might HAVE to go to Durango, I had a cowboy book about the Durango Kid and going there would be a bit mental...

Looks like the more southerly route is the way to go, after Colorado. Thanks again.

Hurrikane

[Sirhc]

Ohhhh yeah another thing to keep an eye on is the weather reports. If you are driving through middle America during the summer there is a chance of running into big thunderstorms which can mean a lot of hail and on the rare chance you might get into a tornado situation.

Of the many times I have gone through Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri I have ran into big storms and seen funnel clouds every time, luckily no true tornados but we did get held up in Amarillo Texas once because of Tornados in that area. My last trip from Boston I always ended the night watching the Weather Channel to make sure we were not driving into a big mess. It helped out until we hit Texas then there was no getting out of the way when a storm popped up.

[Nihilist]

i wanna shoot some cans with you guys.. i can bring an array of guns and ammo.. - ; )

[trog]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard

Any Canadian not from Toronto will tell you to skip it. Only Toronto people would recommend it.

I'm in Toronto and I'd rather make the trip to Qubec City . There are a few points of interest in the area though.

Huricane, I can't help with chunk that you asked about but let me know if if I can help you out with the SW Ontario part of your journey.

[matopos bushman]

Good questions here Hurrikane. If you decide on a real southerly route, look me up in San Diego...

BTW...on the news today gas is heading toward the $4 mark for summer, so you may want to adjust gas budget accordingly.

Even if you buy a beater, make sure it has decent aircon...driving through the midwest that time of the year is hot and steamy, and buggy...did I mention buggy...

Have a wonderful trip, and most of all have fun.

BM

[DanielleYourMom]

I'm gonna have with Hurri and little miss Hurri !!

Totally not helpful at all, I know .. but just had to express some joy !!

[LarsMac]

Well, I recommend:
SLC, North to Idaho Falls, Idaho, East to Jackson Wyoming, north past the Tetons to Yellowstone National Park. Then north again, following the Yellowstone River, into Montana. drive to Livingston, and the work your way East from there.
If it is September, around Labor Day, you can stop in Big Timber, Montana to see the running of the sheep. (it is kinda local thing, I guess)

If you have the time, check out the Devils Tower, and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Nice area, with some interesting stuff to see. There is, of course, Mt Rushmore, There is also a rather large carving being done of Cheif Crazy Horse, one of the great Lakota war chiefs. If you plan to see Crazy Horse, stop and see Rushmore first, the perspective is important.

Then from the Black Hills a day's drive or so to Chicago.

Ya gotta stay a few days in Downtown Chicago. It is a great City. Lots to do, and just wander about the town and check it out.

This whole trip, from SLC to Chicago can be done in as few as four days (you can do it in two, but you will miss a lot of neat stuff), or as many as three weeks, depending on your time and funds available, and interests.

ALSO, IF you have time after Chicago, run North through Green Bay, through the Michigan upper peninsula, to Sault Ste Marie, cross into Canada, and take the Queen's Highway to Sudbury, and south to Toronto (another great city.)
Then from Toronto around the west end of Lake Erie, to Niagra Falls.
The Canada side of the falls are far more impressive, (IMHO) than the US side to approach for the first time.

From Niagra it is a easy drive to NYC or Boston.

[LarsMac]

Originally Posted by Hurrikane

LOL lots of great advice here, must answer some of the comments made....

There's no way in the world I'm driving 10,000 miles acrosds the USA in anything less than an american-built V8, the engine that's designed for the job. We're steering more towards something we can spend the odd night in, like a Suburban or the afore-mentioned Astro Van... or something entirely impractical bought purely because it looks cool (saw a primered '68 firebird with massive back tires that could easily sway me on purchase day).

I meant £1000, which is closer to $2000. I must point out that I've had close to fifty cars now, and none have cost more than that. Cheap cars are my area, and the bigger the better They don't always last but you can just throw them away

Gas costs around $9 a gallon here, and I drive an old Jag that does around 18 mpg on average. $3-$4 a gallon still seems like free fuel to me, and we budgeted $1000 for fuel anyhow

Might HAVE to go to Durango, I had a cowboy book about the Durango Kid and going there would be a bit mental...

Looks like the more southerly route is the way to go, after Colorado. Thanks again.

Hurrikane

If you are going the southern route through Colorado, check out the Durango-Silverthorn Railroad.
Then south a little further to Mesa Verde. This is a righteous place.

Then from there southeast to pick up route 66 in Arizona. (It is mostly Interstate 40 until you get to Oklahoma, but still a lot of neat shit to see and do.

[Joser]

I'm a pretty big fan of my home state, New Mexico. It's why I moved back here after "seeing the world."

The only place I don't recommend from this list is the UFO museum in Roswell. That's mainly because Roswell is... weird.

[LarsMac]

Originally Posted by Joser

I'm a pretty big fan of my home state, New Mexico. It's why I moved back here after "seeing the world."

The only place I don't recommend from this list is the UFO museum in Roswell. That's mainly because Roswell is... weird.

True enough. New Mexico is beautiful country.