Coast -> Coast Road Trip... Suggestions please...

[uncc civilengineer]

Well kind of last minute but a co-worker/buddy of mine is moving to Portland, OR June 11th. He asked if i'd ride along for the trip. Naturally I said yes to a pretty much free cross country trip ($200 return flight). Here's some details and I'd like some input from others who have done it as it's going to be our first...

Leaving: Saturday 6/11 early AM
Returning: Sunday 6/19 early AM

Initial Plan: Haul ass until we get out to Kansas City (approx. 1,000 miles in 16 hours w/ minimal stopping) From there, that's where we need the veteran's help...

Option 1: Go North and through Nebraska, skirt Colorado, and spend time in Wyoming (Yellowstone, Jackson,Tetons, etc.)

Option 2: Go South through Kansas, Colorado, and spend time in the Moab Utah area

Option 3: You tell me...


Wyoming.. For some reason it's still snowing and basically to enjoy Yellowsone right now they're saying bring your snowshoes.. BUT, they're calling for 50's/60's starting 5/31. Obviously we'd camp/hike/bike/climb? enjoy Jackson, etc.

Moab.. Mid 80's and sunny.. He has never wheeled.. we're not pulling a rig out.. I guess we could rent a Jeep out there. We'd camp/hike/bike/climb? lol about the same.. Only difference is secnery.

Can anyone provide me some actuall first hand accounts of Jeep Rental's out there (who you like/dislike, pricing, worth renting?, etc.)

I know some of you have made a similar trip... Help us decide..

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[Yay!Gurrr]

Based on shared stories from others, even renting a jeep in moab is a lifetime experience. I'd be doing that....

 

[REDLYNER]

I've driven cross country 7 times now, 1000 miles is tough in one day. It's doable, but between stopping for food and gas, I think 16 hours might be a little short.

The Nebraska route is horrible. It's almost as bad as Kansas, but at least with Kansas you get Colorado and Colorado is beautiful to drive through. Moab: if you have never been there, it is worth any amount of time to detour to. Rent a jeep and run Hells Revenge and maybe Poison Spider Mesa if you have time.

If you know you are going to Moab, you may want to take the Southern route. It is roughly 2 hours longer (if that), but you cover twice as many states, the view keeps changing, you avoid Nebraska and Kansas, traffic isn't as bad, and food choice is pretty good. Speaking of food, would eat local where ever you go.

Not sure if any of that helps you. Have fun!

 

[Futbalfantic]

Ill agree with 1k mi in 16 hours. I took a trip to san antonio, tx (1,400 mi) and it took 24 hours. But that was with 1 hour fuel stops. (Yes, just fuel nothing else. The fill tube was kinked)

 

[Your Hot Dog Guy!]

Go I-40 and turn at Albuquerque NM. Take the hgwy 550 towards Shiprock and into Moab! I have 5 million miles OTR and believe me this will be worth it! Get in toouch with Mickey's Jeep Tours and you will have a memory! While in Portland, take a day and visit Astoria, Or. You will never regret it!

 

[woodpd]

go up and through nebraska into south dakota and accross, mount rushmore and wyoming is great, stop at wall drugs it better than south of the border. you are looking at 20 hours for your first day. i am from nebraska and was stationed in washington and texas so i have been back and cross again 10 or more times. have fun

 

[Jasper]

Moab is a good stop, don't know that I would take the route to Albuquerque, lived there for 3 years... the scenery is beautiful but it seems a long way to get to Oregon. The northern route should be fine this time of year. If I had to make the trip I would like to see Reno and Lake Tahoe again... and of course the Rubicon Trail.

 

[shawn]

Nebraska sucks. Kansas and OK are both better. I think everybody should drive across Kansas once. Yeah, there's nothing out there... but that makes it kinda interesting the first time through, and you get to watch the Rockies come into view in eastern CO. I70 through CO is awesome, too.

I40 to 550 is good, I've been that way twice. It's a solid second choice, and is basically the same distance to Moab.

 

[Your Hot Dog Guy!]

The wind always blows east in Wyoming because Nebraska sucks and Colorado blows!

 

[iluv_mud]

If I had the time I would try to go through Colorado. Iirc Colorado can be be crossed on 95% dirt/gravel. I know Sport Compact Car did it in a Subaru.

 

[GONOVRIT]

My dad drove coast to coast for around 30yrs, he always said he hated driving through Kansas the most for the lack of scenery and it being so flat. I don't know but isn't Nebraska along the same lines? Corn field after corn field?

I've only driven out and back once but I'd gladly shoot myself in the damn foot before I drove through TX pulling a 30' goose in an ice storm again

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Caver Dave]

Must hit's in the Portland area... The Rogue Public House!

Start small (samplers) to nail down your fav's and be careful of the distillery tour (tell them your from NC)... 4 shots from various stages of the process will severely decrease the amount of beer you can drink before falling out!

 

[uncc civilengineer]

UPDATE:

Trip summary (went the Northern Scenic route):

Saturday 6/11 – departed from Pfafftown, NC at approx. 9:00am

Sunday 6/12 – arrived at our campsite in Teton National Forest at approx. 5:00pm (34 hour drive! 2,050 miles)

Monday 6/13 – Yellowstone all day

Tuesday 6/14 – Yellowstone AM, Jackson Hole Ski Resort/Jackson, WY PM

Wednesday 6/15 – packed up camp and headed to Bend, OR (via. Teton Pass another 725 miles) arrived at approx. 9PM... Hit up Deschutes Brewery..

Thursday 6/16 – checked out of the motel and headed South to Crater Lake, OR then onto the Redwoods of Northern California (Crescent City, CA) (another 300 miles).. Arrived around 5PM, set up camp, then went and had some seafood on the Pacific Ocean.

Friday 6/17 – packed up camp and headed to Portland, OR via US-101 Oregon Coast Highway (350 miles) arrived in Portland, OR around 7pm

Saturday 6/18 – explored Portland, OR

Sunday 6/19 – I flew home…

Fast forward to Monday/Tuesday = exhausted!

Trip driving mileage = 4,500 miles in around 7 days…

All I have to say is the Tetons and Crater Lake provide some amazing scenery... not much like those two around… I'll get some pics up this week...

 

[ghost]

Wow nice! Cannot wait to see the pictures.

 

[uncc civilengineer]

Few:

Grand Teton

Jackson Hole

Top

Corbets

Crater Lake, OR

Oregon Coast

Out the plane window on the way home

 

[customcruiser]

The last time I went to Crater Lake there was 20' of snow on the ground....

Did you go thru Ashland, OR on your way to the Redwoods?? I use to live in Medford.

Man I miss the mountians out there.

Too bad Dusty didnt make it out with you

 

[uncc civilengineer]

Man the entire rim road was closed still (probably through atleast July this year).. they, like most out that way have had record snowfall.. Still probably 20' + on most roads.

We didn't go that far south to go through Ashland...

I gave Dusty a few calls from out there...

 

[Fart]

Nice pics! Corbet's Couloir looks mean any time of the year.