La To Wa: Which Roadtrip Stops Should I Make?

[Sethodine]

So, my brother and I are talking about picking up our Elios from the factory in Shreevesport, and road-tripping all the way back to Washington (the state).

The question then becomes...what stops should we make? We haven't seen much of the midwest or the south, so we don't have any idea as to the route to take. We don't want to linger or go too far out of the way, but there are a lot of options as to the path we could take.

(Note that this ISN'T a discussion on the possible pitfalls of such a trip in an "untested" car, especially since this is in the Off-Topic board. I'm only looking for suggestions as to the route and/or must-see stops along the way.)

 

[JEBar]

much depends on which way you want to travel .... the southern route from the factory over to California and up the west coast takes you through a part of the country that is very different from up the center through OK City, St Louis, KC, Sioux Falls and over to the northwest

 

[Jambe]

Winter or Not-winter also makes a difference.

 

[Jim H]

So, my brother and I are talking about picking up our Elios from the factory in Shreevesport, and road-tripping all the way back to Washington (the state).

The question then becomes...what stops should we make? We haven't seen much of the midwest or the south, so we don't have any idea as to the route to take. We don't want to linger or go too far out of the way, but there are a lot of options as to the path we could take.

(Note that this ISN'T a discussion on the possible pitfalls of such a trip in an "untested" car, especially since this is in the Off-Topic board. I'm only looking for suggestions as to the route and/or must-see stops along the way.)

JE Bar mentioned the southern route. It includes things like the Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and the California beaches and scenic highway, An option you might want to consider

 

[Buckeyejake]

The Pacific coast highway from San Diego to Washington is a breath taking drive if you have the time. I'd go with JE Bar's suggestion unless your passion is food. Then I'd head a little further north with stops in Memphis, Chicago and Kansas City.

 

[Sethodine]

I'm thinking about the southern route as well, but maybe skipping California and just cutting across Nevada and into Oregon from there, then following the coastline clear up the Olympic peninsula. What kind of cool stops might be found on such a route?

 

[Coss]

You'd be better off going up to Salt Lake City, then through Oregon and either heading north through WA or once you get into Oregon just head for the gorge, eastern Or is great in the NE corner, but middle of OR is the pits.

As in what to see on the way, you have the greatest tool for finding those items in front of you; your computer.
You can do a trip planner and put in the kinds of things you would be interested in seeing.
This is one of the better ones Scenic Trip Planner

 

[champsman]

I'm thinking about the southern route as well, but maybe skipping California and just cutting across Nevada and into Oregon from there, then following the coastline clear up the Olympic peninsula. What kind of cool stops might be found on such a route?

depending on the time of year from Reno north you could run into snow, therefor the southern route would be a drier way north to Williams, Ca then west to 101 north, northern calif redwoods, Bandon, Or wildlife zoo, sea lion caves north of Florence, for a few. There are countless others along the way.

 

[Muzhik]

Hook up with I-80 in Omaha. (Stop for a steak first, since you're there.) Head west on I-80 and you're on the road to history. The I-80 route goes within 2 miles on either side of the original Transcontinental Railroad, meaning you'll be seeing the same sights as those tough men (and may even encounter some remnants of "Hell On Wheels").

But then, I'm a history geek.

 

[Coss]

Hook up with I-80 in Omaha. (Stop for a steak first, since you're there.) Head west on I-80 and you're on the road to history. The I-80 route goes within 2 miles on either side of the original Transcontinental Railroad, meaning you'll be seeing the same sights as those tough men (and may even encounter some remnants of "Hell On Wheels").

But then, I'm a history geek.

Go a little further north and you can pick up on the Lewis & Clark Trail <------- link