Today, my latest travel scheme I've cooked up is probably my most ambitious to date. For the past couple of years, I've wanted to travel alone Highway 1 along the west coast, and my cousins and another friend took separate trips from California back to Texas, stopping at Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon along the way. Then Anton is about to go to Glacier National Park in Montana. I don't know if you're realized, but add those three routes together, and you have . . .
The Great Western American Roadtrip!!!
With the help of google maps, I've made an itinerary:
5318 Miles – 3 days, 12 hours of driving
Day 1: Keller to
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6-8:
Day 9:
Day 10-12:
Day 13:
Day 14:
Day 15:
Day 16:
Day 17-18:
Day 19: San Fran to
Day 20:
Day 21:
Day 22:
Day 23:
Day 24:
Day 25: Home to Keller, 7 hrs, 43 mins
11 States. 9 Cities. 3 State Parks. Are your bags packed yet?With the exception of Santa Fe, San Francisco, and Colorado, I haven't been to most of these places, and all of them are places that I'd looooove to see.
What's to consider?
Time. I could embark on this adventure as early as July 2009, or I might have to wait until the summer of 2011 or 2012, either right before or right after going on internship. Taking a month off isn't an easy task, but as long as I pick a transitional time, I could manage it.
Money. Gas will be a big cost. Estimating 30 miles per gallon on the highway in my new Camry at $4 a gallon, that comes out to a little over $700. It will probably be more with excursions around the areas we're going, and gas prices will probably continue to rise. But split at least two ways, that comes out to $350-500 per person. Lodging will be the next biggest cost. 25 nights aint cheap, but we'd do it as cheap as possible - couchsurfing, hostels, camping, and cheap, nasty motels. Depending on our options, my estimate is about $500-$1000 per person. Food can be done cheaply, buying groceries most of the time, and occasionally eating out good meals, so for that I estimate up to $300. Then there are entrance fees to parks and museums, laundry money, toll roads, parking costs, gambling in Vegas, who knows. I'd have to do some research to figure out those costs. But on the high end, I'm looking at about $2000 per person, but potentially less. For a trip this ambitious, that sounds pretty reasonable.
Driving. Can be exhausting. 7 days of heavy driving (8+ hours) and 5 days of light driving (<6 hours)
Who? Would be up for taking this trip with me and able to take the time to do it? Time will be the biggest issue. A fellow student, or someone just finishing school, or someone transitioning jobs, or someone who works for a school district. Finding someone to go with will determine when and if I take this trip. Besides the obvious perks of having someone to travel with, I really do need someone share the driving, and to make this safe.
So, it'd be awesome if this could happen. But really, who knows? If I see all of these places eventually in my lifetime (or before 2030 in the case of Glacier National Park in Montana), I'll be happy. If I could go to all of these places in one amazing month, I'll be ecstatic!
8 comments:
You cannot possibly imagine how much I want to do this. Don Miller probably gave me the itch - Through Painted Deserts is wonderful.
So . . . does that mean I have a taker? I should read that book. Add it to the pile!
What happens in 2030?
Supposedly all the glaciers in Montana will be melted by 2030 :(
I guess it depends on what country I live in at the time you actually decide to go for it.
I'll warn you that I might be a pretty miserable driving companion. I've driven 10- to 17-hour stretches solo enough times that I tend, on the highway, to get into this zone where I am totally silent and just stare at the road ahead without really paying attention to the other person(s) in the car.
Anyway, you've got a taker if you decide to do it when I'm in the States and nothing hugely unforeseen has made it impossible for me.
I support you in your endeavor, however, I must say, these reservations you have need to go out the window. Do it, do it right away. Trust me, you have no idea what life will look like in 2013, but will a little ambition and a clean bill of health, well, there's no time like RIGHT NOW. Do it.
Oh, and Glacier is quite beautiful. Spend a few days there, hike like crazy and bring some pepper spray. I was about 100 yards from two beautiful brown bears.
Brown bears, wow. If I was self-employed like you and could get someone to go with me, then I'd be there in a heartbeat. Or if I didn't care so much about graduate school and keeping an assistantship and getting practicum hours. Ugh.
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