Need West to East Coast Trip Route Ideas

inaminit · 02-08-2013, 03:37 PM

Hello- Bought a 996 in Sacremento last fall (yes-had a ppi done!)-now the plan is to drive it home to Maine this May. I love the western mountain vistas and the winding roads with sweeping views, so I would prefer to take my time through the western half of the trip, then do the east half briskly. Little towns with B&B's, maybe some wildflower filled fields? Snow filled roads would be a bummer, so I may have to jig south at the start. Would leave Sacto or Tahoe area about May 1. We have been to Yosemite and Death Valley already. Any suggestions on routes or not to miss places woul be great! Thanks

wrinkledpants · 02-08-2013, 04:12 PM

I'd still head through Yosemite as that's a great drive. I mean - that drive up to Yosemite might be one of my favorite stretches of road anywhere, and I live in Denver. This way, you come out that backside of Cali and can cruise across NV hitting up the Alien HWY. Make sure you plan this well as this is probably the most remote section of road I've ever driven in my life (and I've road tripped a lot through Canada). We found people stranded on the road that had been there for 2 days. Left them with water, and drove to the next town to call for help. Strangest experience of my life sitting in a bar with aliens hanging from the ceiling, bar tender calling around to friends to see if they are awake to go help (it's 11 AM). Anyway, it's a great drive from an adventure standpoint. Plane your route to arrive in SW Utah near Zion NP. The drive across NV after the Alien HWY is also pretty amazing. No cars and lots of curvy roads. There is a slew of national parks in UT that are available on your way to CO. Bryce is a great drive-through park as it's kind of small, and all the cool things can be easily seen from the roadway. Zion is incredible and you need to drive in and spend a day here. Moab is a recreation area, so don't expect huge vistas from the car. I'd plan on a day at Zion, and the next day catch Bryce on your way to Moab. I'd stay in Moab so you can hike through Arches NP. Arches isn't my favorite, but it's iconic and it's one of those things you kind of just need to do. After this, I-70 takes you into CO and the single best stretch if interstate HWY anywhere. You'll be able to drive through the Glenwood Canyon which is pretty incredible. Even after this, the interstate constantly winds its way up and down through some of the biggest ski resorts in CO. I'd plan a day to make your way into Dillon. I'd stay here or in Breckenridge somewhere as there are a bit more areas to eat, and it's not quite the ghost town that Vail and the Beave' become after the skiers leave. From here, I'd cruise around the south side of Dillon Reservoir and head up HWY 6 over Loveland pass, linking up with I-70 on the other side. Cruise down the mountains a bit until HWY 40, at which you'll head up over Berthoud Pass, past Winterpark, and end up in a city called Grand Lake. It's a fantastic little mountain town on a picturesque lake. The plan after this is up through Rocky Mountain National Park, and I think it should be open by the time you head through. You'll end up in Estes Park. From there, take HWY 72 south and drop in your road of choice into Boulder. After that - it's all flat.

I've driven all over the country on road trips - and the route I just gave you was one I did a few years ago, and it's my favorite by far. You see everything from wide open roads in NV, moon-scapes in UT, lush forests of Vail, mountain lakes, and white capped mountains. I mean - it doesn't get any better than that.

This was taken in NV somewhere.

inaminit · 02-08-2013, 05:10 PM

That sounds great-what is the route number of the alien highway?

wrinkledpants · 02-08-2013, 05:26 PM

Head out the east side of Yosemite to HWY 6, then to 375 (alien hwy), and then take a few more roads so you hook up with I-15 at Cedar City in UT - then head south to Zion. I'd plan on staying the night in Hurricane and doing Zion in the AM. Plan your day at Zion to give yourself a 1.5 hour drive up to Tropic (just outside of Bryce). Stay there the night (hotel or camp), and cruise through Bryce in the AM. It's a long drive to the end, and honestly, I'd just drive in half-way or so, and just hike in for 20 minutes, then hike out. It's all pretty much the same, but once you see one part of it, you've seen most of it. From there, take the back country roads (hwy 72 up to I-70 or 24 up to I-70). Both equally scenic, but also desolate. So - get gas when you can!

inaminit · 02-09-2013, 04:45 PM

Thank you very much- your route looks great! We are really looking forward to the trip. Are there any vinyards or craft breweries that you would recommend visiting on the East side of of Utah?

ivangene · 02-09-2013, 08:06 PM

Each morning before you stgart driving leave a pile of doughnuts in the parking lot...that should attract the "bears" and leave to to open roads

Have fun, take pics!

ruwoodbury · ruwoodbury's Garage

I would add if your at Bryce you must head east on Hwy 12 it turns north to Boulder and on up to Torrey. From there take 24 which will wend its way to a junction with I-70. If there's a more spectacular drive than 12, I don't know it. It bends and curves and swoops through jaw-dropping vistas then deposits you in Boulder, UT to arguably the best small town restaurant in the west, Hell's Backbone Grill. Torrey is a quaint town with Capitol Reef NP looming in the background, perhaps Utah's least appreciated NP. I've not been east on 24 to I-70, but Bryce to Torrey via 12 will leave you breathless.

NOLAsc · NOLAsc's Garage

If for some reason you take a southern route and through New Orleans, send me a message.

inaminit · 02-10-2013, 04:32 PM

If I followed Wrinkledpants' route-what is the approximate driving time from Sacto to Denver (driving reasonably) in days?

r-mm · 02-10-2013, 04:40 PM

Bonneville Salt Flats!

When I drove x country (2002) you simply pulled off the road, onto the flats, and enjoyed. Great photo ops as well.

wrinkledpants · 02-10-2013, 04:52 PM

Don't know of any breweries or restaurants that I could recommend - not because there aren't any, but because I just never remember things like that.

I'd say 5-6 days driving.
1 day to get to Zion area from west Coast (long day),
2nd day in Zion and then up to Bryce,
3rd Day in Bryce and then up to Moab.
4th Day Moab to Dillon
5th Day Dillon to Grand Lake
6th Day up through Rocky Mountain NP and ending in Denver

You could also make Moab to Denver on I-70 in 5-6 hours.
Or, you could get an early start from Moab, lunch in Breckenridge/Dillon area, then over Loveland Pass and on to Grand Lake. This is what I'd do. There isn't much to see in Winter Park - so really after Dillon it's just a scenic drive. Just depends on how much you want to stop and smell the roses, per se.

You could make the whole route in 2 10-hour day drives. That's what we did. Use Google Maps to make the routes, and then just drag the end points or add points in the middle. I have found that Google time estimates are almost dead accurate if you drive 5 MPH over the speed limit, and have gas/food stops only.

irl · irl's Garage

Make it April and come to Hershey