Plan a Cross Country Road Trip to Las Vegas

The USA is so large and, in some parts of the country, destination spots are far between -- or so it would seem. Good references and a keen and honest sense of what kind of fun you want to have: these are the essentials.

Steps

  1. Discuss the music. Nothing is terrible like being in a car with people whose music you hate.
  2. Choose a GPS. Get a Rand McNally Road Atlas. Open it and drool.
  3. Assuming you're coming from the East Coast, there are three main avenues to consider: the Northern Approach (via Chicago), the Middle Approach (via St. Louis, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and south on I-15 after I-70 ends), and some favorite, the Southern Approach (turn right at Mobile and ride US 90 through the ghost towns of Texas, then ball it northwest through the desert or Route 66). Consider the time of the year and the climate ramifications for each approach.
  4. No matter which way you go, once you hit the Mississippi there's a lot of driving. Figuring that you can go around {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} in four hours of flat highway driving, start to map out a route that puts you somewhere interesting every four or five hours -- for gas, food, and exploration. For example, it takes a little over eight hours to drive from New Orleans, Louisiana to Austin, Texas -- so stopping halfway at the unbelievably beautiful Lake Charles, Louisiana might be a good call.
  5. So, obviously, the rest depends on how much research you want to do. The Internets are a huge resource: check http://www.roadsideamerica.com for example. Even certain Interstates and US Highways have their own websites, complete with tourist attraction info and whatnot.
  6. You may not get to do this again for a long while -- so pack in all the truly bizarre and wonderful USA stuff that you possibly can stand. Dinosaur parks, UFO cafes, Branson, Missouri ... it's all good. Bring big amounts of photographic documentary equipment, or at the very least a good digital camera with plenty of memory.
  7. As always, don't overpack. Lay out what you think you'll need and then reduce it by half.
  8. Change your oil, fill your wiper fluid (it's pretty buggy out there), grab your research, friends, and good music, and hit the road singing.

Tips

  • You should get the book "The Next Exit" for any road trip. It lists what gas stations, restaurants, etc are at every stop and how far from one another they are.
  • Once you get to Vegas, go to the old strip. The slots are looser.
  • The Interstates are built for speed, not for seeing stuff. Stick to the old US Highway system as much as possible. Better food, better views, usually better gas and hotel prices too.
  • Bring plenty of water for yourself and possibly for your car, as it might start to overheat in the desert.

Warnings

  • Never play billiards or poker with a man who has the same name as a state.

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