I thought I'd start a new thread instead of hijacking the other meet 'n' greet thread.
I have driven the east coast of the US many times. I-95 isn't an exciting or scenic road AT ALL except for maybe Boston and New York City and DC. Unforunately, if you want to be near the ocean, I-95 is the closest interstate.
If you can, I would suggest you take I-81 south. You'll be a couple hundred miles inland, but the road is much more scenic. I would even suggest finding state highways and byways that offer more interesting stops and towns along the way than the interstates do. If you want to get somewhere fast, though, the interstate has no comparison.
The only two ways I have gone from the east coast to the midwest is via I-80/90 through NY or PA and then through OH, IN, and IL, and I-74 or I-76 east from Indianapolis. I lived in Madison, WI for a summer and that town is great.
Colorado is one of my favorite states. I spent about 3 weeks out of my 8 week road trip in Colorado. I highly recommend that if you travel west through Colorado that you take Route 40. It's a state highway, two-lane, two-way highway that crosses the continental divide 3 times. I drove my entire roadtrip by myself, and I still said "WOW!" out loud on that road more times than I can count. You can access Route 40 off of I-70 just west of Denver. Route 40 goes through Steamboat Springs and near Rabbit Ear Pass, which is close to 11,000 feet in elevation I believe.
West of there, the views are amazing. I traveled for about 2 hours at one point without seeing another vehicle. On this road you will pass all sorts of ranches and beautiful views of the mountains. I can't even describe it.
Here a shot looking north that I took while driving along Route 40.
Route 40 will take you to Dinosaur, CO, which is where Dinosaur National Park is. I highly recommend you stop there. I also recommend that you buy a pass for all national parks. It's relatively cheap and it gets you into all of the national parks. The parks usually have cheap camping available also.
I know you said you'd be heading back north to Alberta, but if you get out west, check out Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and the islands around Victoria, BC. Northern California (and I mean the northern part above San Francisco) is not to be missed either. The redwood forest is amazing.
Places that I haven't been to but want to see are Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Also, the Black Hills and Badlands in the Dakotas are places I hope to get to.
Then there's the entire south and southwestern US!
Happy trails! Keep us posted on your roadtrip plans!
Originally posted by Protoss
would you suggest and particually highways? I enjoy a god senci drive and this will be the first time i have driven beyon New york state. my "circiut" will go down the east coast, across thorugh texas, az, CA, then northeast to CO, then into Alberta(north of Montana)
would you suggest and particually highways? I enjoy a god senci drive and this will be the first time i have driven beyon New york state. my "circiut" will go down the east coast, across thorugh texas, az, CA, then northeast to CO, then into Alberta(north of Montana)
If you can, I would suggest you take I-81 south. You'll be a couple hundred miles inland, but the road is much more scenic. I would even suggest finding state highways and byways that offer more interesting stops and towns along the way than the interstates do. If you want to get somewhere fast, though, the interstate has no comparison.
The only two ways I have gone from the east coast to the midwest is via I-80/90 through NY or PA and then through OH, IN, and IL, and I-74 or I-76 east from Indianapolis. I lived in Madison, WI for a summer and that town is great.
Colorado is one of my favorite states. I spent about 3 weeks out of my 8 week road trip in Colorado. I highly recommend that if you travel west through Colorado that you take Route 40. It's a state highway, two-lane, two-way highway that crosses the continental divide 3 times. I drove my entire roadtrip by myself, and I still said "WOW!" out loud on that road more times than I can count. You can access Route 40 off of I-70 just west of Denver. Route 40 goes through Steamboat Springs and near Rabbit Ear Pass, which is close to 11,000 feet in elevation I believe.
West of there, the views are amazing. I traveled for about 2 hours at one point without seeing another vehicle. On this road you will pass all sorts of ranches and beautiful views of the mountains. I can't even describe it.
Here a shot looking north that I took while driving along Route 40.
Route 40 will take you to Dinosaur, CO, which is where Dinosaur National Park is. I highly recommend you stop there. I also recommend that you buy a pass for all national parks. It's relatively cheap and it gets you into all of the national parks. The parks usually have cheap camping available also.
I know you said you'd be heading back north to Alberta, but if you get out west, check out Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and the islands around Victoria, BC. Northern California (and I mean the northern part above San Francisco) is not to be missed either. The redwood forest is amazing.
Places that I haven't been to but want to see are Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Also, the Black Hills and Badlands in the Dakotas are places I hope to get to.
Then there's the entire south and southwestern US!
Happy trails! Keep us posted on your roadtrip plans!
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