MAY drive in EARLY from NYC to San Diego for WEEKEND 2

[PrettyToneBK]

Hey, I was flirting with the idea of driving in early from NYC for WEEKEND 2. I would be reaching San Deigo around the 17th of April. Stay at a friends for a couple of days and drive 2.5 hrs to Coachella. Anyone want possibly want to jump in / any advice on this crazy idea? Never did a road trip before. Google maps says it will take ~2.5 days of straight driving.

[grannock]

Your fucking crazy

[musicmakestheworldhappy]

go big or go home, coachella will be incredible either way. but yes, you are fucking crazy, but crazy people are awesome

[PrettyToneBK]

I could take a flight but I mean... comon... I could fly any time. Who drives cross country anymore? If it's ~60 hrs of straight travel and I give myself 36hrs of rest/eating time in between? Then again I never did this. But today with reliable cars, AAA, GPS and cell phones I don't think I'll get kidnapped by bandits or scalped by Indians. Anyone ever drive cross country? My route:

Brooklyn
Allentown
Columbus
Cincinnati
Louisville
St. Louis
Kansas City
Denver
Salt Lake City (then visit the salt pan)
Las Vegas (then visit death valley)
San Diego
Coachella (Thurs April 19th)

If you're in one of these citys I can scoop you orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I'll take a 6hr flight.

[Spooks]

This would be great if I could take off more days for Coachella! Good luck man haha.

[avengeance]

wow that's insane i would love to join but i'm coming from the OC area so it'll be a couple more hours out of your way

[tigermilkboy]

Why not become a long distance truck driver? That is an insane schedule, but I went overland from NY to LA on the Greyhound 10 years ago. Reason? Just to say I had done it. Pretty awful experience, but still an adventure and experience worth having.

[avengeance]

greyhound goes towards coachella?

[heart cooks brain]

i was thinking about taking amtrak, but it's more expensive than flying.

[suprefan]

Dat shit cray

[Sonjanj78]

I will be in San Diego on the 17th visiting a friend, probably staying that night. I could use a ride from San Diego to Coachella if you're doing that long drive and want company and help paying for gas.

[DFrank]

You'll think its a 'crazy awesome idea' until 2 hours into the drive when you run out of hot cheetos and you'll realize that you made a mistake.

[PrettyToneBK]

Yea it's a large feat for a city slicker to tackle considering I can't even change a flat. I am still doing research. To be continued...

[JustSteve]

i drove from newport beach, california to central texas alone once. took 2 days of driving 11 straight hours per day. your body will be hating you if you try and do it in 4 days.

did central texas to the outer banks of north carolina in 24 hrs straight through with my cousin and her friend, that was a crazy one. the bottle of crown we cracked when we arrived was much needed.

[captncrzy]

You'll think its a 'crazy awesome idea' until 2 hours into the drive when you run out of hot cheetos and you'll realize that you made a mistake.

Mine would be Limon Lays and Hostess powdered sugar mini donuts.

[amyzzz]

I did long drives like this a lot in my 20's, and I'm a wimpy chick. Just take lots of good music, some snacks, and take rest breaks. As long as your vehicle can handle it, I don't see the problem. Get AAA or some other protection for road mishaps.

[PrettyToneBK]

Thanks for the input guys.

Maybe a hybrid road trip? Fly from NYC to Denver and drive to San Diego. Pass the rockies, salt flats, grand canyon and death valley? It's a 36hr drive. Break it up over 3 days?

This is turning into a road trip advice forum opposed to a carpool thread lol

Either way I will be in San Diego until Thursday afternoon, LAX until 11pm and then off to Coachella, PM me if you may need a ride I only have space for one or 2 pref non-camper.

[PrettyToneBK]

I did long drives like this a lot in my 20's, and I'm a wimpy chick. Just take lots of good music, some snacks, and take rest breaks. As long as your vehicle can handle it, I don't see the problem. Get AAA or some other protection for road mishaps.

That sounds awesome. I have AAA also that's definitely a smart idea. Is a rental/mini-van cool or am I asking for trouble?

[stuporfly]

Yes, I have driven across country. And yes, you're fucking crazy.

[amyzzz]

DO IT.

[Brad Groux]

I've driven from NYC to Houston in 23 hours straight... and even I wouldn't drive cross-country for a music festival. The drive back would freaking suck!

[euphonicfiend]

DO IT!!!! I LOVE LOVE driving cross country! If I wasn't on the west coast I would join you! I have driven cross country back and forth 2 times and I wish I did it more often. I would try to find a buddy though. I love seeing all the creepy towns in the USA. I would do it if I were you. Just make sure your car is reliable! You don't need to know how to change a tire if you have AAA!!!! DOOOOO IT! BUT like the post above me says " the drive back will suck" I agree. maaaaybe you can Rent a car drop it off in CA and fly back!?

[PrettyToneBK]

Yea I already have my return flight out of LAX. My momma ain't raise no fool haha

Actually, Alamo car rental has the cheapest one-way car rental rates. Pick-up in Denver drop it off at LAX. No drop charges.

Just need to find a friend with balls and a yearning to see the rest of the country that I only see in movies.

[euphonicfiend]

I'm glad you have some balls! You will have a blast!

[Stickjohn]

I drove last year and worked in an Elton John concert in Denver and a night at the Grand Canyon. The Denver to LAX one way rental sounds pretty cool and would give you the best part of the drive scenery-wise. You could easily be driving though snow in the mountains though.

[PrettyToneBK]

I don't know how the hell people did this shit with horses in the mid 1800's...

ot-dysentery.jpg

[tigermilkboy]

I've driven from Las Vegas to Chicago several times (my wife is from Chicago). Once you get past Colorado the drive is pretty bleak after the third trip.

Just be careful if you have to go through Barstow, CA. Bat country, don't stop there.

[PrettyToneBK]

I found a friend with balls and we're gonna do it... but not all the way. Gonna fly to Denver from NYC and take it from there. I posted this on a road trip forum for some insight but if anyone can help me out / get me to Coachella alive on here, I would be eternally grateful.


Post on road trip forum:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey Guys!
I need your help. I have no idea what I am doing, how much time I need and what CAN or CAN'T be done in my time frame. I am driving from Denver to San Diego. Here is my "wish list" route (see link below):

KEY POINTS:
-Drive through the Rockies
-Utah Salt Flats
-Grand Canyon
-Death Valley

Leaving Denver April 16th. Need to be in San Diego by early day of April 19th. It's 37hrs if I drove straight with no rests or detours. Of course, I do not plan to do that but it kills a day and a half. It will be two people, in a mini-van rental.

HELP PLEASE!

GOOGLE MAP ROUTE LINK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[PrettyToneBK]

I've driven from Las Vegas to Chicago several times (my wife is from Chicago). Once you get past Colorado the drive is pretty bleak after the third trip.

Just be careful if you have to go through Barstow, CA. Bat country, don't stop there.

Is it dangerous, full of crazy people or both? God knows what small bleak towns I'll be stopping at along the way.

[avengeance]

damn if were going from nyc to coach i would have to find you some how and give you a hand shake. ether way denver is pretty fucking far and if i do meet you i'll still give you that much deserving handshake of mine