Anyone ever driven from the east cost to L.A.

My best friend is moving from Nashville, TN to Los Angeles, CA   :\\\'(

But I'm going to help her move.  I've never really been outwest before. We're going to take our time getting there, and are trying to think of things to stop and see/do and places to go on our way there. So far all we have is the Grand Canyon and Los Vegas. Does and one have any suggestions on where to go or tips on driving there? Thanks!

hmm not much advice, im just way jealous!!

if it were me, i would try and go through colorado and monument valley on your way to the grand canyon.

We went to Florida together three years ago (via atlanta, miami, orlando, etc) and two years ago we travelled all over Europe. (Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece) We are great as a team...reading maps, getting lost and unlost, etc. It really sucks that she's moving so far away, but now I have a good excuse to go to CA.

The Grand Canyon and Petrified National Forest are the only 2 things that I remember from my trip in the early 90's.

Have fun!

My husband and I did a road trip this past July and drove part of that route this summer (from Nashville, TN to Santa Fe, NM).  Our stops along the way included...

Bill Clinton Presidential Library - Little Rock, AR
OKC Bricktown area and the National Memorial - Oklahoma City
Bandelier National Monument/Frijoles Canyon - Santa Fe/Los Alamos, NM

...and from there we headed to Colorado.  I really liked all the sites we stopped at, but I'd definitely recommend the National Memorial in OKC if you haven't been there yet, I thought it was really well done.

My friend did it and said Idaho and Utah were her favorite states to drive through.

Four Corners area, definitely.  Southern Utah and Northern Arizona are spectacular!

I'm biased and think the National Parks in Colorado and Utah are the most beautiful places in the US.  My favorties (short list):
Zion National Park - Utah
Bonneville Salt Flats - Utah
Arches National Park - Moab, Utah
Bryce Canyon - Utah
Dinosaur National Park - Colorado, Utah
Great Sand Dunes - Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park - Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado
Shoshone National Park - Wyoming
I also second the 4 Corners area!

You can check out all the National Parks on www.nps.gov

We are thinking about staying in campgrounds, to save money. Would that be safe? We are ok with roughing it. When we travelled around Europe we took overnight trains and at one point didnt see a shower for +5 days.   

When we travelled around Europe we took overnight trains and at one point didnt see a shower for +5 days.   

Well that's the good thing about some of the National Parks.  They have designated campgrounds and some have showers!

Definitely check out that web-site.  That will give you information on all the National Parks.  When the campgrounds open. Keep in mind that on Holiday Weekends in the summer some parks require you to make a reservation.  I do also think it's pretty safe.  When I would go camping with my girl friends, we'd always pick a site that was close to a family / families.  I'd never pick a spot that is tucked up and out of the way.  We would also introduce ourselves to the "neighbors" just as a precaution, but you still need to be mindful of your surroundings.  Just as you would when you travel anywhere.

Another vote for checking out the parks.  Can't remember when you said  you were traveling, but keep in mind that some of the higher elevation parks may not open until later in the summer.  (The last park I worked at was over 10,000 feet elevation...the park usually opened Memorial Day weekend, but campground sometimes didn't open until July!)  Most of the park websites have a link where you can request further information.

Also, there are some fabulous state parks out there.  Two of my favourites in Utah are Goblin Valley and Dead Horse Point.  Honestly, for pure scenic value I prefer Dead Horse Point to the Grand Canyon.  And Goblin Valley is just bizarre....I think it was used as the setting for some sci-fi flicks, if I remember correctly...

I've driven between Colorado and Florida about 20 times, and my one piece of advice is try not to take the route through Kansas on I-70. No offense to any Kansasers on here, but it's about 10 hours of NOTHING. I definitely recommend going through the Rockies in Colorado though!

I haven't driven from coast to coast, but I have a lot of long-distance drives in the US. I always used to play appropriate music to fit where I was. I know, I know, I'm a geek. But it is kind of nice playing John Denver through the Rockies, Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey, etc. 

Hiya,
Just wanted to pipe in..

I've driven quite a bit in the USA and Canada, mainly north east area. I haven't got as much experience as others here but I would like to add the following

1. Have as comfortable a car as possible. I hired a pontiac sunbird out of Queens NYC, drove to Midtown Manhattan, had a few drinks with cousins and left at 6pm to drive to Cincinnati. Although the car was newish, after a while it did become a little uncomfortable. To help, I used my jacket as a cushion, adjusted the seat every so often.

2. I 2nd having appropriate music to help pass time and fit the mood! - As I did the NYC>Cincy stint mostly in the dark, I had some of my fave tracks pumping away loud and keeping me awake/alert (mainly Club/Dance music) - be careful though, some music can make you drive fast! (my NYC>Cincy>Detroit>Toronto>Detroit>NYC trip over 10 days netted me 4 police stops and 3 of them got me tickets! as well as about 4-5 police tails where I knew they were radaring me but I wasn't stopped)

3. Get yourself a GPS unit to help you, if your directional skills are up to par, and you dont need a GPS unit, have your route pre planned and printed out and easily available!

4. Try not to go overboard with energy drinks and snacks etc - when I got to Cincy at 330am that evening, if you'd have seen my eyes you would've probably taken me to hospital! - I was proper wired!

5. Make sure someone knows your route. I was utterly disapointed at how crap mobile phone signal/coverage is there, and especially on LONGGG stretches of those wretched crappy 2 lane 'highways' - I thought if I break down here, no one will be along in hours and I wouldn't be able to let anyone know.


Some of this you may already be used to or know about !

Good luck with the drive!

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

We are going to drive her car out there....not exactly the most comfortable in the world (the AC doesnt work when the car stops...so if you're stuck in traffic, you get to melt, lol)

We both have MP3 players. I have +650 songs on mine...I think I'll add lots of new stuff before I go.

I am dying  for a GPS. I do alot of driving and having one would be wonderful. But I can't afford one at the moment, so unless santa is feeling extra generous this year....

Neither one of us really drink energy drinks or sodas...gadorade, juice or water usually. I think we will put a few energy drinks in the cooler just in case.

We are looking for a good tent now...one that is very easy to put up.

I have a AAA membership, and I called and they sent me lots of books and maps for free!

Kansas was looking a little....ummmm...dull. Not exactly alot to do there.