Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Itinerary Planning!

Something about driving has always been exciting for me.  Particularly taking new routes, seeing new places, experiencing new areas.  I have often thought about driving cross-country.  Now is my chance to see how I'd fare going on a true american road trip.  I'm pretty excited to see what the middle of the USA is like.  Oh, and San Fran is a new endeavor as well.  The trip itself, however, is both the rush and anxiety which is stirring an odd but familiar flutter from within.  Excitement, I suppose, for lack of a better description.  Or maybe it's the appeal of telling life to go fly a kite for a bit while I am off far, far away, strapped into my seat, stuck on the road, where nobody knows who I am.  I'm not much for tourism, but I would like to tell a story from my adventure.

For now I give you my itinerary, at least as of today.  Hopefully I'll be able to update as I go, or laugh at my plans as the universe often does.

Road Trip 2013 Itinerary
Union, New Jersey to San Francisco, CA
6/29/13 – 7/8/13
Saturday, June 29
NJ to Columbus, Ohio                                                                (8.25 Hours, 520 Miles)
*Area is populated, stops can be anywhere en route.
I-78W to I-81S to I-76W to I-70W.

Sunday, June 30
Columbus, Ohio to St. Louis, MO                                             (7.25 Hours, 465 Miles)
*Stop in Louisville, KY                                                                                         
I-71S                                                                             (3.25 Hours, 206 Miles)
*Louisville to St. Louis
I-64W                                                                                 (4 Hours, 260 Miles)

Monday, July 1
St. Louis, MO into Kansas
                                *Stop in Kansas City (Kansas/Missouri)                                                           
                                I-64W to I-70W                                                                 (4 Hours, 251 Miles)
                                *No other attractions before Denver.
                                Drive I-70W until Hays KS (if possible)                          (4 hours, 266 Miles)

Tuesday, July 2
            Kansas to Denver, CO                                                                      (5 Hours, 341 Miles)
                                I-70W.
                                Possible Stops (rest/fuel only):
                                Goodland, KS                                                                    (2 Hours, 145 Miles)
                                Burlington, KS                                                                (2.5 Hours, 174 Miles)
                                Limon, KS                                                                        (3.5 Hours, 250 Miles)

Wednesday, July 3 OR Thursday, July 4
            Denver, CO to Salt Lake City, UT                                               (8.25 Hours, 525 Miles)
                                I-70W to US-6W (exit 157) to I-15N
                                Possible Stops (*Stay Fueled*):
                                Rifle, CO (After mountains)                                             (3 Hours, 183 Miles)
                                Grand Junction, CO (Larger town)                                 (4 Hours, 243 Miles)
                                Green River, UT                                                           (5.25 Hours, 343 Miles)
                                Price, UT/Helper, UT                                                   (6.25 Hours, 406 Miles)
                               
Friday, July 5
            Salt Lake City, UT to Reno, NV                                                      (7.5 Hours, 518 Miles)
                                I-80W
                                Possible Stops (**Try to stay above half tank**)
                               Wells, NV                                                                        (2.5 Hours, 181 Miles)
                                Elko, NV (Larger town)                                                  (3.5 Hours, 230 Miles)
                                Battle Mountain, NV                                                     (4.5 Hours, 300 Miles)
                                Winnemucca, NV                                                        (5.25 Hours, 353 Miles)
                                Lovelock, NV                                                                      (6 Hours, 426 Miles)

Saturday, July 6
            Reno, NV to San Francisco, CA                                                    (3.5 Hours, 218 Miles)
                I-80W
                Possible Stop: Sacromento, CA (State Capitol)                             (2 Hours, 133 Miles)



Total Trip Estimate:  3100 Miles, 47 Hours

Flight Home: SFO 7/8/13 2PM  Arrives EWR 7/8/13 1040PM.

1 comment:

  1. Safe trip, bud! Enjoy the whole thing-you'll learn a lot about yourself. I did a few long trips before I "settled down", and foumd even the tense times, especially the tense times, showed me a part of myself I really liked. I'm certain you'll feel the same way, and it WILL change you! Keep the dirty side down, and the shiney side up good buddy! (Sorry for the trucker talk....)

    ReplyDelete

If you guys could please leave your name with your comments, that would be helfpul! I can't tell who you are otherwise :)