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I would say the ultimate US road trip would be to start in the NE, head south to the SE, then to the West Coast, and then up to the Pacific NW.
I agree. Maybe this Summer, if everything goes to plan, I'll be doing that myself to check out law schools and visit various places around the US (except I'll be starting in LA).
When I did it we went west to Pittsburg from NJ on 76 and picked up Rt 70, Columbus, Cincinatti, St Louis, KC, Denver, through the rockys to LV then LA. From there north to SF and then east to Reno, SLC, Yellowstone to Rt 90 through S Dakota, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto plus many smaller towns like Rapid City and Sioux Falls. We rented a car for a month from Hertz and stayed mostly at motel 6. With that route we only missed Indianapolis and Omaha. Another great trip was Birmingham, Alabama to New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Charlotte.
Been to 47 of the 50 States and there really isn't a bad road trip to be found. Some boring sections to be sure, but even then, there is beauty in those areas. Never thought corn fields could be scenic until I was driving through mile after mile of corn fields with a slight wind blowing and they were waving in the breeze. Quite picturesque actually. Deserts really do nothing for me, but the view of an early morning sun lighting up the desert, or a lightening storm rolling across the desert is amazing. I dreaded driving through Death Vally the first time, but enjoyed every mile of it when I actually did it. Some places you couldn't pay me enough money to have to live there, but it is because those places are so different than what I am used to. Doesn't make it so I cannot appreciate the beauty and different landscape for a short time while passing through.
My favorite road trip is one that I started in Caribou, ME on route 1, and wandered down along the East Coast to Florida on 95 most of the way, then 10 all the way across the Southern States with a few detours along the way, like New Orleans then 90 back to 10 in Lafayette. Hit Houston and made a couple calls, then went up 45 to Dallas to visit some friends. Shot across on 20 so I could stop by Abilene and get some Harold's BBQ ribs on the way through. Caught up with 10 again and rolled into El Paso and kept on 10 until Phoenix where I went up 60/93 (I think that is the number anyway, it has been a while) to Vegas to see my Brother. Went 15 into LA then up 101 all the way to Coos Bay, OR to visit family, then on to Portland by way of 101 to route 18, missed a turn somewhere in McMinnville, OR and got to see a lot more Country that I had bargained for. Into Washington on 5 to Highway 12, then hooked up with 90 and went across the top of the states (almost got snowed in by a Early winter snowstorm in Bozeman, MT. Split off and went 94 out of Billings until I joined up with US-10 around Fargo. Stayed on US-10 all the way to Manitowoc, WI and took the Carferry (The Badger) across lake Michigan to Ludington, MI (where I live now). Angled across Michigan to Port Huron, where I crossed into Canada and took 402 to 401 until it turned into 20 at Montreal, then 20 to 185 at Riviere-Du-Loup, Quebec. Stayed on 185 until Edmundston, NB and crossed over into Madawaska, Maine, then route 1 back home to Caribou.
Put some SERIOUS miles on the vehicle, and some serious time off work, but it was a blast just driving and not really having an itinerary, or a set destination for 90% of the trip. All by myself so I went where I wanted to go, and saw what I wanted to see. No compromises or side trips I didn't want to do; just me, the vehicle, a well worn ATM card and gas card, a suitcase full of clothes, a fishing rod in the backseat for those inviting streams and rivers you come across. I would do it again in a second!
my choice for the poll --- All of the routes! Not a bad one in the bunch.
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