Relocating from Providence, RI to Arcata, CA (reservation, cross-country, itinerary)
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My boyfriend and I are leaving New England to attend Humboldt State next year, and considering the ride will be long and arduous anyway, we've decided to use the time to explore. We both have never seen the west. This is what we're thinking so far: Chicago-> Badlands-> Denver-> Rocky Mountains-> Great Sand Dunes-> Black Canyon of the Gunison-> Canyonlands-> Arches-> Capital Reef-> Bryce Canyon-> Zion National Park-> Grand Canyon-> Death Valley-> Sequoia/Kings Canyon-> Yosemite-> Big Sur-> Point Reyes-> San Francisco-> Arcata, CA.
The order on some of that probably needs adjusting. According to Mapquest, this should take a minimum of 88 hours. Considering that classes typically start around August 20th and I do need to spend as much time in RI as possible (I work for a family business in Block Island over the summer and leaving during the middle of tourist season is a bit of a strain on them), what amount of time do you think would be reasonable to travel this distance in? Would three weeks be adequate? We would probably only breeze through the cities, and spend the most time enjoying the natural sites.
Also, what are your SD, CO, AZ, UT, CA, etc. must sees for nature lovers?
Having just returned from a cross-country trip for which we overbooked/rushed ourselves and ended up cutting the last week because we were exhausted and tired of being in the car, I would say three weeks is not enough for your list. Suggest you cut out half of your itinerary. Since you're coming here from from SF you might as well take the "slow" route on Hwy 1 from the Bay Area. Welcome to Humboldt!
Last edited by eureka1; 12-05-2012 at 11:31 AM..
Reason: clarify
My boyfriend and I are leaving New England to attend Humboldt State next year, and considering the ride will be long and arduous...
According to Mapquest, this should take a minimum of 88 hours.
Try allowing yourselves 88 DAY's and you may even enjoy yourselves too.
As I basically did the opposite this summer, here's a couple suggestions:
Hold off on anything in CA. You could spend weeks just in Yosemite. I lived in Sacramento, so it was only a 2 hour drive, but over the 6 years I live there, I went to Yose about a dozen times. That, and it'll be almost impossible for you to get a place to stay the night without stalking the reservation system.
I-80 is REALLY boring. I'd pick either the north of 80 stuff - Badlands, Glacier, Yellowstone, Columbia River, Oregon Coast - OR the south of 80 stuff - Rocky Mountain NP, Dinosaur, Zion/Arches/Bryce. It's just TOO much to try and get it all in.
Unless you leave today.
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