Hello boofheads. Give me some advice so I can start looking at costs and whether I should bother or curl up in a ball and cry for my holiday instead. I was thinking of driving around a bit for example flying all the way to NY, driving up to Niagra and then down to Florida to see all the spacey type stuff and maybe Disney world. Then fly across the somewhere to see the Grand hole, Las Vegas then driving up the other side to see Yellowstone and those places. Could I drive to Seattle? How long does it take to drive down one side and up the other? I assume there is nothing exciting in the middle. How much does a car cost to rent roughly and hotels etc? Any advice on what to see? Might be a fizzer but I need to start somewhere.

Originally Posted by Warus

Hello boofheads. Give me some advice so I can start looking at costs and whether I should bother or curl up in a ball and cry for my holiday instead. I was thinking of driving around a bit for example flying all the way to NY, driving up to Niagra and then down to Florida to see all the spacey type stuff and maybe Disney world. Then fly across the somewhere to see the Grand hole, Las Vegas then driving up the other side to see Yellowstone and those places. Could I drive to Seattle? How long does it take to drive down one side and up the other? I assume there is nothing exciting in the middle. How much does a car cost to rent roughly and hotels etc? Any advice on what to see? Might be a fizzer but I need to start somewhere.

NY = expensive, hotels and such, dont get a car there, they have public transit, take a train to upstate NY and get a car.

Driving from NY to FL is about a good 12-14 hrs with few stops along the way.

The grand hole is pretty cool, but honestly, you could fly into vegas, get a car drive to the hole and get back to vegas before the bars close.

From there to yellowstone, i dunno, havent had a chance to do that yet.

You could drive to seattle, but it would be easier for you to take the hr flight from vegas to LA hang out in hollyweird then take a plane to seattle (or drive up the california coast for another 15 hrs and get to seattle)

Yes there is nothing in the middle of this country worth seeing.

As for pricing, hotels will be pricey depending on how you like to stay. figure 100$ a night for places just outside of big cities (minus vegas and maybe LA)

Cars are fairly cheap, its the gas that will kick your ass.
You usually can get a car rental for unlimited mileage, 40$ a day.

NY-Disney(FL) is about 20 hours straight driving. Add in time for stops/sleeping and its a long trip!

goodness, that was a very accurate and inclusive reply from Jayso. good one.

and i don't know man, you pretty much named every tourist trap we have here. what you would be seeing is not america. it's the facade. is that what you want?

Pick a location and spend time there, youll be driving around more than relaxing if you try to see the whole country at once.

NY/Canada first!

I don't get away OS very often so I thought I would throw out all the stuff I want to get to. Yes it's touristy but then again I will be a tourist :P Fuel is cheap over there compared to here. I think the accom is the bigger problem traveling as a single person and it's one I deal with often locally here too. I drive lots of long distances here so travel isn't too much of a concern although a 15 hour drive on the wrong side of the road might cause some drama when turning a corner at the end of the day.

What would you recommend I see then that would differ from the usual tourist stuff? Say I had 4 weeks or so?

Lake havasu, Miami beach, and the Rockies

Syd - NY 20 hours 15 mins.

I'd do it!

I haz idea!!!

You buy me plane ticket, I come and visit Syd!

Originally Posted by Stoopid_Girl

I'd do it!

I haz idea!!!

You buy me plane ticket, I come and visit Syd!

Sure! You send me the money and I will buy you a ticket.

what time of year?

Originally Posted by subimatt

what time of year?

That is a really good question. I was thinking September/Oct as it gives me time to save monies and I hate hot weather.

Originally Posted by Warus

I don't get away OS very often so I thought I would throw out all the stuff I want to get to. Yes it's touristy but then again I will be a tourist :P Fuel is cheap over there compared to here. I think the accom is the bigger problem traveling as a single person and it's one I deal with often locally here too. I drive lots of long distances here so travel isn't too much of a concern although a 15 hour drive on the wrong side of the road might cause some drama when turning a corner at the end of the day.

What would you recommend I see then that would differ from the usual tourist stuff? Say I had 4 weeks or so?

4 weeks. hm. that is plenty of time.

Accommodations aren't bad, you still can stay in hostels for cheap, http://www.hostelusa.com/

Not only that but between the people on this forum, I am sure everyone can give suggestions on where to go or at least provide some company if you are worried about being alone. the only other way to avoid the lone drives would be to use different means of travel, trains, planes and bicycles.

When I plan trips like this, I look at 3 factors: time, where I start, and where I end.
For you, starting in NY is a good one, from there you can be anywhere on the eastern seaboard in hours.
NY/New England/The border of the forest (saad's house), can take a week, or less for the whole area, then travel down to FL, stay for a few days see a mouse, go to vegas, stay for a few days meet some women and a midget, go to yellowstone for a few days meet a bear, next thing you know you only have a week left with travel, rest, and beer being considered.

That leaves plenty of time for Seattle, San Francisco or LA as they are all somewhat smaller places.

I keep bringing up SF or LA because they both have easily accessed air ports that fly to AU, good places to end a trip especially if you have to get out of the country quickly.

Originally Posted by Stoopid_Girl

NY/Canada first!

What she said

Originally Posted by s7khan

What she said

Wow we know who wears the pants in that relationship......

Yeah I will probably fly out of LA. I went there in 1985 I'm sure it's the same Would flying from Las Vegas to Seattle then driving back down via San Francisco be doable over a week? Does that pick up the rockies and Yellowstone areas? I don't really care about seeing Vegas as I'm not all hookers and blow. Maybe a night looking at the cool lights before getting the hell out of there before CSI turns up to my room.

Would love to get to Pearl harbour and see the volcanos in Hawaii too Damn this gets bigger and bigger when I start to think about it. I need the lotto.

Originally Posted by Warus

Yeah I will probably fly out of LA. I went there in 1985 I'm sure it's the same Would flying from Las Vegas to Seattle then driving back down via San Francisco be doable over a week? Does that pick up the rockies and Yellowstone areas? I don't really care about seeing Vegas as I'm not all hookers and blow. Maybe a night looking at the cool lights before getting the hell out of there before CSI turns up to my room.

Better idea, skip vegas / hole in the ground.
Fly from FL to SF, rent a car drive to yellowstone.
From yellowstone you can hit salt lake, some other cool places, vegas and the hole in the ground then head to LA.

map:
*EDIT updated map.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=san+francisco&daddr=Yell owstone+National+Park,+Yellowstone,+WY+82190+(Old+ Faithful+Inn)+to:Grand+Canyon+National+Park+to:Los +Angeles&hl=en&geocode=%3BFcBkpgIdNNJk-SG1QRa0Na3BYQ%3BCQvCnHhiFYWTFV4QJwIdMhhA-SF2pRLdVWgsQQ%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=1,2&sll=39.066682,-116.680344&sspn=17.748481,35.991211&ie=UTF8&ll=34. 443159,-114.642334&spn=4.719448,8.997803&t=h&z=7

Thats only 2k miles. MattMcDole and I drove from LA to Raleigh NC (2,464miles) in just under 3 days, and even made a pit stop in little rock to see some friends.

Originally Posted by Warus

Would love to get to Pearl harbour and see the volcanos in Hawaii too Damn this gets bigger and bigger when I start to think about it. I need the lotto.

Thats to far out of the way.

Wow thanks for the map! I didn't realise Yellowstone was so damn far away from the coast. I thought it was somewhere near Oregon. Am I thinking of Yosemite? Yellowstone it the Old faithful/Yoggie bear one then?

That would be Jellystone. It's fictional.

sort of: http://www.campjellystone.com/

but yes, Old Faithful = Yellowstone.

Originally Posted by shelloflight

That would be Jellystone. It's fictional.

awesome.

Yeah old faithful is in yellowstone.

However, yosemite is near mono lake which is a must to check out.
TheMonster has been there a few times and took some rad photos:
http://williwood.com/gallery/?album=eastern-sierra

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_lake[/ame]

You also dont need to leave CA to get there, and on the way back you can hit vegas even.
I need to go shopping for a bday present for my gf. (getting her a box of soap and my dirty laundry) mull it over, if you have any questions about other places bring them up.

Ignore this fool:

Originally Posted by subimatt

Pick a location and spend time there, youll be driving around more than relaxing if you try to see the whole country at once.

road trips are the bomb, and step into my office!!!

Fly to NYC or Boston/Logan. It'll be a cheap ticket. Travel around the eastern side (NE, Maine/Acadia, Adirondacks, Boston, RI, NYC, washington DC then down to FL to see the everglades, Kennedy and maybe key west. You could even fly DC to FL as FL flights are always cheap... Drive back up to a major airport in FL and fly to vegas.

Why vegas, because flights are DIRT CHEAP there as well. Drive from Vegas to the ditch (45 minutes to the damn 2 hours to the ditch?), zion, bryce, then up to SLC or do rockey mountain national park on the way up to yellowstone (yes where yogi lives and MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR HIM WHEN YOU SEE ANY RANGERS!!!! ). Then drive to Seattle, swinging by Mt Rainier. Then down to Redwood, then SanFran, then yosemite on the way to LAX to fly home.

4 weeks is enough. Hit up as many of the members here for group shoots/couches and have a blast. That'd be my trip.

Originally Posted by Jayso

I need to go shopping for a bday present for my gf. (getting her a box of soap and my dirty laundry) mull it over, if you have any questions about other places bring them up.

Ok does she have friends and will she do my washing too?

East coast half:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,34.584961&z=5

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

4 weeks is enough. Hit up as many of the members here for group shoots/couches and have a blast. That'd be my trip.

That's some good info between you and Jayso. I will have to practice my Merican accent so you don't all hassle me. Nothing worse than someone saying "say something". What the hell do you want me to say I really want to meet up with as many of you as I can and have a few beers along the way.

West Coast Half:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...24&ie=UTF8&z=5

and just FYI, we did this in 8 days (5,500 miles):

"We" is different to "me". That would be a hell of a trip solo in a foreign country.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR HIM WHEN YOU SEE ANY RANGERS!!!!

I don't phear bears! I will sneak up and tackle him to the ground then hold him up for the camera as he tries to sneak away in vain whilst talking in a loud childish manner and gesturing wildly! I am Australian after all.

The Seattle to San fran drive is close to 8 hours as well... and that is pushing it... boring ass drive... if you want to do the Pacific coast Highway, add another 6 at least...

Bens advice is the best so far in post 23!!!

(lok at Hawaiian airlines out of Sydney if you want to visit Hawaii, otherwise Qantas or United will be you next best options for using a variety of airports on the west coast... LAX, SFO, SEA, and on some days, even YVR (vancouver))

I would fly into san fran or LAX, and leave from the other... (also sometimes for the extra to fly all the way to NYC (JFK) you can probably get a return ticket for less on some of the better airlines like JetBlule/southwest etc) generally $2699 - $3200 ish to JFK on qantas depending on season and you can get a lot more specials into LAX (1699 sometimes) You can get from LAX to JFK on JetBlue for $119 if you book early enough)

Here is how I would do it...

SYD - LAX (pick up rental car... drive to the ditch/hole, and then onto Vegas then to San fran or LAX - there are some awesome spots on that drive through to San fran from Vegas Sequoia and Yosemite etc)

from San Fran, jump on a flight to JFK (lookup Jetblue.com) and you may find it is no extra to carry on to Buffalo NY (Niagra falls) Get another car for 4 days, and visit the falls and then drive back to NYC... drop car off, and use public transport subway etc...

Then after a couple of days, look up JetBlue.com again and look for flights to Orlando (they fly from all three majors, Newark, Laguardia, and JFK, so pick the cheapest. They are all easy to get to from downtown manhattan.

get a car again (I have rented a car in orlando for $6 a day before!! so look at them all, also look at renting for 5 days+) If you want to visit Miami, or Fort Lauderdale, then you can drive that in 6ish hours easy enough... from Miami or Fort Lauderdale look for a ticket to Seattle. Jetblue again will go via Longbeach CA and then up to seattle, when you are done there, you can drive to Yellowston in 8ish hours...

You can then either return back to seattle (will save you a lot of $$$ in one way fees) and then you can fly back out to sydney via Honolulu on hawaiian.

Hope that made sense??? ha ha driving in the States is easy enough, but its a damn big place, and you will use at least 5-7 days of your trip in just driving, and a lot of it boring!! you may even find if you book early enough the flights would end up cheaper. There are tons of options, and the airlines are all gagging for your $$$ at the mo.

Originally Posted by Warus

"We" is different to "me". That would be a hell of a trip solo in a foreign country.

yeah, no ****, but you have FOUR WEEKS!!!!

Originally Posted by Warus

I don't phear bears! I will sneak up and tackle him to the ground then hold him up for the camera as he tries to sneak away in vain whilst talking in a loud childish manner and gesturing wildly! I am Australian after all.

it's a joke.
the rangers hear it ALL DAY and HATE it.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Ignore this fool:

I said that before I knew he would spend a month here...

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

yeah, no ****, but you have FOUR WEEKS!!!!



it's a joke.
the rangers hear it ALL DAY and HATE it.

eye noes this

One Word - ALASKA

The lesser 49 is well "lesser"

Mt. Rushmore is Pretty cool imo

Originally Posted by dmitchell

One Word - ALASKA

The lesser 49 is well "lesser"

I think the cost might kill that idea

Originally Posted by Tylersladen

Mt. Rushmore is Pretty cool imo

From what I understand there isn't a lot more out that way?

Originally Posted by Warus

From what I understand there isn't a lot more out that way?

Well, if your heading up that way for yellowstone I guess its on the way to
The great lakes but, you said your going to see Niagara.

Originally Posted by subimatt

I said that before I knew he would spend a month here...

yeah, so? Your statement, even if he was here a week is still LAME!

Originally Posted by Tylersladen

Mt. Rushmore is Pretty cool imo

Originally Posted by Warus

From what I understand there isn't a lot more out that way?

it's kinda sorta near yellowstone, but like half a day a way. Badlands is also there as is sturgis (around that time of year too). But yeah, if you've seen the postcard, you've pretty well seen it IMHO. It's cool, but the time it takes to get there isn't worth it for you IMHO. If it were on the way, sure, stop, take the shot, keep driving.

Originally Posted by Warus

I think the cost might kill that idea

Things being more expensive in Alaska is not really all that true anymore.

Ask these guys what gas cost around the country, it's comparable to us. I paid $2.73 today. The airfare is pricey I'll give you that.

Originally Posted by danm

Lake havasu, Miami beach, and the Rockies

Havasu is/was a party spot - skip...

Miami is as above (lived there, lame) - skip...

The Rockies are awesome - worthwhile

Originally Posted by Jayso

4 weeks. hm. that is plenty of time.

Accommodations aren't bad, you still can stay in hostels for cheap, http://www.hostelusa.com/

Not only that but between the people on this forum, I am sure everyone can give suggestions on where to go or at least provide some company if you are worried about being alone. the only other way to avoid the lone drives would be to use different means of travel, trains, planes and bicycles.

When I plan trips like this, I look at 3 factors: time, where I start, and where I end.
For you, starting in NY is a good one, from there you can be anywhere on the eastern seaboard in hours.
NY/New England/The border of the forest (saad's house), can take a week, or less for the whole area, then travel down to FL, stay for a few days see a mouse, go to vegas, stay for a few days meet some women and a midget, go to yellowstone for a few days meet a bear, next thing you know you only have a week left with travel, rest, and beer being considered.

That leaves plenty of time for Seattle, San Francisco or LA as they are all somewhat smaller places.

I keep bringing up SF or LA because they both have easily accessed air ports that fly to AU, good places to end a trip especially if you have to get out of the country quickly.

This man speaks many troofs

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Ignore this fool:





road trips are the bomb, and step into my office!!!

Fly to NYC or Boston/Logan. It'll be a cheap ticket. Travel around the eastern side (NE, Maine/Acadia, Adirondacks, Boston, RI, NYC, washington DC then down to FL to see the everglades, Kennedy and maybe key west. You could even fly DC to FL as FL flights are always cheap... Drive back up to a major airport in FL and fly to vegas.

Why vegas, because flights are DIRT CHEAP there as well. Drive from Vegas to the ditch (45 minutes to the damn 2 hours to the ditch?), zion, bryce, then up to SLC or do rockey mountain national park on the way up to yellowstone (yes where yogi lives and MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR HIM WHEN YOU SEE ANY RANGERS!!!! ). Then drive to Seattle, swinging by Mt Rainier. Then down to Redwood, then SanFran, then yosemite on the way to LAX to fly home.

4 weeks is enough. Hit up as many of the members here for group shoots/couches and have a blast. That'd be my trip.

While I agree with Ben wholeheartedly - a road trip of that magnitude with a rental car is gonna be really $$$$$.

Originally Posted by WRXJIM

The Seattle to San fran drive is close to 8 hours as well... and that is pushing it... boring ass drive... if you want to do the Pacific coast Highway, add another 6 at least...

(lok at Hawaiian airlines out of Sydney if you want to visit Hawaii, otherwise Qantas or United will be you next best options for using a variety of airports on the west coast... LAX, SFO, SEA, and on some days, even YVR (vancouver))

I would fly into san fran or LAX, and leave from the other... (also sometimes for the extra to fly all the way to NYC (JFK) you can probably get a return ticket for less on some of the better airlines like JetBlule/southwest etc) generally $2699 - $3200 ish to JFK on qantas depending on season and you can get a lot more specials into LAX (1699 sometimes) You can get from LAX to JFK on JetBlue for $119 if you book early enough)

Here is how I would do it...

SYD - LAX (pick up rental car... drive to the ditch/hole, and then onto Vegas then to San fran or LAX - there are some awesome spots on that drive through to San fran from Vegas Sequoia and Yosemite etc)

from San Fran, jump on a flight to JFK (lookup Jetblue.com) and you may find it is no extra to carry on to Buffalo NY (Niagra falls) Get another car for 4 days, and visit the falls and then drive back to NYC... drop car off, and use public transport subway etc...

Then after a couple of days, look up JetBlue.com again and look for flights to Orlando (they fly from all three majors, Newark, Laguardia, and JFK, so pick the cheapest. They are all easy to get to from downtown manhattan.

get a car again (I have rented a car in orlando for $6 a day before!! so look at them all, also look at renting for 5 days+) If you want to visit Miami, or Fort Lauderdale, then you can drive that in 6ish hours easy enough... from Miami or Fort Lauderdale look for a ticket to Seattle. Jetblue again will go via Longbeach CA and then up to seattle, when you are done there, you can drive to Yellowston in 8ish hours...

You can then either return back to seattle (will save you a lot of $$$ in one way fees) and then you can fly back out to sydney via Honolulu on hawaiian.

Hope that made sense??? ha ha driving in the States is easy enough, but its a damn big place, and you will use at least 5-7 days of your trip in just driving, and a lot of it boring!! you may even find if you book early enough the flights would end up cheaper. There are tons of options, and the airlines are all gagging for your $$$ at the mo.

Well spoken!!!

All in all, everyone here has great ideas. IMO, you need to establish a kind of agenda before you map out any kind of plan. What I mean to say is that a lot of the places suggested are, IMO, lame and overstated. Either of the Disney parks are a bust IMO; I went to Walt Disney World & Epcot as a teenager and my 2 brothers and I couldn't stand it. Miami offers nothing more than a decent view of the Atlantic and half ass beaches with a HUGE population of *******s. A lot of people go to Miami or Fort Lauderdale because of the stigma it has- there is next to no historical significance about it unless you do what I did and hike part of the (be prepared to look like this: ) If you want to go to Florida and see some nice areas- hit the west coast areas like Naples.

Decide if you want to see the flash-in-the-pan parts of America like Miami or if you want a more historical trip or a bit of everything. Allow me to outline a few spots in the country where I have lived and what I think they have to offer.

San Diego, CA - A great overall area. I lived there as well as Orange County area (close to L.A.) and it has a lot to offer- especially if you are willing to drive inland to some of the parks (Joshua Tree and a further haul - Sequoia and Kings Canyon)

Chicago, IL - A super cool city with a ton to do (Shedd aquarium, Navy Pier, Miracle Mile, Sears tower, Wrigley Field, etc). Not a lot of history in the area per se, but it is just a neat place to go to.

Houston, TX - A much different kind of city in America. Superb food and great people! It is a hectic area these days, but any major metro city will be. There is a lot in the area that I always enjoyed living there if you are again, willing to drive a bit (Galveston beaches, Lake Livingston or Pedernales Falls- which is a ~4 hour drive) Lake Charles, LA is about a 3 hour drive from Houston and it offers some nice casinos and some of the best food in the U.S. If you are down south during your visit- be sure and try some Cajun and Tex-Mex food.

Atlanta, GA - Skip it. If you want to go to GA, head over to Elijay, GA or go down south to Savannah. Atlanta is boring.

DC Metro area - I live in VA, but it is considered part of the DC Metro area. There is a lot to offer here and I have to say that of all the places I have ever lived, it has a ton to offer in so many ways. DC is obvious, all the history you could ask for and then some. From DC headed north you can be in Baltimore or Annapolis, MD in about an hour. Head west and you will be in the Shenandoah mountains in 1.5 hours. Head south from DC and around ~3 hours you'll be in the Newport News/Virginia Beach, VA area.

Some areas I have not lived in, but had amazing visits to include:

Seattle, WA - Just a damn good time and very cool scenery. I am going back in November.

NYC, NY- So much diversity. I really enjoy going there now and Long Island is great too. Montauk point is great and the Hamptons are gorgeous.

Whatever you end up doing tho, you'll enjoy the states. Everywhere you go will be different from the last and somewhat the same.

I see the driving bit as an adventure as well. Just finding my way about and doing every day things will all be different too so I don't think I will be bored.

Originally Posted by Warus

I see the driving bit as an adventure as well. Just finding my way about and doing every day things will all be different too so I don't think I will be bored.

Just bear in mind, that when it comes down to it... no one can drive worth **** all in this country (we just all think that we can)

Originally Posted by MK19

Just bear in mind, that when it comes down to it... no one can drive worth **** all in this country (we just all think that we can)

So I might be better off driving on the left?

Originally Posted by Warus

So I might be better off driving on the left?

almost. The stupid ****ers in Miami think the far left lane in the Interstate is the slow lane GTFO way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it is the slow lane....

Originally Posted by Warus

Would love to get to Pearl harbour and see the volcanos in Hawaii too Damn this gets bigger and bigger when I start to think about it. I need the lotto.

You can drive to Hawaii, easy.

Originally Posted by tbert

You can drive to Hawaii, easy.

Drive a boat that is..

Convince been to sail there.