advice on super roadtrip

[Shin Pad]

We did the Mt. Rushmore/Blackhills trip last year. We had a blast - especially in Deadwood.

[Northendzone]

That is an epic roadie, make sure your car, and air conditioning system are tuned up, and loaded with fresh fluids

[tvp2003]

According to google maps, you're looking at 78 hours of driving: http://goo.gl/maps/rnyYy

That's a lot of driving, especially over 16/17 days. If you think about it, spending 12 hours a day in a car is the most that I could reasonably tolerate; here you'd have to do that over 7 to 8 days just to cover all of the ground with no stops. With two days at Mount Rushmore, this leaves only 6 to 8 days to actually spend time in the other cities that you're visiting.

If you can do it, more power to you (perhaps I'm just jealous because I love road trips myself)

EDIT: If your GF doesn't like flying, another option is taking the train. Amtrak goes from Portland/Seattle through Minneapolis and into Chicago. From there you should be able to get to Buffalo and up to Toronto. Maybe another option to consider now or in the future...

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

According to google maps, you're looking at 78 hours of driving: http://goo.gl/maps/rnyYy

That's a lot of driving, especially over 16/17 days. If you think about it, spending 12 hours a day in a car is the most that I could reasonably tolerate; here you'd have to do that over 7 to 8 days just to cover all of the ground with no stops. With two days at Mount Rushmore, this leaves only 6 to 8 days to actually spend time in the other cities that you're visiting.

If you can do it, more power to you (perhaps I'm just jealous because I love road trips myself)

EDIT: If your GF doesn't like flying, another option is taking the train. Amtrak goes from Portland/Seattle through Minneapolis and into Chicago. From there you should be able to get to Buffalo and up to Toronto. Maybe another option to consider now or in the future...

You can get on the Amtrak in Shelby MT, just 1/2hr across the border. It is expensive (as you'd want the nicer rooms for a long trip) and the ride east is long, something like 40 hrs to Buffalo

EDIT: 43hrs

If you are going to drive I would suggest driving east for three days, 12 hours a day (or so) that should get you somewhere near Niaggra Falls which would be a good start. Then just start making your way towards home stopping and checking things out as time permits, alloting appropiate time for the must sees. It would just suck ending up in Toronto with only three days vacation left and having to bust your tail to get home, I've done that and hate it, never again.

[GoinAllTheWay]

nm

[calgaryrocks]

thanks for the advice everybody! some good ideas. I think we might skip detroit and go through by grand rapids. Also I was thinking we could change it up on the way back and go north of lake michigan....not sure though. My wife is pretty set on the aquarium in minnesota, and its pretty cheap. will have to look into the boat tour and wrigley in chicago, I think on the way out the cubs are playing out of town, but haven't checked for the way back yet.
looked at "onoir" and it sounds cool, we might try that out as well.

it will be lots of driving, but something we have both wanted to do for years...just wish we had more time!