I'm driving on the US 50 from Maryland to Cali. What is the best vehicle for this trip?

Question

Four people are going, two guys & two girls.

Answer 1

I would say go with the mini-van. Lots of room, plenty of space to store stuff, but the gas mileage is pretty good - I took a Voyager out to DC and got around 24-25 MPG.

Amazing Trip. Streets and Trips puts it at just over 3000 miles from Annapolis to Sacramento. With gas at $3 a gallon, should run you between $350 and $400 on gas alone.

Here are the tourism sites for all the major spots along US 50. Hope you have a great trip....

Washington DC: http://www.washington.org

Winchester VA: http://www.visitwinchesterva.com/

Clarksburg WV: http://www.escapetothesoutheast.com/WV-DMO-ClarksburgCVB.asp
Parkersburg WV: http://www.parkersburgcvb.org/

Athens OH: http://www.athensohio.com/
Hopewell Culture NHP: http://www.nps.gov/hocu/
Cincinatti OH: http://www.cincyusa.com/
North Bend OH: http://www.northbendohio.org/

Versailles IN: http://www.ripleycountytourism.com/
Vincennes IN: http://www.vincennescvb.org/

Salem IL: http://www.gosalem.com/toursalem/

St Louis MO: http://www.explorestlouis.com/
Jefferson City MO: http://www.visitjeffersoncity.com/
Sedalia MO: http://www.visitsedaliamo.com/
Kansas City MO: http://www.visitkc.com/

Kansas Tourism: http://www.travelks.com/
Olathe KS: http://www.olathecvb.org/olathe_cvb/default.asp
Emporia KS: http://www.emporiakschamber.org/
Dodge City KS: http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/dctourism.html
Garden City KS: http://www.gardencity.net/chamber/ctb/

Bent's Old Fort NHS: http://www.nps.gov/beol/
Rocky Ford CO: http://www.rockyfordchamber.net/
(best cantaloupe in the world!!!!)
Pueblo CO: http://pueblo.citystar.com/travel_and_tourism01.html
Royal Gorge, Canon City: http://www.royalgorgebridge.com/
Gunnison National Forest, CO: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/
Curecanti NRA, Colorado: http://www.nps.gov/cure/
Montrose CO: http://www.visitmontrose.net/
Grand Junction, CO: http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/

Green River UT: http://www.discovermoab.com/greenriver.htm
Fishlake National Forest, UT: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/fishlake/

Nevada Tourism: http://www.travelnevada.com/
Ely NV: http://www.elynevada.net/
Eureka NV: http://www.co.eureka.nv.us/tourism/tourism.htm
Fallon NV: http://www.fallontourism.com/
Carson City NV: http://www.carson-city.org/

Lake Tahoe, NV/CA: http://www.bluelaketahoe.com/
Placerville CA: http://www.comspark.com/eldorado/
Sacramento CA: http://www.sacramentocvb.org/

California Tourism: http://www.visitcalifornia.com/state/tourism/tour_homepage.jsp

Answer 2

Having done this trip myself twice, I can tell you what not to do, and what to do.

First, if your going to do this trip---and its a GREAT trip--

DO:

Stop along the way. Enjoy the scenery. Its gonna take you a bit of time anyway, and just rushing right through....is a waste.

DO: make sure you have emergency cash on hand and a charged cell phone. There are long stretches where if you break down, you can be in serious trouble because of how rural and desolate it is. Any late night food stops or hotel stops will cost and not all rural hotels can take all credit cards, just the majors.

DONT:

Drive in a toyota. Hahaha. I did. It was too cramped. A car with good mileage,. like the subaru outback for example is both rugged, and able to handle rough patches of road, roomy, and also has good milage. VW jettas and passats are peppy, get good mileage and are good cruising cars.

If gas milage is not an issue...id say go with a chevy or a ford suv. They are roomy, comfortable, safe,

if money isnt an issue......then a land rover can be awesome. it guzzles gas though. Convertables are awesome too.


DO:

drive with someone, and you should have a companion, for any number of reasons, including safety.

bring books on tape/cd, or go to audible.com and download your favorite radio shows to ipod. They help while away the driving hours (and there will be, as I am sure you know, A LOT), much of which are on long, stretches of road.

DO have a AAA card or otherroad side service (including Onstar), for the unlikely, yet possible, car situation. Both do towing, repair, etc. You dont have to have AAA, but if a family member or your good friend does, see if they can get you a temp card or let you borrow theirs.

good luck

Answer 3

On a road trip I just came from through Northern Arizona I used Enterpriese rent-a-car to get a great rate on a Toyota Corolla, which gets 30 mpg in the city and 38 highway. Plenty of room for four passengers and more than ample trunk space. Also check out Toyota rent-a-car for the Scion xA, which gets similar mileage but offers more flexible cargo space. I agree with the others though that a convertible is best, especially for mountain views, but be prepared to pay a 10 mpg premium for the extra gas you'll need. If you're splitting it between four people, though, the difference may be marginal enough. Dollar rent-a-car has the best rates on the Chrysler Sebring convertible, while Thrifty offers the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible. Have a great trip! It's one I've considered doing myself.

Answer 4

I would have to say take a convertible. Driving through the country is amazing, especially if you have an open roof view of the plains and mountains as you drive. And if you cross paths with Route 66 on the way out, you should definitely take that down as well...for the historic aspect of it.

Answer 5

I took this trip last year... A full size car is sufficient...

If you want to have plenty of room, but save gas mileage, then get a minivan... SUV will kill you on gas...

Answer 6

Crown Vic, plenty of room and power

Answer 7

Something with good gas mileage, since you have about 3,000 miles to go!

Answer 8

what every you like long as it not red ok lol. come back to find your car not there