Going to California... Fly or drive?

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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 04:24 PM
  #31  
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Driving coast to coast sucks and should only be done out of necessity or a planned trip with lots of stops to see the sites and enjoy the country.
I say fly, you will save time, money and be much more relaxed at the end of the trip.....not to mention flying is the safest way to travel .
What ever you do have a good time, nothing better than good friends and family!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 04:31 PM
  #32  
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Originally Posted by Zaairman
The lightbulb just turned on in my head... not sure why I never thought about this before...

And I think we might be driving... The story alone will be worth it. We can always turn something boring into an interesting time.

The only time that might be boring is if you hit a 200 mile between cities stretch at 2-3 am when no one is around and your passenger is sleeping. That white line seems to stretch forever!
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 04:59 PM
  #33  
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As long as you make a few stops along the way it shouldn't be too bad to drive.

Last Christmas I drove from my house in Iowa to McAllen, Texas and only stopped for fuel. Over 1400 miles (22 hours) one way. I drove the entire time and it was not fun, especially when everyone else in the car is sleeping. I think the only thing that kept me awake on the trip back to Iowa was how excited I was going to be to be back home.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 05:27 PM
  #34  
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From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Originally Posted by jjr8214
As long as you make a few stops along the way it shouldn't be too bad to drive.

Last Christmas I drove from my house in Iowa to McAllen, Texas and only stopped for fuel. Over 1400 miles (22 hours) one way. I drove the entire time and it was not fun, especially when everyone else in the car is sleeping. I think the only thing that kept me awake on the trip back to Iowa was how excited I was going to be to be back home.
I convoyed from here, to NC 1100 miles straight through only stopping for fuel, grabbing snakcs at the gas staion for food. Tha twas the most boring, agonizing trip ever. I was the only person in the truck, had a moving van and a car behind me. Stayed for 4 hours then drove straight back. Only then it was only one car and mom and dad with me so we could switch and rest.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 07:01 PM
  #35  
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My 6 week 7000 mile trip was solo. Longest day was Dallas to Lordsburg, NM - 800 miles, 12 hours. THAT was boring - West Texas has to be one of the most desolate places on Earth. The scenery is great - if you are into telephone poles, sagebrush, and tumbleweeds. The highlights of my day were stopping at Mickey D's in Van Horn for dinner and cussing out the gas pump in El Paso that would only give me 50 bucks worth of gas on a Visa card.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 09:55 PM
  #36  
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I took that drive this summer with a couple buddies and had a hell of a time. I think you should drive....
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 10:51 PM
  #37  
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From: St. Charles, MO
Originally Posted by Hash278
I took that drive this summer with a couple buddies and had a hell of a time. I think you should drive....
That's what I'm thinking... My dad made the trip with his best friend when he was my age in his friend's dads new F-250...
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 11:18 PM
  #38  
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If time is not really an issue, definitely drive. Just make sure you guys can handle being with each other that long in a confined space. Diesel out west is under $3/gallon and Cali isn't too far over that. I wouldn't really worry about something happening in the desert and not being able to find help. In my drive across Texas (NOLA to Lordsburg, NM in 1 day in a Miata) I don't remember ever NOT seeing another car and there are TONS of other cars on the road between Phoenix and LA (I do that drive weekly).

Just make sure you bring plenty of water and make sure you have plenty of fuel. I had to sit on the freeway for 2 hours in 112* heat last week waiting for a semi fire to be put out. I'm glad I had 1/2+ of gas so I got to sit in the A/C. There can be no alternate routes and nowhere to go in many places so you're stuck sitting there waiting.

You're 20, male, (I'm assuming) car guys....you have to drive. Enjoy the time while you can because once life really starts happening you won't be able to do this again. Have fun! Look me up when you're passing thru PHX
 
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Old Jul 2, 2007 | 11:24 PM
  #39  
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From: St. Charles, MO
Originally Posted by 05FX4SCREW
If time is not really an issue, definitely drive. Just make sure you guys can handle being with each other that long in a confined space. Diesel out west is under $3/gallon and Cali isn't too far over that. I wouldn't really worry about something happening in the desert and not being able to find help. In my drive across Texas (NOLA to Lordsburg, NM in 1 day in a Miata) I don't remember ever NOT seeing another car and there are TONS of other cars on the road between Phoenix and LA (I do that drive weekly).

Just make sure you bring plenty of water and make sure you have plenty of fuel. I had to sit on the freeway for 2 hours in 112* heat last week waiting for a semi fire to be put out. I'm glad I had 1/2+ of gas so I got to sit in the A/C. There can be no alternate routes and nowhere to go in many places so you're stuck sitting there waiting.

You're 20, male, (I'm assuming) car guys....you have to drive. Enjoy the time while you can because once life really starts happening you won't be able to do this again. Have fun! Look me up when you're passing thru PHX
Haha.... we can handle being together. We've taken road trips before, just nothing this long. And by my math, I should get to my aunt's house (Huntington Beach) with at least a half tank o diesel. We decided today that we are definitely going to make the drive... But surprise everybody in the process... We're going to tell them we're arriving Monday afternoonish on a plane and show up Saturday/Sunday in my truck.
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 12:25 AM
  #40  
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From: Fontana
Originally Posted by Zaairman
Haha.... we can handle being together. We've taken road trips before, just nothing this long. And by my math, I should get to my aunt's house (Huntington Beach) with at least a half tank o diesel. We decided today that we are definitely going to make the drive... But surprise everybody in the process... We're going to tell them we're arriving Monday afternoonish on a plane and show up Saturday/Sunday in my truck.
Huntington beach is right down the road.
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 12:35 AM
  #41  
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From: St. Charles, MO
Originally Posted by bigdad8214
Huntington beach is right down the road.
Well I'll be in the Brookhurst/Beach Blvd area mostly... Maybe a trip or two to San Clemente.
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 12:54 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by kobiashi
The good thing about it is that in searching for a home to buy, I am quickly able to discover if flooding problems exist in basements.
That is a great tool to have, my mom's house we just sold a year ago in Missouri was a basement flooding pain in the rear some nights.
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 01:49 AM
  #43  
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From: Somewhere near the back of beyond
Originally Posted by Zaairman
I'm not worried about having a vehicle out there if I were to fly. I stay with family, and almost always have access to my aunt's 2006 EB Expy... And 06darkstone, that is exactly what we were thinking. If we do make this drive, we seriously will eat nothing but double doubles once we hit Arizona. glc, we won't be stopping anywhere to stay the night. We might make a quick stop at the Grand Canyon, take some stupid pictures, and be on our way. And mooning passing cars a well practiced tradition.
Has she seen your truck??!!

J/K Z-man, but I'd drive if I were you. See some sights, there is so much to see in this great country of ours!
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 01:59 AM
  #44  
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From: MONTERREY MEXICO
Take a drive!

I love to drive and take the time to stop in Point of interest. I made travels from Monterrey Mexico to Las Vegas, Mty to LA or MTY to San Francisco, great time driving! In a month plan to make oir first long travel with my daugther to Denver (Rocky Mountains)
 
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Old Jul 3, 2007 | 02:14 PM
  #45  
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You guys are making my points - stop and see stuff, don't just blast all the way nonstop on a speed run. I had a time frame to meet going out on my trip - I took 3 days from Joplin to San Diego - I spent the first night in Dallas with a friend and the second night in Lordsburg in a hotel. I did not really enjoy it. On the way back I stayed off the Interstates and took a week seeing all kinds of things, now that I really liked.
 
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