USA Road Trip ideas?

[Fat Tone]

Greetings murcers.

I plan on taking a trip to the USA in September next year. This time it won't be with family but with a good friend of mine. He has been talking about going for years and after a recent bout of serious ill health (he is currently in remission from bowel and liver cancer) is finally getting around to it.

His trip will be about 3 weeks, I can only manage 2 of those weeks due to family and work commitments.

He has long talked about seeing some of the National Parks, such as those in Northern California and Yellowstone.

I would like to do Route 66 from Chicago down, but veer away to SF rather than head to L.A. as I have been there and done some of the final stretch already. I at least want to see some aspects of 'middle America'

It's probably best if I am there to do the lions share of the driving, and this is his trip so his preferences get priority.

I welcome suggestions for a trip that meets as much of our requirements as can reasonably be accommodated. I have read that open-jaw flights are quite common and affordable, perhaps even with a free stop-over in the middle. But I've also read that one-way car hire can be very expensive compared to returning to the pick-up point. He is probably not price-sensitive for this trip but I am as this is an extra trip over and above my family commitments which I don't want to compromise on.

We both want to see SF, but he also wants to do Vegas and the Grand Canyon which I have already done. You might think then that I could depart at SF and he go on to do that, but I wonder if they are places for a man on his own? My experience of Vegas was good but from a family point of view so it was mainly looking at the buildings and a flight over the GC plus a day trip to the Hoover Dam, none of which I feel the need to repeat. I suspect two 40-something blokes would typically have a different experience of Vegas although neither of us gamble and he doesn't drink.

So, fellow murcers, Americans and tourist visitors, do please pass on your suggestions for an interesting itinerary

Thanks,

Tony.

[Jessterw]

Route 66 makes for a decent road trip, but it's not as scenic as it probably once was. If you do take a drive down it and you make your way to Oklahoma, you'll be near cjolley and I. I'd say stop at Pop's to take a gander (if not a taste) of around 600 different soda pops.

[Brian Ellis]

My choice would be to start at Seattle and more or less follow this route

https://www.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...&mra=ls&num=10

The one point I'm not sure about is highlighted C which is a Hells Canyon info place, but I can't see how to get to the Canyon from there. When I did it, I went via Baker City (Oregon trail museum there) then N up the Snake River to the canyon itself (the deepest canyon in the USA). Moab is fantastic, not only Arches NP, but Dead Horse Canyon State Park up to the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. A little farther South are the Needles. Been to Moab 3 times!!! Sorry, the route takes you through LV!

[Fat Tone]

@Jamm. thanks, and your proximities hadn't escaped me

@Brian, thanks for the suggestions. What are your reasons for those destinations, in particular for suggesting Boise and missing Yellowstone?

Cheers,

T.

[VJ]

My parents recommend Grand Canyon, and even more: Bryce Canyon...

[Fat Tone]

Moab looks amazing.

VJ, I flew over the GC in a ~19-seater tourist plane in April last year. Brilliant. Haven't been to Bryce Canyon, which does look Awesome.