New Jersey to California

[Diesel_John]

My wife and I are heading out to California from New Jersey. We should be headed straight out to Columbus, OH then snake down to Joplin, Missouri, to Amarillo, Flagstaff to see the Grand Canyon on our way to San Diego. Then to the Pacific Coast Highway. We are interested in any any comments from the forum regarding "not to be missed" sites, restaurants, small charming towns, etc. Can't wait to hear from you.

[trailertraveler]

There a lot to see along I-40 between Amarillo and the Grand Canyon. In Amarillo, there is Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the Big Texan on Old Route 66. In New Mexico, Tucumcari still has dinners along Historic Route 66 and numerous murals painted on buildings plus other attractions. Santa Rosa is another Route 66 town and has the The Blue Hole and Santa Rosa Lake State Park which has a nice campground.

In Albuquerque, the Pueblo Cultural Center and Petroglyph National Monument, the Turquoise Trail and the Sandia Crest Highwayare worth visiting in my opinion.

In Grants, there is the Mining Museum. Just South of I-40 going West from Grants are El Malpais National Monument, El Moro National Monument, El Malpais National Monument, El Malpais National Conservation Area, and the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. Acoma Sky City is said to be the longest occuppied location in the U.S. They give tours of the pueblo and there is an RV park next to the casino.

Homolovi Ruins State Park is near Winslow where you can stand on the corner. Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park are not far from the Arizona/New Mexico border.

In the Flagstaff area are Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sedona/Camp Verde/Cottonwood are about an hour South of Flagstaff with Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monuments, Tuzigoot National Monument, Palatki and Honaki Ruins, V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Verde Canyon Railroad, Fort Verde State Park, Cathedral Rock, Gold King Mine, Jerome State Historic Park in the area.

All this before you even get to the Grand Canyon.

[Diesel_John]

thank you all for the input...

its very helpful to newbies ...

sounds like the common denominator is stay clear of the Penn Turnpike.

prepping the coach today for a Friday departure....

[slay]

I'm with Mayor30, depending on where you are leaving from in New Jersey, you want to avoid the Penn Turnpike. It is a hefty toll. I pay almost $30 just to go from New Jersey to the Harrisburg area. It will probably cost you almost almost $50 to get to where I-70 branches off near Pittsburgh. You can check the toll calculator at the Penn Turnpike website.
If you take I-80, stay straight toward Akron when you get to Ohio. That will take you to I-71 that you take south to Columbus.
Another idea, depending on time and where you want to go, is take I-81 south through Virginia than I-40 across the country.

[ferndaleflyer]

I wouldn't go on the PA turnpike with anything other than a team of horses and a wagon. Worst paved, somewhat, toll road in America. Then there is the toll and the trucks.

[Wadcutter]

MarkTwain wrote:

Before you enter Canada, have your gun mailed to a postal box in the city you will re-enter the U.S. Pick up gun there.

It would have to be shipped by a common carrier, ie, FedEx, UPS. The USPS will not accept handguns for mailing.

[MarkTwain]

Diesel John wrote:
the trip back is even more fluid then the trip out....

im going to ride glacier and ive learned not to try to plan rides on a particular day because weather might not go along with your plans...lol

we have been to Mt Rushmore during previous Sturgis trips so its not really on the radar for this one.

we are going to bring our passports and i would like to drive back through the different providences of Canada...however i carry a handgun on the coach and im not sure how they handle that...

but i guess thats another thread!.....lol

Before you enter Canada, have your gun mailed to a postal box in the city you will re-enter the U.S. Pick up gun there.

[buc1980]

Bring a lot of cash for the diesel California is expensive.

[ken56]

Diesel John wrote:
the trip back is even more fluid then the trip out....

im going to ride glacier and ive learned not to try to plan rides on a particular day because weather might not go along with your plans...lol

we have been to Mt Rushmore during previous Sturgis trips so its not really on the radar for this one.

we are going to bring our passports and i would like to drive back through the different providences of Canada...however i carry a handgun on the coach and im not sure how they handle that...

but i guess thats another thread!.....lol

Absolutely no handguns OR ammo in Canada. Not a single bullet... Don't even try. Be very careful with that.

[Diesel_John]

the trip back is even more fluid then the trip out....

im going to ride glacier and ive learned not to try to plan rides on a particular day because weather might not go along with your plans...lol

we have been to Mt Rushmore during previous Sturgis trips so its not really on the radar for this one.

we are going to bring our passports and i would like to drive back through the different providences of Canada...however i carry a handgun on the coach and im not sure how they handle that...

but i guess thats another thread!.....lol

[ken56]

Unless you have a reason to head to Columbus consider doing the 81 to 40 way. There is so much to see it's impossible to do it all. Ever been to the Biltmore House in Asheville? It would be easy to drop down to Asheville from 81 and pick up 40 there. Then you have Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg if you want. Then Nashville and Broadway street and the Hermitage. Oklahoma has a few things to see.

In Amarillo there is the Palo Duro Canyon as mentioned and the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Good steaks. New Mexico has a few things to see. Williams AZ is the town to stay in and DO take the train trip up to the Grand Canyon. The RV park is right there where you get the train and it has a wonderful buffet restaurant for breakfast before you go. We stayed there some years back and it was a great park then. Williams is on route 66 and it has that historical theme.

What I have done in the past is gone online and ordered the travel guides from all the states we were going to pass through. Very helpful to have the hard copy in hand when planning. Is there a return trip planned? Do the northern route back and go see Mt. Rushmore.

[Diesel_John]

thank you all for your comments.

we really like the sound of the railroad to the canyon.

ill be sure to unpack my patience for the san Diego part....lol

ive been reading other threads and began to wonder if there are any grades out that way i should avoid???

we are in a 28' Four Winds and towing a 10' motorcycle trailer.

i should have mentioned we are bringing two motorcycles with us..

we ride whenever we can.

my wife might fly back once we get up to the northern part of the PCH because i intent to ride Glacier at least a few days in honor of Neil Peart.

[ppine]

I made the same trip for the first time in 1969 from Maryland. Everything is brand new. You can't make a mistake and you can't see it all in 40 years. Relax and have a good time.

[larry_cad]

If you are any kind of fan for The Eagles, stop in Winslow AZ and you will see "him" standing on "the" corner. Also the girl driving the flatbed ford, slowin down to take a look. Ask anyone where the "corner" is. Short and fun stop right on route 66 through town.

[OkieGene]

Stop in Amarillo and visit the smaller version, but still magnificient, of the Grand Canyon.

Palo Duro Canyon is awesome, and underappreciated. I highly recommend you spend a day or 2 there.

OKC has the National Memorial and I 2nd the visit of it.

While in OKC you would be amazed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The art work is fantastic, there is so much there to see, it deserves far more recognition.

If you run I-40 west from Amarillo, take the very 1st New Mexico exit and stop to fuel up, take a break, eat, whatever, at Russells Truck & Travel Center. Owner has an amazing car and other stuff museum that is absolutely free of charge. I always stop there, restroom break, etc, and wander through it. It's another under-appreciated gem.

If you want to stop in Albuquerque, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is amazing, too. It's just off I-40, catty-corner from a Costco. I always stop here too when traveling. You can google it or check out on Youtube.