We finally made it to a coastal state! Dover, Delaware is our endpoint for tonight after a great day touring Pennsylvania. We saw some nostalgic sights in Springdale and surrounding neighborhoods then visited Johnstown and the flood site, which was very interesting and well put together. Then it was a trip on the turnpike and through Amish country across the state, with a stop at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord before the last small drive to Delaware.
Today’s Mileage: 374 mi.
We started our day with a tour of the incredible Ford Rouge factory, where we saw the assembly line of the Ford F-150. Then we checked out the Henry Ford Museum for most of the morning. It was a very interesting collection of unique and important pieces of innovative history. We drove straight through Ohio and into Pittsburgh, walked around downtown, and saw the full moon and the skyline from on top of Mount Washington. We had some great skyline shots up there that got lost so enjoy these from next to PNC park!
Today’s Mileage: 290 mi.
Less driving and more things to see! We started this morning by driving into downtown Chicago, which was deserted, and made for some great skyline shots and an easy stop at the Route 66 start point. From there we went through the corner of Indiana and into Michigan, towards the motor city. We drove around Belle Isle, explored the GM HQ building area, and ate dinner in the Dearborn area where we are staying tonight.
Today’s Mileage: 384 Mi.
Not much in terms of photos today, but a lot of miles and states covered. We drove out of South Dakota into Minnesota, and down into Iowa, where we hiked at the Effigy Mounds National Monument. Then we crossed back over the Mississippi into Wisconsin and got to Schaumburg, Illinois on the outskirts of Chicago in the evening. Our trip today really took us back east and now we have time to do some exploring up north.
Today’s Mileage: 589 mi.
With over 600 miles of driving today, it’s a good thing we had several great stops. First was devil’s tower, which stands surprisingly on its own. A very unique formation to stop and look at. We made our way to Mount Rushmore, where extensive work was being done on the entrance, however the park was still a great place to take a break and relax. The route out of Rushmore on 16A was not relaxing, it was one of the most fun roads I have ever been on, with overlapping bridges, hand carved tunnels, and split lanes that twisted through the forest and snow. We worked our way all the way east to Mitchell, South Dakota, of course stopping at Wall Drug along the way.
Today’s Mileage: 618 mi.
First thing in the morning we headed to America’s first national park: Yellowstone. The wild bison, geysers, and hot springs along with the snow capped mountains made it one of the most unique and engaging places I have visited. We worked our way through Montana and back down into Wyoming, spending the night in Sheridan, WY, after a great dinner and a slice of pie at the Cowboy Cafe.
Today’s Mileage: 526 mi.
Today started with route 93 up towards Wendover, Utah. Right nearby is the Bonneville Salt Flats, miles and miles of hard-packed salt open to the public. It was way more fun than I was expecting. The surface was flat enough to go very, very fast, but also loose enough to power slide! We hit a tire on the highway, breaking the air guide under the front bumper. The Volvo dealer in Salt Lake City helped us out by removing it, but we are still working out some vibration issues after the incident. Idaho falls is our stop for the night.
Today’s Mileage: 493 mi.
Another “longest day yet” even if just by a mile! The drive to Virginia City, Nevada from California took us through CA 88, which could not have been better. The road was over 30 miles through snow top mountains and huge pine trees, with plenty of sweeping bends and overlooks. To get to Ely for the night we took US 50, “the loneliest road in America” which led us through a couple of old small towns with interesting people. The desert and straight roads led to the most isolated feeling drive of the trip.
Today’s Mileage: 493 mi.
Our original plan was to take the Pacific Coast Highway all the way to Big Sur before heading east, however a landslide early this year meant most of the road was closed. We drove about halfway between LA and Monterey on the coastal highway, enjoying what we could of it before making our way to I-5 and north to Modesto for the night. A lot of ground was covered today in order to set us up for the rest of the route. Now time to get out of California before we have to buy more gas!
Today’s Mileage: 492 mi.
Before setting out for the east coast again tomorrow, we spent the day in Los Angeles. First stop was the Petersen Automotive Museum, which had a truly stunning number of significant cars on display, from the GM EV1 and the Honda N600 to the McLaren F1 LM and the Bugatti EB110. We also walked around Hollywood Blvd and Beverly Hills, and drove through some of the crazy neighborhoods in the hills. Tomorrow we will switch passengers and head north!
Our trip west to the pacific ocean has finally come to an end today! Our longest day of driving by just one mile. We cruised into Barstow for In-N-Out burger, then visited the strange and desolate California city, an empty city that still has all the roads marked out for where it would have stood in the desert. The final strange attraction of the day was the musical road near Lancaster, which was built out of tune on accident. We planned on taking CA route 2 through the mountains into the city, but due to a road closure, we once again found ourselves flying down a gravel road in the middle of nowhere. Finally, we reached Santa Monica beach. The Volvo made it coast to coast without a single hiccup.
Today’s Mileage: 476 Mi.
The pacific coast draws nearer on another exciting day of the trip. We set out from Kanab early and first stopped at the Moqui Caverns, an old sandstone mine, for a short hike. Then we drove through breathtaking Zion National Park on our backroad route which also passed through the Valley of Fire along the way to Hoover Dam, where we stopped and explored for a while. Soon the city of Las Vegas appeared out of the desert, and we made our way to the Venician to spend the night.
Today’s Mileage: 315 mi.
Our plan for today was a little different than most days. We had an objective, to make it to Kanab, Utah by 4:15 to check in for our ATV tour of hog canyon overlooking the town. We set out early from Durango, passing close by four corners monument, which was unfortunately still closed, and then through the Monument Valley area of Arizona. We took a 16-mile dirt road loop through Valley of the Gods, yet again more off-roading in the Volvo than I had ever anticipated. After evading some close calls with oversteer on the sand, we made our way to Kanab, with 5 minutes to spare! The ATV tour was a thrilling and fun experience, especially when we made it to the end without any rollovers.
Today’s Mileage: 384 mi.
Today was another day of new scenery and new roads. We drove through the plains and desert of northern New Mexico out of Tucumcari. Cliffs, tables, and mountains stretched out along the horizon and we could see for miles. We stopped for some great Tex-Mex in Santa Fe and made our way towards Colorado. The roads were a perfect mix of straight fast road through the desert and twisting roads climbing the canyons and cliffs.
Today’s Mileage: 472 mi.
Today’s drive fully lived up to our expectations! Oklahoma City was our first stop for a quick walk and a photo. Then we made our way across the fields of Oklahoma through state route 152 and into Texas where the route 66 fun began. We stopped at the U-Drop Inn, the leaning water tower, the VW slug bug ranch, the Big Texan Steak Ranch for dinner, and Cadillac ranch. We were surprised by the i-40 frontage road, which provided a more scenic and enjoyable alternative to i-40. We finished our drive into Tucumcari, New Mexico on an old empty gravel section of Route 66, which was a ton of fun. We are lodging at the Blue Swallow Motel for the night.
Today’s Mileage: 426 mi.
Oklahoma City
U-Drop Inn
Groom, TX
We expected today’s drive to be long, monotonous flat highway through farmland, but we couldn’t have been more surprised. After stopping at Little Rock, we made our way into Hot Springs, which was surprisingly unique and a great stop for lunch and a root beer float brewed straight from the springs. The Talimena Scenic Highway through the Ozarks between Arkansas and Oklahoma was one of the best roads I have ever driven. The lengthy journey to Shawnee was an easy task with all the great scenery that passed by.
Today’s Mileage: 475 mi.
Little Rock
Talimena Overlook
Today we were in five different states, which is the most for a single day in this trip. We quickly passed into Alabama and drove the Skyway Motorway, a great twisty road through the foothills of the Ozarks. After a stop for hot chicken in Birmingham, and walking around in Tupelo, Mississippi, we made it to Memphis. We saw some strange sights such as the Bass Pro Shops pyramid and the Mud Island River Park, and some classic Memphis sightseeing on Beale St, finishing with some great barbeque before crossing the Mississippi into West Memphis for the night.
Today’s Mileage: 433 mi.
Today started right by the water in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. We traveled 472 miles with our first stop being South of the Border. We stopped for pimento cheeseburgers at “Blackmon’s Little Midget” in Camden, SC, and walked around Columbia, SC for a few minutes too. Once in Atlanta, we found some great photo spots and then drove just outside of town to stay the night.
The journey to the start point was an easy drive. We departed around 8:00 and arrived in Wilmington at 10:15. Before heading out the car was packed and final prepped for the trip. After washing off all the pollen and cleaning the wheels, the car was pulled out of the sun into the garage and waxed with Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax, giving it a solid coat of protection from the elements and the road. The trunk is packed with 2 suitcases, the roadside assistance bag, the tripods, extra shoes, and a duffel bag for larger extra items. In the backseat sits the all important snack box, with plenty of mixes, granola bars, and of course a gallon of water. The first aid kit sits on the floor along with the camera bag and Ryobi battery charger.
We did not expect driving through Barstow, CA to see a sign directing us to Wilmington, NC at only 2555 miles. Apparently we were at the end of Route 40 that begins in Wilmington.
