North America - West to East (and back)

[7days1shower]

Hi all,

After a couple of trips around Australia and also through the Himalayas I have decided to tack on a few weeks to the end of a Vegas trip and explore America.

My bike will land at LAX on 14th August at which point I plan to take it straight to Las Vegas.

On the 19th I would like to depart headed East with only a few key points in mind.

I hope that the experienced riders and locals here can help guide me to points of interest and also provide me with insight into my plans

These are base don some things I want to see and experience. I would like to spend some time in the Southern States as I have an (unfounded) obsession with Southern accents.

Here are the rough key points I have in mind so far

- Leave Las Vegas 19 August
- Monument Valley
- Albequrque, New Mexico
- Grapevine, Texas
- New Orleans
- Miami, Florida
- Stecoah, North Carolina by 4th September
- Leave NC for New York City on 7th September
- Detroit, Michigan
- Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Hot foot it back to San Francisco, CA to try and be back at the West Coast by approx. 19th Sept
- The bike ships out on the 26th and I'll need a few days in LA to clean up the bike for Australias stringent import checks.

I realise this is quite ambitious but hope I can pull it off.

Welcome any and all feedback !

[derMarc]

Hi,

nice plans, but I think the time is too short. But nevertheless, I would prefer https://www.google.de/maps/dir/37.20...405b78!1m0!3e0 over Monument Valley (cut short over Cedar Breaks instead I15). And I would plan at least two days for it.

Marc

[7days1shower]

Time is definitely not ideal. I booked in flight before giving it too much thought and to extend it now would cost a lot more.

Plus, this 6 weeks off work plus another 2 weeks later in the year. Have to make the best of what I have

Thanks for the map. What exactly am I looking at there?

I only know Monument Valley from photos and a lot of people talking about it

[travelHK]

I will agree with Marc , and to add a little I will say take the West coast down when doing Florida using road 10 and then 75 ,cross west to east using road 41 ( you can see the alligator on the side of the road it will be everglade territory)then south to Miami or even Key west if you have time ( 7 miles bridge is pretty cool and you can do Miami to KW and back in a day . when going north take I95 up ( Savannah is a nice city to stop )to Carolina and then blue ridge Parkway go north and on your way back stop in Chicago for a quick rest ( Detroit is not a great city to visit and can be bypass )

[Hemuli]

You want to visit Barber : Home once in Alabama. If you like motorcycles, this is a mandatory place to visit. Reserve at least one day

[derMarc]

Originally Posted by 7days1shower

Thanks for the map. What exactly am I looking at there?

I only know Monument Valley from photos and a lot of people talking about it

It's the most beautiful scenic way that I ever took, and probably one of the most enjoyable roads in the world. I did it twice with motorcycle, 2010 and 2013. Some people think that Bryce Canyon is the most beautiful canyon in USA - it's on the way. Take a camera!

Marc

[Paul Narramore]

Any ride in the States shouldn't be rushed. Better to shorten your route and return another time to see some more. Monument Valley is extremely impressive although you'll be through it in an hour or so and on to the next site. Being retired I'm fortunate in that I can take as long as I want. In 2002 I crossed from west to east with a pillion passenger in six weeks, an almighty rush, so I returned alone in 2006 and rode from east to west and back again in three months. Just perfect. I just got a map of the country and put dots on places I just had to visit this time around then just joined the dots - Little Big Horn, Zion and Bryce Canyons, Death Valley (again), North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (again), San Francisco, the Big Sur, San Diego, Tombstone, Pike's Peak and Mount Evans, Durango and the Million Dollar Highway, the Alamo, Natchez Trace, Williamsburg, the Tail of the Dragon, and so on.

It's a great great country with terrific people and you'll love it.

[7days1shower]

Thank you for the great suggestions guys

I deff have to get to North Carolina however then I have 2 options open to me

1. head north to NYC then through Michigan back to CA (See more of the country but perhaps just going to be covering a lot of miles on the interstate so not interesting and rushed?)

2. Keep exploring the south and head West to CA (I really want to focus on the south and maybe this is a better way to do it?)

The reasoning behind Option 1 is
- I have 2 friends in NY and I want to see Times Square
- I have a cousin sister in Ypsilanti, MI who I wouldve visited

Appreciate input on this as it all looks doable on Google Maps, but reality and taking time ot enjoy the roads and sights is a different matter!

[Micksis]

Having done a trip from Vegas to New Orleans by car this time last year all I can say is avoid the interstate at all costs. Your trip will be so much the better for it.

Otherwise the eastern rim of the grand canyon was pretty amazing and is worth considering, it's far better than the canyon at the Las Vegas end.

[brclarke]

One thing: the US Southwest will be as hot as Hell in late August - early September. Dress appropriately and keep yourself hydrated.

[Paul Narramore]

Originally Posted by Micksis

Otherwise the eastern rim of the grand canyon was pretty amazing and is worth considering, it's far better than the canyon at the Las Vegas end.

I don't recall an 'eastern' rim. Grand Canyon has a south rim (where the tourists go) and a north rim (higher and much quieter).

For water, I bought a bottle of Gatorade as it had a wide neck, poured the contents away as it was foul, then filled the bottle with ice from the motel icemaker and water each morning. The water was still drinkable well into the afternoon.

[7days1shower]

Thanks guys.

I was going to wear full leathers but now considering my leather jacket and kevlar jeans

What would be a good tool to plot a route without interstates?

I can get some rough ideas if I use Google Maps and select 'Avoid Highways'

Thanks!