Trans America routes and stops

[plutonius]

It looks like my boy and I are crossing SoCal to Cape Cod and back this summer. 4 nights on the road eastbound, and a week + on the return. I think the eastbound route will be thru the panhandle, and then on the return west thru Boulder and Utah, probably bounce around Arches, Escalante, Bryce etc. I'd love to do it in both directions camping on BLM land or off-grid, and am looking for possible destinations that break up into about a 9-hour-apart plan, especially anything east of Colorado. No hotels, no big cities, preferably no summertime campgrounds, might as well sleep in a WalMart lot. We are denizens of the heat - Mojave moto in the summer - but it could be a concern when/if it comes to sleeping in it. Chime in overlanders, I need some hints!

 

[rolliges]

Haven't done cross countries, but I wouldn't go so far south through the panhandle. Rather veer toward Tenn then Virginia hit Skyline Drive, avoid DC by Maryland/Penn, definitely go off course through RI (Newport) and sneak up to the cape from the south, pick up Kings Hwy., get and oversand permit for Nauset and reassess just why you live in So Cal.

 

[SHREDwagon]

For sleeping in heat - if you have 12V up top - Caframo 757 westmarine.com/buy/caframo
Low draw, quiet and makes > 90F almost bearable. Might need two depending on your tent.

 

[plutonius]

Haven't done cross countries, but I wouldn't go so far south through the panhandle. Rather veer toward Tenn then Virginia hit Skyline Drive, avoid DC by Maryland/Penn, definitely go off course through RI (Newport) and sneak up to the cape from the south, pick up Kings Hwy., get and oversand permit for Nauset and reassess just why you live in So Cal.

Ha - I grew up in Newport, Cape Cod, MV etc so I know it well. Returning "home", need to do an Eastern seaboard tour while I'm there, and with some stuff I'd rather not ship, and take the whipper on an adventure while I'm at it. Thru the panhandle is a pretty straight shot, but I bet it's hella hot in the beginning of July, maybe I'll do both routes thru CO - my cuz lives there as it is.

 

[rolliges]

Well then, you have two options that I can think of (both slow and will add an extra days): a) Hwy 17 from Ga to Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel and north ((stop at BBQ places on secondary roads and ask for the vinegar sauce; soft shell blue crabs in Maryland)) OR b) take the entire Blue Ridge Parkway and stop at select microbreweries ((will add additional days to the trip)) and somehow find a bee-line through Conn to Mass.

Can't think of anything good about I-10 from Tex through Fla.; sorry.

 

[plutonius]

To keep this 80 Series related, I am doing as much PM as I see fit, along with installing a dual batt kit, and moving my ARB compressor from under the hood to a Wit's End Quarter Panel Mount.

So I think the route is going to be

1. LA to Bryce Canyon. Camp

2. Utah 12 through Capitol Reef to somewhere around Glenwood Springs

3. Omaha or Des Moines area

4. Toledo or Cleveland area

5. Cape Cod

Ambitious I know. I'm looking for National Forest or BLM spots in those areas mentioned above east of Utah, and still researching, but any input from those that know would be invaluable.

 

[White Stripe]

Looking at your planned route, once you get east of the rocky mountains you have mostly cornfields. I would probably just turn around at Denver. Also your traveling during the wrong time of year for your camouflage to be effective.

 

[mjosoba]

You ought to download the iOverlander app. Lots of camps spots spread all over the US. Like you said, some are in a Walmart lot, some are just pull outs somewhere. ive used it quite a few times with good success.

 

[sxp]

TransAM Trail

Why not try to travel as much of this as possible?

 

[pawnthatdude]

You ought to download the iOverlander app. Lots of camps spots spread all over the US. Like you said, some are in a Walmart lot, some are just pull outs somewhere. ive used it quite a few times with good success.

Yup, at the risk of iOverlander getting too popular, it's an excellent resource. I am afraid to mention it, it's so good. It's basically solved the problem of finding free, convenient camping on trips for me, as well as other things you need on the road.

 

[plutonius]

NIce - I'll definitely look into iOverlander, have not seen that one yet. I have BLM maps which help too. Trans Am trail
- there's an article somewhere on a Landy that went coast to coast 100% on dirt.

And yeah, turning around in Denver and heading back into the Sierras would be optimal, but not an option. A bunch of skateboards and a couple of One Wheels make any stop anywhere on the planet fun.

 

[mjosoba]

Yup, at the risk of iOverlander getting too popular, it's an excellent resource. I am afraid to mention it, it's so good. It's basically solved the problem of finding free, convenient camping on trips for me, as well as other things you need on the road.

I agree. I don’t generally mention it outside of mud. That being said, I haven't seen too many places where I saw other people using the app.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

If you're traveling with firearms, DO NOT GO THROUGH NJ! And avoid NYC like the plague.
Down the eastern shore of MD, VA and cross the Chessie to VA Beach is a nice ride, flat, but a nice ride.
Rt 50 E from Winchester VA to Clarksburg WV Is a white knuckle ride, W of Clarksburg the road has been tamed and is lame.

 

[clx16]

I know it might be too south but if you found yourself on the Georgia Traverse path you wont be too upset. Check out the website maps and all the pull off camping spots along the forest service roads.

 

[plutonius]

I think we are sticking to an efficient route across on the Eastbound, with a plan to stop every 3 hours for an hour to ride One Wheels, and then let 'em charge while we roll. Gonna be fun - surfing the flatlands, photos will be epic, my boy will never forget it, and that's the real sh*t adventures in the Land Cruiser provide. Still working out where to camp out, but iOverlander looks like a promising app.