My Big Fat Stupid Road Trip

So, I'm going to have a few weeks off for the first time since high school coming up this summer. Although, unlike my situation ten years ago, I have a little money to spend on a trip. I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do with that time, but one consideration I have is that I might pack up the Viper and take a road trip. It would be Baltimore MD to insert destination here and back.

I always wanted to attempt this solo on a motorcycle (think ADV Rider), but I don't have a motorcycle anymore and I don't trust something whose natural resting state is on its side. Sliding. At 140 miles per hour. Into a guard rail. Don't get me wrong, I love motorcycles, but I love the Viper more. So what should I do? Key West? Roll through Miami on the A1A and hit the southern-most point of the U.S.? Cross the country and see Hollywood? Drive up through New York, hit my old stomping ground in the city there, roll over the Storm King Highway (on four wheels for the first time), and on up to Maine?

I think the Maine trip might be the best idea as I think and type this out. I lived in New York for a while, I want to see that city again this summer at some point, and I know people in NY and Boston (friends in NY, family in Boston).

I love the car and I'm not afraid of putting miles on it. Ear plugs are a must, I learned that driving it home the first time, but otherwise, I think it's a really nice place to spend some time and DESTROY the miles. Hard top stays home, soft top (hopefully) stays in the trunk with the windows, and I stay off highways when I can.

Have any of you done something like this? Any recommended destinations? I'm not set on Key West, LA, or Maine at all--just brainstorming.

How long are "a few weeks"? For a half-decent cross country trip you probably need to have 3-4 weeks to drive there and back, unless you're planning to either Cannonball it back or have the car shipped.

We've done the CA to FL drive in two weeks with sight seeing, but that was basically close to ten days to the middle of Texas and then driving 12-14h/day to make it to FL in time for my trip back to Europe.

Up to three weeks. CA might be a bit far, but I'm not ruling anything out yet.

In reply to Junkyard_Dog:

EDIT: (Now I can see the map.) That is a real contender! I have always wanted to drive that road. Good thinking! Anything to see or do while I'm there?

Go over to lexington nc and try all tbe varieties of bbq.

Blue ridge psrkway is some of the prettiest driving on the east coast.

Tail of the dragon, touring some NASCAR shops and bbq are reasons I want to check out North Carolina sometime.

With no set itinerary it really doesn't matter where you go, if you stay off the interstate you'll find cool stuff and good food anywhere.

I do love BBQ. So get to the Dragon somehow, then drive it once or a few times, then go see some NASCAR stuff. This all sounds pretty good so far! (this is fun)

Sounds like a far better idea to me than rushing across the country twice within three weeks.

BoxheadTim, you're 100% right. Plus this Deals Gap looks like an awesome drive. Google Maps has me driving right through Knoxville. That's got to be a pretty cool place to stop for a while.

That is exactly what I would do if I had access to a Viper and a couple weeks to disappear. If it were me though I wouldn't even have a solid destination in mind. Just pick a general direction and go. Stay off the interstates, enjoy the country side and take in the little towns that pop up on the road.

I'm trying to figure out if I do this solo or one up. I don't have a significant other and I won't by the time I do this. Options are: a parent or my sister. I think one of the three would love the idea. My Dad and I picked up the car last Fall and it was the best trip ever.

Then again, my sister has an Abarth. I like her car a lot and vice versa. Maybe we can convoy the sports cars! And... you know... switch every once in a while. 2 > 1

Plenty of things to do in the area of the Dragon: Gatlinburg(if you like tourist joints) but also Clayton Ga, Robbinsville NC, Cherokee NC, Helen Ga, Asheville NC(esp go see Biltmore House) Good food and good times. I personally recommend Lynn's in Robbinsville on Fri or Sat nite but there are plenty of places to keep you occupied and incredible roads in between. YMMV

Take Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway south, cut over to Deal's gap, Cherahola Skyway (sp?), and then head west in to the Smokies and Ozarks. Talimena Drive in the Kiamichi's in southern Oklahoma are beautiful. Stop in Arkansas: Eureka Springs for the weird, Hot Springs for the hot springs, and Helena for the blues. The hop on the Natchez Trace parkway and head back east eventually, if you can pull yourself away. It's my favorite part of the country by far.

I'd google best BBQ in ______ state. Probably in little towns all over the south. Then search best driving roads, then try to connect all the BBQ places with the roads.

confuZion3 wrote: I have always wanted to drive that road. Good thinking! Anything to see or do while I'm there?

Other things to do, drive any other road in the area, especially the Chericola Skyway. Deals Gap could be fun if you find that imaginary day when no one else is there, otherwise it's become such a tourist trap that it's mostly a long twisty parade. Worth doing to say you've done it but once you are there you'll find other roads in the area which are much more fun and less traveled.

If you do find yourself heading west think about driving rout 66. We'll be out there on 66 from July 3-7th headed to Vegas so if you find yourself traveling in the same locales at the same time keep a look out and let us know :)

If you don't go on the weekend it's a relatively lightly traveled road. I've had three mornings up there that I've never seen another car going up the TN side. Try to plan it when a marque club or other club is not having an event and Tuesday-Thursday mid mornings are usually very light n traffic.

But I agree that there are many other roads in the area that are just as good if not better. In a Viper I would imagine the cherohala skyway would be more suited than the frantic dragon. Think of it more like a track day vs. an autocross.

Pick a racetrack or three with an couple open track days that allow verts in a place with plenty of open top cruising to get there. Sears Point is one such place... so is Barber, Watkins Glen (seasonal), etc...

Carry a tent, cot, duffle bag and track tires on a small trailer behind you.

Put a debit card in your pocket.

Get there in your own sweet time somehow.

Take Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway south, cut over to Deal's gap, Cherahola Skyway (sp?), and then head west in to the Smokies and Ozarks. Talimena Drive in the Kiamichi's in southern Oklahoma are beautiful. Stop in Arkansas: Eureka Springs for the weird, Hot Springs for the hot springs, and Helena for the blues. The hop on the Natchez Trace parkway and head back east eventually, if you can pull yourself away. It's my favorite part of the country by far.

This. I've done most of this and it's great. I work about 10 miles from the TN end of Dragon but my wife wants to take the Triumph or the Miata and ride the Natchez Trace again.

A couple of long trips we've done like Alton Brown did on the Food Channel when he rode a motorcycle cross country. No interstates, only old highways, and only local joints for food. Made for great trips. Going to New England the same way this fall.

I'm really looking forward to this now. So Tail of the Dragon, but try for a weekday when there aren't clubs down there. Explore a couple other roads around the area and maybe find one with a BBQ joint at the end.

Say, where is Road Atlanta? A plan I drew up involved going from Dragon to Atlanta, to Augusta, to Hilton Head (why not), and then back up through Myrtle Beach and the East Coast. I'd like to enter Ocean City and drive up through Dewey Beach, and then head home. A big circle--almost 2,000 miles.

skierd wrote: Take Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway south, cut over to Deal's gap, Cherahola Skyway (sp?), and then head west in to the Smokies and Ozarks.

Another recommendation for this. Beautiful scenery and interesting drive.