So the first week of March I will be driving from Los Angeles, CA to La Plata, MD. Logging close to 3000miles on my protege5. I have only owned the car 2 months now, so my questions are:

1. Is there anything i should do to prepare my car for the journey? I will be getting the oil changes and all the fluids and tire pressures checked before leaving, is there anything besides these obvious checks?

2. We are stopping at some points of interest, IE the grand canyon. Wait, just that one point, nothing else on our route is obvious to us. Does anyone have any suggestions on other cool spots to stop, this is a once in a lifetime trip!?

3. Anyone want to meet at the Canyon? Great photo oportunity, I know that I will be taking many pictures along the way, would be nice to see a row of Mazda's in front of the canyon.

4. Any other suggestions for the trip, routes? tips?

Will be missing the LA sun, but will be nice to be able to have 4 seasons a year again in Maryland. (will have to buy stealies and snow winter tires )

 

Now this is a fun question!!

With so few miles and a maintenance check done, you should be good-2-go.

I don't know how long you've been in LA, but remember that March is a stormy time of the year in much of the country, sometimes in a very serious way. Since you're travelling in March (where it will still be winter or very early Spring east of the Colorado River), I would be sure to take a battery-operated weather radio and a road atlas with pages for individual states. Blizzards can be their absolute worst in March on the High Plains; "severe weather" (e.g. tornados) also become more frequent in the MidSouth about that time. Commercial radio stations may not help you much should conditions worsen rapidly.

As for routes, I would generally recommend to anyone to AVOID THE FREAKIN INTERSTATES if possible!!! The P5 is at is its best on curvy 2-laners. Besides, interstates have been planned to cross the most level and thus boring routes through regions. But, if you're pressed for time and going along I-40 and after Grand Canyon ...

1) Meteor Crator, about 35 miles east of Flagstaff and then south off the interstate into a private ranch is worth the time. It's a spectacular sight to see, the visitor's center is new and comprehensive, and the staff is extremely friendly. It's privately-run, but more professionally-managed and presented than some national park sites I've been to.

2) Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, about 20 miles east of Holbrook. Take the entire drive to see an incredible diversity of scenes and formations in a relatively small region.

3a) Detour north on I-25 from Albq to Santa Fe. The historic old territorial district in the center of town has architecture that you won't see in other parts of the entire country, genuine silver and turquoise jewelry for sale by genuine pueblo natives, and some good New Mexican restaurants (you'll never want to eat Tex-Mex again).

3b) Detour south on I-25 from Albq to Belen and then take US 60 over the Manzanos through the beautifully-empty and open ranchlands of central New Mexico. Connect back to I-40 via US 54.

4) Cadillac Ranch is located on the western outskirts of Amarillo and you will miss it if you don't look for it (it's on the south side of the highway, past the frontage road). It's simply about 15 old Coupe Deville's half buried in a cotton field and completely unsupervised, but it's a "cult" attraction for Route 66 enthusiasts.

5) The giant cross at Groom Texas, about 50 miles east of Amarillo is hard to miss. It's worth a stop to admire and then stretch your legs.

6a) I-40 in Oklahoma/Arkansas is best seen at night. Maybe someone else can make a good suggestion.

6b) Detour north on Arkansas 7 from Russellville to Harrison for a fun road to drive on and some nice views of the Ozarks. Then head east on US 412; then down on US 63 to Memphis. 412 is not great, but it beats I-40 any day.

7) Memphis has Graceland, for cheezy Elvis fun. Beale Street, on the south end of downtown is a great to spend an evening for food, blues, and booze. Beware the panhandlers.

8) East of Knoxville, take US 441 to Gatlinburg. You will have to slug through miles and miles of a tourist-trap strip before you get to Gatlinburg. Resist the temptation to stop at Dollywood. After Gatlinburg, go through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you have a half-day, take the driving tour of Cades Cove to see a rendition of rustic Appalachia. Or, take the road up to Clingman's Dome for a vigorous half-mile hike to the summit of the highest point in Tennessee. Great views.

9) Asheville, NC has the Biltmore Estate -- an interesting site with a lot of history to it.

10) The Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville through to northern VA is slow going due to the speed limit but relaxing and continuously scenic. The towns along I-81 have a lot of historic sites, too.

OK - I hope that inspires you. No doubt others here can add to (or subtract from) these suggestions!

Have a fun and safe journey

 

Thanks,

Just what I wanted to hear, we have already planned to drive the petrified forest after the GC. Yes we are pressed for time, but whats an extra day or two when we will probably never do this trip again in our lives. And the weather... planning on that also, taking a southern route through Texas, Loiusianna, then up the Appalacian backbone.

Thanks

 

If in Ohio, be particularly mindful of your speed.