2 week road trip in July .....

[AnthonyMV]

Gonna take a 2 week vacation this July. Right after the 4th. Think I'm gonna go as far as Chicago/Michigan from NY.
Thinking we're gonna go thru PA (PA Grand Canyon/route 6).
To Ohio (northern and maybe central) touristy stuff
Then either straight to Chicago and then north into Michigan (upper peninsula)

Anyone ever do this trip. Any ideas. Things to see/do

Also, not sure what to take. The MX-5 (roadster convertible) fun/cargo challenged though. Or the big boy 4runner....lotsa room. But not much fun in twisties.....

Any ideas/thoughts will be entertained.

Thx

 

[rocklighting]

Seems like a good trip. My brother has Mazda 3 we've taken on many trips to VT...they handle well, love the interior but find my 4runner to be much roomier and more comfortable on the drive. My experience on that route has been on a large luxury rock n roll tour bus (me not driving it of course). But there are great places to see along the way. If you want, ill look up some of the good places to eat and drink (no driving after tho) in the cities you'll be in. Chicago is great, similar to NY so you'll feel right at home. Start over the GWB onto rt 80 and go from there.

It really all depends what you want to do. Obviously, I love my 4runner and would recommend it. That way you know if you feel like camping or going offroading or camping along the way Michigan you can. It's a long trip, I would like the peace of mind of having room for anything I need/want to buy and bring home. But on the flip side, in terms of "fun" driving you will have fun driving the MX-5, its a convertible, sports car vs an suv. Me, I'd still go with the 4runner though.

I'm taking a week trip from NY to Williamsburg, VA in July as well. The 4runner is already on top of the list to take. Enjoy the open road though.

 

[Ryan1975]

Gonna take a 2 week vacation this July. Right after the 4th. Think I'm gonna go as far as Chicago/Michigan from NY.
Thinking we're gonna go thru PA (PA Grand Canyon/route 6).
To Ohio (northern and maybe central) touristy stuff
Then either straight to Chicago and then north into Michigan (upper peninsula)

Anyone ever do this trip. Any ideas. Things to see/do

Also, not sure what to take. The MX-5 (roadster convertible) fun/cargo challenged though. Or the big boy 4runner....lotsa room. But not much fun in twisties.....

Any ideas/thoughts will be entertained.

Thx

I'm currently in Afghanistan, returning to the US soon and for my US Reunification tour, I'm driving over 8,000 miles this summer.

I'm stationed at Ft Drum in Upstate New York and will be moving to Kansas City, but not before I make my rounds of family and friends. If you've already put Michigan and Chicago on your route, I've got the perfect plan for you.

First, I'd save your Pennsylvania travels until the end of your plan. I'd head straight out from NYC through Pennsylvania and Ohio. I'd make your first stop of your first day in Toledo, Ohio. (that's what, about 580 miles?) - that's a solid first day of driving (9hrs) and gets you at Michigan's Doorstop.

Depart Toledo day two and stop in Frankenmuth for lunch / sight seeing. After lunch, make your way north to Traverse City. Much to do in Traverse City, spend a night / or another day there. Depends on how much driving / time you have.

From Traverse City, make your way over to Mackinaw City / Bridge and across. There's tons to see in Mackinaw City, so it'd be easy to spend another night there if you wanted (maybe first night in Traverse and Second in Mackinaw) - Once you cross the bridge it's West on US 2 or North to Whitefish Bay. Your choice. I recommend west on US 2.

Once you've soaked in the beaches on Lake Michigan on US 2, head north on 117 through Engadine to M28. From Mackinaw I recommend getting to the Lake Superior Shore and staying somewhere like Munising or Marquette. Straight through it's 4hrs to Marquette - but plenty of time if you want to stop and see the sights and spend a whole day traversing the Upper Penninsula.

From Marquette (or Munising) there again plenty to see and do. Recommend spending time on the beaches whenever you get the urge. Pictured rocks in Munising, Glass Bottom Boat tours, the whole 9 yards.

Again, depending on Time - from Marquette it might be time to head south through Green Bay to Chicago (382 Miles). If you have more time go north to Copper Harbor and then south to Green Bay or Chicago.

You mentioned Chicago so I won't belabor that point. From Chicago, get on the road heading back east to Pennsylvania. Check out the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I myself have generations of family burried in Western Pennsylvania - I'll be out taking photos of gravesites in a few weeks after I pick up my new 4Runner Trail Edition.

Hope this helps to get your thoughts flowing.

 

[AnthonyMV]

Thx............

Rock for the suggestion. Yeah, I'm taking the truck. Better idea. And it's got a spare.
Ryan....you're a madman! LOL. That route does look like fun.....but I've only 2 weeks. The red route looks interesting though. And looks like the one I'm gonna use....thx a lot

 

[Titanpat57]

Man, ....all these road trips make me jealous...... there's some great lookouts and some back roads to enjoy in PA...safe travels!

 

[Ryan1975]

Rock for the suggestion. Yeah, I'm taking the truck. Better idea. And it's got a spare.
Ryan....you're a madman! LOL. That route does look like fun.....but I've only 2 weeks. The red route looks interesting though. And looks like the one I'm gonna use....thx a lot

If you adjust red route above Lake Ontario (Do you have a passport or NY State Enhanced Driver's License?) you can go through Canada and see some nifty stuff there too.

I've driven between Ft Drum and Houghton / Hancock more times than I can count over the last few years in my old 4Runner that I can practically recount the route by memory.

If you have ANY questions on how to do it, where to stop, what to see, please let me know and I'll give you tips. (Like avoid Toronto, use the Toll Road, though just drive through the booths and pay the $28 ticket by mail later)

Send me a note and I'll be sure to respond.

-Ryan

 

[adio3x]

I suggest if you really wanted to have some fun in that miata, go through TN and hit up the Tail of the Dragon.

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia.

Then go through Missouri and see the Arch lol.

 

[AnthonyMV]

Thx again Ryan

I'll letcha know.....wow dint think I'd need a passport to drive in/through Canada ? Huh? Good to know. Def will bring em

If you adjust red route above Lake Ontario (Do you have a passport or NY State Enhanced Driver's License?) you can go through Canada and see some nifty stuff there too.

I've driven between Ft Drum and Houghton / Hancock more times than I can count over the last few years in my old 4Runner that I can practically recount the route by memory.

If you have ANY questions on how to do it, where to stop, what to see, please let me know and I'll give you tips. (Like avoid Toronto, use the Toll Road, though just drive through the booths and pay the $28 ticket by mail later)

Send me a note and I'll be sure to respond.

-Ryan

 

[AnthonyMV]

Tail Of the dragon......

No thx. LOL nervous.
Watched a video of this road. I think it was on they history channel.
Truckers use it as a short cut. Yeah they cut the blind corners over the double yellow lines......
Very, very very dangerous road. Look it up on YouTube. Horrible.
I'd do that road only if it's closed to us.
Us being drivers that have more brains than guts.

I suggest if you really wanted to have some fun in that miata, go through TN and hit up the Tail of the Dragon.

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia.

Then go through Missouri and see the Arch lol.