How to Plan a Cross Country Road Trip to Las Vegas

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Discuss the music.

   Nothing is terrible like being in a car with people whose music you hate.
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   Step 2: Choose a GPS.

   Get a Rand McNally Road Atlas.
   
   Open it and drool. , Consider the time of the year and the climate ramifications for each approach. , Figuring that you can go around 280 miles (450 km) in four hours of flat highway driving, start to map out a route that puts you somewhere interesting every four or five hours
   -- for gas, food, and exploration.
   
   For example, it takes a little over eight hours to drive from New Orleans, Louisiana to Austin, Texas
   -- so stopping halfway at the unbelievably beautiful Lake Charles, Louisiana might be a good call. , The Internets are a huge resource: check http://www.roadsideamerica.com for example.
   
   Even certain Interstates and US Highways have their own websites, complete with tourist attraction info and whatnot. , Dinosaur parks, UFO cafes, Branson, Missouri ... it's all good.
   
   Bring big amounts of photographic documentary equipment, or at the very least a good digital camera with plenty of memory. , Lay out what you think you'll need and then reduce it by half. ,
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   Step 3: Assuming you're coming from the East Coast

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   Step 4: there are three main avenues to consider: the Northern Approach (via Chicago)

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   Step 5: the Middle Approach (via St. Louis

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   Step 6: Kansas

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   Step 7: Colorado

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   Step 8: Utah and south on I-15 after I-70 ends)

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   Step 9: and some favorite

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    Step 10: the Southern Approach (turn right at Mobile and ride US 90 through the ghost towns of Texas

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    Step 11: then ball it northwest through the desert or Route 66).

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    Step 12: No matter which way you go

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    Step 13: once you hit the Mississippi there's a lot of driving.

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    Step 14: obviously

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    Step 15: the rest depends on how much research you want to do.

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    Step 16: You may not get to do this again for a long while -- so pack in all the truly bizarre and wonderful USA stuff that you possibly can stand.

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    Step 17: As always

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    Step 18: don't overpack.

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    Step 19: Change your oil

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    Step 20: fill your wiper fluid (it's pretty buggy out there)

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    Step 21: grab your research

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    Step 22: friends

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    Step 23: and good music

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    Step 24: and hit the road singing.

Detailed Guide

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