Summer Road trip!

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BeachBourbon

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O.K I'm planning a road trip this summer that will take me across the country between Southern Ohio and Southern California. Fortunately I have a very solid and comfortable 1990 Chevy Suburban to cruise and plenty of time. What I don't have is a lot of experience traveling through New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, etc... I'd like to get some ideas on good places to stop along the way, like great little known attractions, swimming holes, restaurants, state parks, etc... I've done some research, but the internet never tells the whole story, so I was hoping this forum would be a good place to chat about great road trip destinations with your suburban.

Thanks to all who contribute!
 
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge about the swimming hole in Pawnee, OK, or any of the big lakes in Oklahoma off the I-40?
 
I've driven past the lakes in the area off of I-40 but I have been to two awesome lakes. The first one is in NW Arkansas - Beaver Lake - beautiful lake - lots of cabins, coves, home made chicken house. You can get there from Fort Smith - 45 mins north.

Second is Grand Lake in NE OK - my friends have a lake house there in a community called Sangri-La. I haven't spent as much time on this lake but in the few times I've been there it's a really nice lake.
 
Sprite Man is right Beaver lake (in N.W. Ar) is awesome! I live just 15 miles from it :) In Missouri you can also visit Branson. Nice tourist town.

Not too familiar with Oklahoma.....
In New Mexico you might want to visit Carlsbad Caverns. It's been a long time since I've been there but I'm sure it's still there. If you are there in the evening you can see the bats coming out of a huge cavern for their nightly meals.

Good luck and enjoy
 
Grand Lake is really nice for this area. We're seriously considering buy some property there and keeping our sailboat slipped when we retire.
If you are into space history, Check out the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson KS

There's a big aircraft museum in Liberal KS but I've never been there
 
Guys, Thank you so much for your posts! First hand input is so much better than going with your own "research" alone! BTW, we did Carlsbad cavern last year - it's still there and still awesome.
 
OK, quick questions.. Kansas City...stop by or take another route through Joplin? Is it worth going for more than the BBQ? Is the BBQ alone worth the TRIP?

Can I get any specials at LMC truck if I go through Kansas instead of OK? (I doubt it, they never even have sales.)
 
BBQ isn't worth a special trip to KC IMHO. The Plaza is nice to walk around and shop if you are so inclined.
 
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If you take I-40 West then I would stop in OKC at visit the OKC Memorial - it was quite moving to be there. And I'm not someone who would normally say that kind of thing.
 
Abilene KS has the Dwight Eisenhauer museum. It is worth seeing if it's on your route.
Watch National Lampoon's Vacation. The Griswalds travel through Kansas in the family truckster on their way to Walleyworld :o
 
If you go thru Amarillo Tx, I've seen on tv that they have one of those places where if you eat the whole steak you get it for free. I don't remember the name but I'm sure if you ask in town they will send you in the right direction.
 
RickPo said:
If you go thru Amarillo Tx, I've seen on tv that they have one of those places where if you eat the whole steak you get it for free. I don't remember the name but I'm sure if you ask in town they will send you in the right direction.
Click to expand...

It's the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Never been there but I've seen signs as far away as the Cimmaron turnpike in OK
 
Well The Griswold route IS my first choice, of course. But I have a couple of route options:

I40 through Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Indiana or kentucky
I80 through Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana
I70 through Kansas, Missouri
I65 through Kentucky

No rush, just a leisurely cruise to see interesting spots in the US.
 
Well we had a spring warm up for the summer road trip and the Suburban was rock solid. We went to Joshua Tree by way of the Salton Sea and Slab City/Salvation Mountain. Hours of dusty desert and mountain roads were a joy to cruise in Beach Bourbon. Loaded to the max with camping gear, but still out running the Dodge Ram rolling with us. The new Chevy wooden steering wheel I installed was perfect, and the ride was smooth as silk. The camping was great and the sight seeing a blast, but my favorite memories are in my suburban. Can't wait for the Summer road trip.
 
Green with envy :):)
Cant wait to take my pontoon out :D
 
OK, we've been through half our road trip and will soon do the other half. So far we have been mostly on the I-40, and it seems like this road is under construction from Texas to Tennessee! Unbelievable how much work is going on. Other things to watch out for: an endless stream of indian casinos and porno shops along I-40 - not exactly the romantic Route 66 of yesteryear. The only vehicle issue we've had is a busted fan belt, but had a spare.

The Big Texan Steak house in Amarillo was great, especially for the kids ( no one attempted the 72 ounce steak. Santa Rosa New Mexico has a great swimming hole. Winslow Arizona was fun. Of course you have to play the Eagles song, "Take it easy" while standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona with the bronze statue and a mural of a girl in a flat bed ford. It's a fun spot for pictures. The Wigwam hotel was interesting and the rooms are actually teepees and the town there was obviously the inspiration in the movie "CARS". The petrified forest was a worth the slight detour - especially for kids that love both sticks and rocks. Tops in Memphis had great BBQ, but can't beat the Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati. Brookville lake in Indiana was nice and worth a trip. Kentucky was a scenic drive due to the lack of bill boards and clean, beautiful highways

If anyone will be out on the I-40, I-65 and needs more feedback, let me know. BTW, the best gas prices are in Texas and Oklahoma. We'll be hitting I-74 and I-70 soon, so if anyone has any advice are recent experience, please pass it on...
 
OK, We made it back! Colorado an Utah have some tough driving conditions, I recommend a tranny cooler even if you are not towing anything. ESPECIALLY, if you end up in the hellish temperatures of Nevada after traversing these mountains. And good luck not getting a contact high in Denver now that pot is legal and on virtually every street corner. I definitely recommend HOPS & PIE for pizza & beer in Denver. I-74 & I-70 was not as much fun as I-40. There really isn't much to stop for in Indiana, Illinois or Kansas. Kansas greets you by charging you a TOLL - weird since they should be grateful anyone wants to even be there AND the I-70 is an interstate. Missouri is as hot and humid as a rainforest. The Arch in St. Louis is nice though and worth stopping for. Colorado and Utah are really awesome and also kind of weird and cold. There are so many great spots to explore! Nevada makes you wonder why anyone would ever live there - it is as if you are on MARS and no one can survive outside. It was 109 degrees in Las Vegas! Overall a great road trip in the suburban and I can't wait for the next one!
 
Thanks for the stories about your trip BB. America really does have a lot to see!
I've been fortunate enough to have seen some of it on my military and civilian deployments.
The wife and i spent 2 weeks in Destin FL last month. Had a new, bright red convertible Mustang rental. It was too hot and humid most of the time to drop the top but evenings were nice.
 
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