Planning a cross country trip for next year

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Ok so I am in the early planning stages (like we just decided last night we wanted to do this). We live in Portland, OR and plan to make a loop of the country (more or less depending on sites we dicide to see). In your openion what would be the best month to make this trip? We will have a 9 year old but have no problem pulling her from school. Not sure dead middle summer is the best answer but December is also not good lol.

[Just Be]

Last year, my in laws took a cross country drive from Seattle to the east coast and back down through Texas and AZ, then back up along the CA coast. They left in early September and were back in 3-4 weeks. Nice time because the kids are back in school. They had a great time. Saw Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Niagra Falls from the Canada side, Boston and so much more. Have fun!

[Littlejon Dsgn]

I was thinking September as well, should be less people out with school starting back up. Wish I had 3-4 weeks, mine is looking closer to 2 full weeks off from work so that could put me at about 15 days.

[RPCrowe]

I would avoid the Summer because of the heat and the tourist congestion...

I would avoid the Winter because of snows, cold and blizzards...

I would avoid the spring because of tornado activity throughout much of the USA...

That pretty well leaves the early Fall. Weather should be good if not great... The only natural disaster might be a hurricane on the East or Gulf Coasts. However, unlike tornadic activity, hurricanes are very predictable and can be avoided quite easliy.

Note: The areas around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as well as much of the Rocky Mountains in general can be hit with some cold fronts and snows very early in the Fall.

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by RPCrowe

I would avoid the Summer because of the heat and the tourist congestion...

I would avoid the Winter because of snows, cold and blizzards...

I would avoid the spring because of tornado activity throughout much of the USA...

That pretty well leaves the early Fall. Weather should be good if not great... The only natural disaster might be a hurricane on the East or Gulf Coasts. However, unlike tornadic activity, hurricanes are very predictable and can be avoided quite easliy.

Note: The areas around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as well as much of the Rocky Mountains in general can be hit with some cold fronts and snows very early in the Fall.

Thank you, for the info, I am not as worried about hurricanes as you say theres advance notice and you replan your trip to avoid that area. Tornado's as cool as it would be to see think I will avaoid that time of year lol.

Looking at a calendar and school schedule it looks like either late Aug and flow into the first week of Sept. or wait and go mid-end of Sept.