2 to 3 months road trip

Welcome to the USA Branch.

First, what three months are you planning this?

Secondly, from your planning map, you are missing Utah and Arizona, and five or six of the best national parks in the country are there, so you might want to not miss those.

My personal view is to rent a cheap sedan (say a Ford Focus class), and stay in motels, hostels where available, and park lodges where available and affordable.

Accommodation in the US (even budget-level motels) tend to be of a very good standard for what you pay.

Hi Jingili,

thanks for your answer!

We don't have a time frame yet, but I suppose this would be only possible in late spring or summer, because some of these areas will be hard to visit in in the colder months.

Utah and Arizona because we spent three weeks there this year and saw all of those exceptional natural wonders. It was truly amazing and inspired us to do a even longer trip.

Secondly, from your planning map, you are missing Utah and Arizona,

Also , most of the interesting parts of New Mexico and Colorado.

I really don't like these road-trip apps. I know it feels like its giving a good start on planning, but its really giving you an itinerary that's so generic it borders on useless, and that you could have done much better on your own with just a little bit of research. In a sense, I think by putting together a product that looks and feels already complete, it subtly discourages users from digging in and doing better. And believe me, you can do better.

I have several questions right from the start:

• when is this trip? the seasons are a big deal, and will partially determine the outline of your trip. For example, there is literally no time of year where you can have a good visit at Big Bend in Texas, then drive immediately north to Yellowstone and Glacier. Yet, this is what the map has you doing. Some things like this will need to be adjusted based on reality.

• what type of experiences are you most interested in? Keen wilderness hikers? Mountain climbers and adventurers? Casual walking and sightseeing? Historical sights? Museums? Nightlife, cities, etc.?

• where have you already been in the US, and are you strictly seeking to avoid those areas?

What would be the most cost efficient way to travel?

Generally, I agree with above, a cheap rental sedan is the way to go for cost-efficiency. Big RVs are an expensive hassle. Are you interested in camping? In the western US a campervan rental won't save you much money, but it can make the camping experience more comfortable and convenient. In any case, camping or motels, we do a lot of self-catering on the road rather than constantly eating out. Pick up a cooler for perishables. We also enjoy this because it often forces you to find a nice spot to eat and hang out in whatever town you're in, like a city park. Blend in with the locals in their natural habitat.

Would it be a good idea to book all the accommodations in advance or is it possible to find cheap rooms a day before?

This depends on "when" and "where". Outside of the summer travel season, you can probably book as you go, except at the most popular destinations, where reservations are always a good idea. During the summer travel season, booking ahead most places is a good idea, and might be very necessary in some areas if you want to be at all picky about where you stay and how much it costs. There are few "last minute bargains", but lots and lots of "last minute hassles and unexpected expenses".

I see you answered some questions while I was writing. it happens.

Late spring is actually a really bad time in the high country of the western US. What you probably consider "late spring" is still very much the last part of winter in a lot of areas. However you eventually structure your itinerary, I would not plan on arriving in places like Yellowstone and Glacier until July.

Conversely, your itinerary includes Big Bend, but I wouldn't go anywhere near that place May through October. Its just brutally hot and not a great place to visit at that time.

I think the general consensus is that September is the best overall month in most any region. Crowds have lessened most areas, and the summer heat has broken a bit in all but the low deserts, but weather remains generally fair and stable across most of the country. April - May is OK too in a lot of areas, except in the higher mountainous terrain, where it is still the slushy, muddy, end of winter. Mid-to-late summer is great across the norther tier, in the mountains and along the coast.

Yes ... for all-round beauty, September-November is best (in our experience) - but you need to be through Glacier and Yellowstone before about mid-September indeed. Might need to re-think the shape of the route, based on seasons.

In line with the above comments...
Reverse your trip. Start out west and work your way east. Then start later, around late-August or early-September. This will help with your seasonal issues. The northeast is fine in fall and winter, since many attractions are indoors anyway. You will have to account for the seasonal closures in Yellowstone, however. Services start closing in September, and roads in October.

I also agree with the Big Bend comments, with a caveat:
If you reverse the trip, you would potentially be there in October (hopefully mid- to late) or even November. The lower elevations are still hot. However, the high-elevation Chisos would be cooler. A trip in (mid- to late-) October focusing on the these mountains could be reasonable, and November even more so.

Recommend August-September-October. Reserve place to the first week in September then wing it overall, cept maybe a few major places on the weekend.

Dump Florida and Texas, save for a 3-4 week trip in the winter, just too hot in the summer and out of the way.

Car-motel for the east part, turn in car in Denver and car camp or get a campervan, perfect for 2 people and they provide most of the camp gear. Do you camp?
Have a basic route-idea but nothing set in stone, it's good to plan and have several ideas on what to see and do, even have a basic schedule but not set itinerary, IMO. Be prepared to change.

For example if your ahead of schedule why not after Glacier head up to Banff-Jasper for a couple weeks.
By the way replace Redwoods NP with Jedediah Smith and Humboldt Redwoods, consider dropping RMNP and explore the SW region of Colorado, so many places.

It would help to know your main interests for this trip.
Where have you been before in the states and what did you like and what did you hate.

Roughly figure about $250 a day total overall for 2 people, really hard to stay. Could do it cheaper.

If you come late spring I would think you could find motels on the way, that would be last half of May and most of June, but after that you will need reservations. Larger cities like NY, LA, etc. will require advance reservations.

If I were doing that trip I think I would go from Toronto NW towards the east coast of Lake Huron, head north around the Georgian Bay area and head to Sault St. Marie, Canada and cross over to the UP of Michigan. Head south over Mackinaw Bridge, Mackinaw Island (if there is an interest) and then proceed along the east shore of Lake Michigan through Petoskey, Charlevoix, Elk Rapids, Traverse City, then over to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park at Empire Michigan and then south to Chicago.
http://www.visitgeorgianbay.com/
http://www.saulttourism.com/
https://www.mackinacisland.org/
http://www.petoskeyarea.com/
http://www.michigan.org/city/traverse-city
http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com/

Agree with the others, rent a sedan and stay in inexpensive motels. Some motel chains like Best Western and Choice offer a reward program (free to join) where you get either gift cards, or something like stay "x" nights and get one free.
RVs are expensive, get poor mileage for the most part, no unlimited miles unlike most rental cars and you cannot park them just anyplace but for the most part you have to stay in campgrounds or RV parks. You also have to rent (or spend time buying) linens and dishes.