Travel Costs, Estimates, and Trip Ideas?

[SpeakEasy]

OK, I admit that I am an obsessive planner and analyst. But I suspect many of the members here are as well.

In today's world, gas costs are our biggest single travel expense. Last summer we took a really nice trip from western NY across the plains to Colorado and back. I estimated an average of $3.05 per gallon of gas, 4600 miles round trip, 16 MPG, and a total cost of $878 for gas. The actual figures after all was said and done were pretty close: $3.05 per gallon, 4852 miles, 16.8 MPG, and a total cost of $911 for gas. This turns out to be almost $0.19 per mile.

Using these figures, for each 1000 miles we drive,  we'll pay about $190 in gas. I'm guessing that the price per gallon will be higher this summer, but who knows. I am thinking I'd like to keep this summer's trip shorter than last year's. Maybe around 3000 - 3500 miles total.

So, with western NY as a starting point, what would be some cool possibilities for this summer's trip? We're thinking of the following possibilities, but I'm open to things you might suggest.

- through Quebec and Montreal, over to Maine and Acadia, then down the coast through Boston and over to Rhode Island and then home.

- over to Michigan, up to Sleeping Bear Dunes, up through the UP, maybe over into the lakes of Minnesota and then backtrack to get home.

- down along the Blue Ridge into the mountains of North Carolina, maybe as far as Smokey Mt. National Park and then over to the Atlantic coast and work our way back home.

I haven't added up the miles for any of these trips, but they seem like they ought to fit in the range I'm thinking about.

Do any of you have experience with any of these areas? What else should we consider?

Thanks,

-Speak

[wavery]

OK, I admit that I am an obsessive planner and analyst. But I suspect many of the members here are as well.

In today's world, gas costs are our biggest single travel expense. Last summer we took a really nice trip from western NY across the plains to Colorado and back. I estimated an average of $3.05 per gallon of gas, 4600 miles round trip, 16 MPG, and a total cost of $878 for gas. The actual figures after all was said and done were pretty close: $3.05 per gallon, 4852 miles, 16.8 MPG, and a total cost of $911 for gas. This turns out to be almost $0.19 per mile.

Using these figures, for each 1000 miles we drive,  we'll pay about $190 in gas. I'm guessing that the price per gallon will be higher this summer, but who knows. I am thinking I'd like to keep this summer's trip shorter than last year's. Maybe around 3000 - 3500 miles total.

So, with western NY as a starting point, what would be some cool possibilities for this summer's trip? We're thinking of the following possibilities, but I'm open to things you might suggest.

- through Quebec and Montreal, over to Maine and Acadia, then down the coast through Boston and over to Rhode Island and then home.

- over to Michigan, up to Sleeping Bear Dunes, up through the UP, maybe over into the lakes of Minnesota and then backtrack to get home.

- down along the Blue Ridge into the mountains of North Carolina, maybe as far as Smokey Mt. National Park and then over to the Atlantic coast and work our way back home.

I haven't added up the miles for any of these trips, but they seem like they ought to fit in the range I'm thinking about.

Do any of you have experience with any of these areas? What else should we consider?

Thanks,

-Speak

Throw in an oil change and wear & tear (brakes, tires, engine, trans, depreciation for mileage etc) and you will probably be over .25 per mile. That's if nothing breaks.

[tlhdoc]

- through Quebec and Montreal, over to Maine and Acadia, then down the coast through Boston and over to Rhode Island and then home.
 
- over to Michigan, up to Sleeping Bear Dunes, up through the UP, maybe over into the lakes of Minnesota and then backtrack to get home.
 
- down along the Blue Ridge into the mountains of North Carolina, maybe as far as Smokey Mt. National Park and then over to the Atlantic coast and work our way back home.
 
Do any of you have experience with any of these areas? What else should we consider?

Have you been to any of the areas listed?  I love Acadia NP.  We usually go every other year, but this year we are going to NH instead.  We have been to Sleeping Bear Dunes and had a great time there, but it was humid.  We also have been to the Great Smokey Mt. National Park and enjoyed it immensely.  Of the three you listed I would do the Acadia NP trip.  It is usually cool and has low humidity.  If you go there make sure you go over the Schodic peninsula.  It is part of the park, but north of the island.

[SpeakEasy]

Have you been to any of the areas listed?  I love Acadia NP.  We usually go every other year, but this year we are going to NH instead.  We have been to Sleeping Bear Dunes and had a great time there, but it was humid.  We also have been to the Great Smokey Mt. National Park and enjoyed it immensely.  Of the three you listed I would do the Acadia NP trip.  It is usually cool and has low humidity.  If you go there make sure you go over the Schodic peninsula.  It is part of the park, but north of the island.

Yeah, actually we've been to Smokey once about 30 years ago; can't remember much about it. Been to Acadia once about 8 years ago. Loved it and would enjoy going back. Been to Sleeping Bear a couple of times. That's a nice area, but prolly the bottom choice of the three.

What's the best thing about Smokey?

-Speak

[tlhdoc]

What's the best thing about Smokey?

The wildlife.  We saw 2 wolves and a bear in Cades Cove.  We also saw a bear along the main road through the park.  We went to the northern end of the park and saw many elk.  There is an observation deck at the highest point in the park, but I can't think of the name of it.  It can be very hot and humid in the low lands, but up high it is much cooler.  We went tubing on Deep Creek and I liked the campgrounds at Cades Cove and where the elk were.

[dthurk]

Interesting.  We have planned a trip that almost duplicates your proposed Acadia trip for 2 weeks in August this summer!  We'll be leaving from near your location, first stop in the Vermont islands of Lake Champlain.  Then boondocking in my sister's driveway in the NE corner of Vermont.  From there, we'll spend 6 or 7 nights in Acadia NP.  We were considering going south down the coast from there, looking at Rhode Island to visit some friends, but they moved.  We'd still like to go south down the coast, but are now open what to do from there.
 
Can't help you with suggestions, as we've not been to many of your proposed areas of yet, but they all sound like terrific trips to me.  Enjoy!

[SpeakEasy]

Interesting.  We have planned a trip that almost duplicates your proposed Acadia trip for 2 weeks in August this summer!  We'll be leaving from near your location, first stop in the Vermont islands of Lake Champlain.  Then boondocking in my sister's driveway in the NE corner of Vermont.  From there, we'll spend 6 or 7 nights in Acadia NP.  We were considering going south down the coast from there, looking at Rhode Island to visit some friends, but they moved.  We'd still like to go south down the coast, but are now open what to do from there.
 
Can't help you with suggestions, as we've not been to many of your proposed areas of yet, but they all sound like terrific trips to me.  Enjoy!

Wow! So, clearly your "vote" is for the northeastern route. Thanks, dthurk!

-Speak

[SpeakEasy]

Throw in an oil change and wear & tear (brakes, tires, engine, trans, depreciation for mileage etc) and you will probably be over .25 per mile. That's if nothing breaks.

It's very interesting that you point this out. This story will take us slightly OT, but here goes. On last summer's trip, on the way home, there were two days of 100+ temperatures that we drove through all day long on the plains (remember - we're towing, of course). Right after we returned home, our Highlander developed a small engine-oil leak. It wasn't much of an issue, but it was disturbing to me. I put off dealing with it for a couple of months. When I did get around to taking it in, I took it to a local mechanic in town rather than to the Toyota dealership. He looked it over and told me that it was a seal between the engine and transmission. He estimated $600 - mostly labor. Holy cow! Now, I am a man of faith (in Jesus Christ), and that evening I felt God leading me to take a look at my warrantee. I hadn't thought about car warrantees in years and years. I've never had a warrantee claim, as far as I can remember. Well, it turn out that the warrantee covers all engine seals for 60,000 miles. So, I go out to the Highlander to investigate, and how many miles do you suppose I have? How does 57,000 sound? Well, the next day I made arrangements to have the local Toyota dealership have a look. Sure enough - it was a warrantee repair and they took care of it for no charge.

How do you like that?!

Still though, your point is a good one. Our travels do take a toll on our vehicles beyond the direct out-of-pocket expenses.

-Speak

[chasd60]

To estimate costs of our trips, we deduct normal expenses that we would have occurred without the trip.
 
We are going to Assateague Island in MD in June and Niagara Falls in July, each for a week. About 600 miles one-way for each trip.
 
Being as DW and I work in opposite directions from home, we typically spend $90 per week in gas and $7.20 in tolls. These two trips are estimated to be $300 each in diesel (round trip figuring lower than expected mpg and higher than expected prices), so a true cost of $210 in additional fuel and $90 tolls (high side)
 
Food for each trip was estimated to be $250/wk. We now spend $160/wk so the increase is only $90.
Entertainment is budgeted at $100/day and that covers the event filled days by overbudgeting on the days we plan to stay at the CG, more of these in MD because the CG is most of the entertainment. Niagara Falls may have to be a little higher than $100/day but hopefully some of the $$ is left over from MD.
The Cg in MD is a National Park and therefore inexpensive.
The CG in Niagara Falls is about $250/wk.
 
I may be considered "an obsessive planner and analyst" too.
 
 
As for the route you choose, I would choose the southern route. I live near the northeastern route area which knocks that one out for me. It also plays a little into my decision not to do the northwestern route.
 
There is a place in Ohio called "The Wilds", nice to visit http://www.thewilds.org/
 
Mammoth Caves National Park in Bowling Green, KY (Also the Corvette museum)
 
Smokey Mts in TN
Assateague Island National Seashore in MD where the wild ponies roam the island