Hi everyone,

I am thinking of doing a road trip in March/1st week of April. I will be leaving out of Pittsburgh and heading South then ideally West.

Any tips?

March travel?

Will it be too cold to camp? If so what are hotel options / pricing from experience?

What states to avoid bc of various things??

Will weather (tornados and such) be an issue? (we don't get tornados in pgh)

ANY and ALL advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

 

I did two years ago Maryland to SF and last year Maryland to AZ and up to Canada and back home. Any ways, trips were late July and early August reason was weather. In Colorado it was cold mornings, low 30's other than that it was just pure hot and muggy, Stayed in hotels all along the way, dont camp anymore need some comfort breaks at night and not a lot of room to carry everything.

Cost of hotels, low side of about $80 to $180 per night, used military discount which helped. Just rode till 6pm at night then started looking for a hotel to stay the night. Almost always was allowed to park the bike near the front door of the hotel. Only one told me no, so not too bad.

Avoid states, none but since your leaving in March would not travel above the mid states and places of elevation due to snow. I did run into bad storms, had to hold up a few times and did change my route once. Guess that means running the gulf coast states, but still in TX going to hit cold weather.

Think you should consider cold weather gear, or just wait for a few months for a better chance of different choices.

 

You,re going to want to wait until mid May before attempting this JMHO----I,ve done Az-New England last week of May about a dozen times----the average of weather on those trips seemed fine-----seemed to hit rain from Tennessee Through Virginia a few times------route usually consisted of AZ/New Mexico/ Texas/OK/AK/TN/VA/MD/PA/NY/MA/VT/NH -----this keeps you south for a little more than half the trip----I would,t attempt it in March or April-but to each their own

Rocker

 

Iffy, at best. Cold in them thar hills.

 

Head due south to Mardi Gras, then head West staying South. You will still be cold. But it is an adventure so have at it, good luck.

 

I would do it crossing NM and AZ all the way down on I-10, not as far north as I-40. I've caught snow on I-40 that time of year numerous times, especially around Flagstaff. I-10 is not only farther south, but has lower elevation as well.

 

Think cool to cold and it will be wet March is prime sleet & ice storm time in the Midwest.

 

I ride to Florida every April from Lancaster Pa. Weather starts to get nice around Southern Va NC or so by SC GA tee shirts. So maybe start your trip from the south maybe 81 to 40 to 20 to 10 to the west coast that's the southern Rt than maybe on the way back up top.

 

I appreciate the responses so far. Especially route advice!! I am going to really have to consider weather and maybe push it mid/late march and early April. Today is a prime example.. warning for wind gusts up to 60mph! I just don't want to be in the middle of no where and some weather pop up bc what would I do with the bike? I could go inside somewhere but would my ride possibly get trashed or like swept up in a tornado?

What are peoples thoughts on miles per day? Someone told me 500. Ive done 500 in a day before but not days on end. Is this accurate?

I don't want to even to ask this but . ... What if I get a flat in the middle of no where? Has this happened to anyone?

Thanks,

 

Mid March, Flagstaff AZ in 2013. I was happy to be in the car. Don't get me wrong, it can also be beautiful that time of year. It's a crapshoot.