Savio

Hello all,


I'm about to embark on a long journey which will hopefully take us 4 days and 3 nights. This will start on Oct 28th and reaching Redondo Beach Nov 1st.

I've come to you all for help since all of us at Azine live in various locations and hopefully you guys can give me tips about traffic, roads, good eats, speed traps and such.

First of all, what do I need for my TSX? I'm getting new tires and oil change within the next couple of weeks. I thought about getting my ATF and Brake Fluid flushed but I did that around 45k and I have 65k. If I had to do 1 or the other, which would you do? I'm going to bring an extra set of wiper inserts, extra bottle of oil, washer fluid, water and a fix a flat.
Anything else?

My route will start in Charlotte, I'm driving and staying there from DC before hand to spend time with my parents. After that it begins along 85 South to Atlanta, we'll probably make a pitstop around there to take a break. Then continue on Interstate 20 toward Birmingham then onto Highway 78 up to Memphis where we'll probably have some BBQ.

Then onto Little Rock, AR on Interstate 40W where we'll spend most of our journey. We're planning on staying in downtown Little Rock for the night. Any ideas where to eat? Things to look for?

We'll start early and continue on I-40W to OKC, OK, passing through. From OKC we're driving straight to Santa Rosa, NM and staying the night there. The drive starts early to Flagstaff, AZ where we'll spend the night but will probably hit up the Walnut Canyon National Park.

After the night in Flagstaff, AZ it's onward to my new home in Redondo Beach, CA.


If you guys can give me any insights to what I need to bring, what to look for, traffic, and good eats, I'd greatly appreciate it

a87phan

Congrats on the new house.

I recommend getting a good radar detector for any long distance travel... just don't get caught with it cuz some dick cops will ticket you for it.

SHYUperman

iTrader: (1)

Savio you bought a house in CA?

Have fun on your trip!

Savio

I meant home as a general term but I didn't buy a house, not yet anyway

funyuns101

wow, your story sounds extremely similar to mine!

I was up in DC until July, my parents live in Charlotte and I just moved to LA.

I looked for apartments down in Redondo but ended up in Playa and I work in Manhattan Beach.

I however did not drive across, so I can't give you any tips.

good luck!

mrgold35

I recently drove from Columbus, Ohio to Albuquerque, NM (Indy, St Louis, Tulsa, OK City, Amarillo, Santa Rosa, ABQ). Most of the trip was at 65 or 70 mph max speed. Hwy patrol was pulling folks over just for going 5 mph or more over the posted speed until I got to Oklahoma. I did not hit 75 mph until the New Mexico state line. I always drive between 80-83 mph in New Mexico and Arizona and never got pulled over in 10 years.

I hope you have XM or mp3/iPod because there ain't nutin' on the radio between the larger cities in this neck of the woods.

There isn’t much to Santa Rosa (3-4,000 people?) besides the usual McDonalds, Denny’s, truck stops, Best Westerns, etc.. Albuquerque (1/2 million folks) is a little less than 2 hours away on I-40. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, gas stations (gas at about $2.50 for 91 octane), and 3G cell coverage. It only takes about 30 minutes to drive across Albuquerque on I-40 at 65 mph.

I would recommend Sedona, AZ, just south of Flagstaff. It is a short drive through beautiful red rock canyons. It will only take you about 5 hours from Albuquerque to get there and you will not be disappointed when you see it. There is also the Grand Canyon which everyone needs to see at least once in their lifetime.

slickrab

jetblue? although i dont think you can take your tsx as a carry on but definitely a check-in.

Savio

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been thinking about this but doesn't seem to out of the way from Flagstaff. I might just do this.

Dktran31

if i were going on that trip, i would make sure to bring, my flashlight, avon charge n start, digital camera, quarters for tolls and plenty of cash =] good luck with the trip man, hope you dont run into any mechanical issues n have fun

nj2pa2nc

did 3 cross country road trips in my tsx- would stop in the welcome centers of each state and get the discount hotel booklets. (looked for the ones that had free breakfast.) Had the car serviced before the trip and usually required stopping on the way home to get the oil/filter changed again.

DemonPoofball

Make sure to have some money for tolls-- when we moved from AZ to OH, I was tossing out money constantly in toll booths all the way across OK... Hated that state... the entire state was one lane, under construction with speed traps, and I had to pay for the "privilege"...

Something cool we found driving to AZ last fall was the gas station in the little "town" just across the border in CO from NE. He was letting people know where the cops had set up their speed traps on the way to Denver. Not your route, but it was kinda nice...

I second Sedona btw-- you're moving out west, might as well see some of the gorgeous sites! If you've got a little extra time, 40 goes through the Petrified Forest not long after you enter AZ too.

Savio

Hello all,


Well I'm here in Redondo Beach and the TSX held up extremely well.

TS_eXpeed

As expected.
Have fun?
I'm hoping to do a small road trip in December, or a big one next summer.

curls

Did you see Sedona or the Petrified Forest? I saw both as a kid (11 or 12 years old) and still remember those vivid sights to this day -- what a scenic area!

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

Get the Escort Passport detector...I had 8500 traveled from Chicago to San Francisco, also Chicago to Miami and it works very well! Have an awesome road trip.

Savio

We did stop by Sedona Red Rocks for a couple hours. That place was amazing. I'll have to upload pics when I'm done unpacking.

EuRTSX

Congrats on the big move Savio!

If I'm ever in the area, I'll be sure to msg you!

funyuns101

welcome to LA! Great weather for November don'tcha think?