Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - My little road trip (long and tons of pics)

slacker370z · 09-02-2010, 12:23 PM

At the beginning of August I went on a little road trip. I drove to Fayetteville Arkansas to visit my brother. After staying a few days I drove to Colorado and Utah before heading north then back east to Ohio. Here is a link to the route I took Willoughby, OH to Willoughby, OH - Google Maps

All told it was almost 5500 miles.

I of course drove my 370z for this fun little adventure

I bought the car about a month before the trip with only 2500 miles. At the start of the trip this is what it had.

Day 1-6
No pics from this part it was just a normal boring drive. Drove normal freeways from Ohio to Arkansas as fast as possible. Didn't do much in AR because it was to damn hot.

Day 7 (Oklahoma)
Now the fun starts. When I decided to do this trip I decided I would be taking as many two lane interstates as possible. I had no idea how this would work out. The first day went great drove through both small abandoned towns and large cities. The majority of the time I had the road all to myself with nothing for miles. I should have taken more pics but I didn't.

This is my view for most of the day. Cruising at 80+ for long distances between towns became the norm.

Oklahoma had a bunch of these pick nick areas along the way so I ate lunch at one.

Day 8 (Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado)
Oklahoma got old in the morning but luckily I was only in it for an hour or two. Once I got into New Mexico the landscape started to change and I got to play in my first set of mountains. I was not in Colorado very long before it started to rain heavily so I didn't get to see much yet.

This is how I started my day

Water spots etched into the paint on my hood. I think it was from the sprinklers but not sure.

Then I went the wrong way and made a detour into Texas for a few minutes

Old mostly abandoned town on the border of Ok and Tx

After turning around I found I95 long straight with some hills. One can easily break 100mph with no fear of a cop or other traffic (not that I would do that)

I95 had two turns in 20 or so miles. Both 45 degree with a nice bank to them. Cant see it that well in this pic but I would imagine somebody driving a Z could take these at 80+ no problem (once again not that I did this)

Old gas station with tons of stuff still inside

New Mexico finally

Found an inactive volcano. Paid $5 to drive up it and took tons of pics.

Started to get into the mountains. Lots of turns and way to much fun. It was hard t get a good pic because I had nowhere to stop at.

Canyon I drove over

After a little rain in Colorado

Day 9 Million dollar highway in Colorado and drive to Moab Utah
The million dollar highway is amazing. I will let the pics to all the talking.

Day10 Moab Utah
Went and spent a day at arches national park. Walked a trail that was about 5 miles. This is one place I will be coming back to at some point in my life.

Day 11 Moab Utah to Ashley national park Utah
This is where I started to take less pics. Got a little worn out or stopping all the time. It was a nice little drive through some small mountains and then into the national park. Camped out for the night.

Day 12 Wyoming
By now I have lost the battle against the bugs. A new clear bra will have to be bought

Double Rainbow

Drive into my Camp site was a 2 mile dirt road. Got some funny looks driving down it.

Day 13 South Dakota and North Dakota
Boring part of the trip. The trip was getting long at this point and I needed to get back home in a few days so I hoped on a freeway and drove straight across ND.

Day 14 North Dakota to Minnesota.
Tried to get my oil changed at a Nissan dealer but they didnt know what ester oil was (not kidding) so I had to drive towards Minneapolis and get the oil change the next day.

Day 15 Minnesota to Wisconsin
Got my oil changed and drove onto Wisconsin. Camped out in Chequamegon nation park.

Day 16 Wisconsin to Michigan.
Decided to take an easy day and only drove a few hours. Camped out in the Hiawatha national park.
Another long dirt road drive to my camp site

This is where I spent the last evening of my trip. Had a nice bottle of Southern Comfort and just hung out till it was dark.

Day 17 Michigan to Ohio (home)
By this point I was ready to be home. Lake Michigan is amazing felt like I was on an Island and not a lake.

09-02-2010, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
slacker370z Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: oh Posts: 9 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 14	My little road trip (long and tons of pics) At the beginning of August I went on a little road trip. I drove to Fayetteville Arkansas to visit my brother. After staying a few days I drove to Colorado and Utah before heading north then back east to Ohio. Here is a link to the route I took Willoughby, OH to Willoughby, OH - Google Maps All told it was almost 5500 miles. I of course drove my 370z for this fun little adventure I bought the car about a month before the trip with only 2500 miles. At the start of the trip this is what it had. Day 1-6 No pics from this part it was just a normal boring drive. Drove normal freeways from Ohio to Arkansas as fast as possible. Didn't do much in AR because it was to damn hot. Day 7 (Oklahoma) Now the fun starts. When I decided to do this trip I decided I would be taking as many two lane interstates as possible. I had no idea how this would work out. The first day went great drove through both small abandoned towns and large cities. The majority of the time I had the road all to myself with nothing for miles. I should have taken more pics but I didn't. This is my view for most of the day. Cruising at 80+ for long distances between towns became the norm. Oklahoma had a bunch of these pick nick areas along the way so I ate lunch at one. Day 8 (Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado) Oklahoma got old in the morning but luckily I was only in it for an hour or two. Once I got into New Mexico the landscape started to change and I got to play in my first set of mountains. I was not in Colorado very long before it started to rain heavily so I didn't get to see much yet. This is how I started my day Water spots etched into the paint on my hood. I think it was from the sprinklers but not sure. Then I went the wrong way and made a detour into Texas for a few minutes Old mostly abandoned town on the border of Ok and Tx After turning around I found I95 long straight with some hills. One can easily break 100mph with no fear of a cop or other traffic (not that I would do that) I95 had two turns in 20 or so miles. Both 45 degree with a nice bank to them. Cant see it that well in this pic but I would imagine somebody driving a Z could take these at 80+ no problem (once again not that I did this) Old gas station with tons of stuff still inside New Mexico finally Found an inactive volcano. Paid $5 to drive up it and took tons of pics. Started to get into the mountains. Lots of turns and way to much fun. It was hard t get a good pic because I had nowhere to stop at. Canyon I drove over After a little rain in Colorado Day 9 Million dollar highway in Colorado and drive to Moab Utah The million dollar highway is amazing. I will let the pics to all the talking. Day10 Moab Utah Went and spent a day at arches national park. Walked a trail that was about 5 miles. This is one place I will be coming back to at some point in my life. Day 11 Moab Utah to Ashley national park Utah This is where I started to take less pics. Got a little worn out or stopping all the time. It was a nice little drive through some small mountains and then into the national park. Camped out for the night. Day 12 Wyoming By now I have lost the battle against the bugs. A new clear bra will have to be bought Double Rainbow Drive into my Camp site was a 2 mile dirt road. Got some funny looks driving down it. Day 13 South Dakota and North Dakota Boring part of the trip. The trip was getting long at this point and I needed to get back home in a few days so I hoped on a freeway and drove straight across ND. Day 14 North Dakota to Minnesota. Tried to get my oil changed at a Nissan dealer but they didnt know what ester oil was (not kidding) so I had to drive towards Minneapolis and get the oil change the next day. Day 15 Minnesota to Wisconsin Got my oil changed and drove onto Wisconsin. Camped out in Chequamegon nation park. Day 16 Wisconsin to Michigan. Decided to take an easy day and only drove a few hours. Camped out in the Hiawatha national park. Another long dirt road drive to my camp site This is where I spent the last evening of my trip. Had a nice bottle of Southern Comfort and just hung out till it was dark. Day 17 Michigan to Ohio (home) By this point I was ready to be home. Lake Michigan is amazing felt like I was on an Island and not a lake.