Cross‑Country Road Trip: Maryland to California (4‑Day, 10‑Hour Days)

Day 1: Departure – La Plata, MD → Indianapolis, IN → St. Louis, MO

Morning: Leave 6085 Manor Lane, La Plata and head west on I‑70, stopping briefly in Hagerstown, MD for coffee and fuel.

Afternoon: Continue through Pennsylvania, reaching Indianapolis, IN for a quick lunch and a walk around the Monument Circle to stretch your legs.

Evening: Drive the final stretch to St. Louis, MO, where you can dine near the Gateway Arch and settle into a budget hotel for the night.

Day 2: St. Louis, MO → Salina, KS

Morning: Depart St. Louis early, crossing the Mississippi River and traveling across Missouri’s rolling farmland.

Afternoon: Stop in Columbia, MO for a brief refuel and a snack before pushing onward across the state line.

Evening: Arrive in Salina, KS, where you can relax at a local diner and rest at an affordable motel.

Day 3: Salina, KS → Rock Springs, WY

Morning: Leave Salina heading west on I‑70, passing the scenic plains of western Kansas.

Afternoon: Cross into Colorado and make a quick stop at Grand Junction, CO for lunch and a view of the nearby Colorado River.

Evening: Continue north‑west into Wyoming, reaching Rock Springs, WY for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Rock Springs, WY → Citrus Heights, CA

Morning: Begin the final leg heading west on I‑80, enjoying the high‑desert landscape of western Wyoming.

Afternoon: Briefly stop in Sagebrush, NV (outside Las Vegas) for fuel and a quick bite before entering California.

Evening: Arrive at 12801 Fair Oaks Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA in time for a celebratory dinner near Sacramento.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Hagerstown, MD – 0.5 hr, $15 (fuel & coffee)
• Indianapolis, IN (Monument Circle) – 1 hr, $20 (food & parking)
• St. Louis, MO (Gateway Arch area) – 2 hr, $35 (meal & lodging)
• Columbia, MO – 0.5 hr, $12 (fuel & snack)
• Salina, KS – 2 hr, $30 (dinner & motel)
• Grand Junction, CO (Colorado River view) – 1 hr, $25 (fuel & lunch)
• Rock Springs, WY – 2 hr, $40 (dinner & lodging)
• Sagebrush, NV – 0.5 hr, $10 (fuel)
• Citrus Heights, CA – 1 hr, $0 (arrival)
• Total Estimated Cost: $187

Tips

If you need more time to explore, add an extra day in either St. Louis or Grand Junction to visit local museums or parks. Conversely, to shorten the trip, you can combine Day 2 and Day 3 by driving straight from St. Louis to Rock Springs, but be prepared for a longer 12‑hour driving day.