Cross‑Country Road Trip Itinerary: Maryland to California

Day 1 – August 31: Departure & Mid‑Atlantic Highlights

Morning: Leave 6085 Manor Lane, La Plata, MD and head north on I‑95. Stop in **Harrisburg** to stretch your legs and admire the historic **Harrisburg State Capitol** building.

Afternoon: Continue west on I‑70 toward Pittsburgh. Take a short detour to the **Pittsburgh Strip District**, where you can sample local snacks and enjoy river views.

Evening: Check into a hotel in the Pittsburgh area, relax, and dine at a downtown restaurant while reviewing the next day’s route.

Day 2 – September 1: From the Rust Belt to the Great Lakes

Morning: Depart Pittsburgh and drive east on I‑90 toward Cleveland. Visit the iconic **Rock & Roll Hall of Fame** for a quick tour of music history.

Afternoon: Proceed west across Lake Erie into Illinois, arriving in **Chicago**. Spend time at **Millennium Park**, snapping photos with the famous "Bean" sculpture.

Evening: Enjoy dinner on Chicago’s Riverwalk and stay overnight at a hotel near the lakefront.

Day 3 – September 2: Midwest Plains & River Towns

Morning: Leave Chicago and travel through Indiana’s shoreline, stopping at the **Indiana Dunes National Park** for a brief beach walk.

Afternoon: Continue west to **Omaha, Nebraska**. Explore the charming **Old Market** district, filled with boutique shops and historic brick streets.

Evening: Dine on locally sourced beef at a downtown steakhouse and settle into a comfortable Omaha hotel.

Day 4 – September 3: Great Plains to the Rockies

Morning: Depart Omaha and travel across the Nebraska plains, stopping at the **Lincoln Highway Museum** in Kearney to learn about early cross‑country travel.

Afternoon: Cross into Colorado and arrive in **Denver**. Wander through the **Denver Botanic Gardens**, enjoying desert and alpine plant collections.

Evening: Experience Denver’s lively nightlife in LoDo (Lower Downtown) and rest for the mountain stretch ahead.

Day 5 – September 4: Rocky Mountains & High Desert

Morning: Take a scenic detour into **Rocky Mountain National Park**, driving Trail Ridge Road for breathtaking alpine vistas.

Afternoon: Descend into Utah, heading for **Salt Lake City**. Visit the historic **Salt Lake Temple** and stroll around Temple Square.

Evening: Sample Utah’s famous fry sauce at a local eatery and stay overnight in Salt Lake City.

Day 6 – September 5: Great Basin to the Final Destination

Morning: Depart Salt Lake City and travel west across the **Great Basin** region, enjoying wide-open desert scenery.

Afternoon: Stop in **Reno, Nevada**, for a quick walk along the **Riverwalk** and a coffee break before the final leg.

Evening: Arrive at **12801 Fair Oaks Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA**. Unload, settle in, and celebrate the successful coast‑to‑coast adventure.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Harrisburg State Capitol – 1 hour – $0 (free)
• Pittsburgh Strip District – 2 hours – $20 (meals & snacks)
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 2 hours – $30 (admission)
• Millennium Park – 1.5 hours – $0 (free)
• Indiana Dunes National Park – 2 hours – $12 (park fee)
• Old Market, Omaha – 2 hours – $15 (shopping/coffee)
• Lincoln Highway Museum – 1 hour – $8 (admission)
• Denver Botanic Gardens – 2 hours – $15 (admission)
• Rocky Mountain National Park – 3 hours – $35 (park fee)
• Salt Lake Temple – 1 hour – $0 (free)
• Reno Riverwalk – 1 hour – $0 (free)
• Gasoline (≈3,200 mi) – 100 gallons – $380
• Meals (6 days) – 3 meals/day – $180
• Accommodation (5 nights) – $120/night – $600
• Miscellaneous (souvenirs, tolls) – – $100
Total Estimated Cost: $1,685

Tips

If you’d like to extend the journey, consider adding a day in Denver to explore the nearby mountains or spend an extra night in the Sierra Nevada to visit Lake Tahoe. To shorten the trip, you could skip the Indiana Dunes and the Rocky Mountain detour, which would reduce driving time by roughly 6 hours while still reaching California on schedule.