Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
From Ridgecrest to Flagstaff, take CA-14 toward Barstow, then I-40 east through Kingman—no need to route through Albuquerque. Allow roughly 7–8 hours behind the wheel, plus breaks; leave early and check road conditions before setting out. The route is mostly straightforward desert and high-country driving, so fill up when convenient and keep water handy. On arrival, park at your accommodation or use a public garage downtown, then take a breather before exploring.
Stretch your legs around historic downtown Flagstaff for about 45 minutes: browse the independent shops and admire the old brick buildings along San Francisco Street. Then drive up Mars Hill to Lowell Observatory; allow 1.5–2 hours for the exhibits and time outdoors. Check current hours, admission prices and any timed-entry requirements before you go, as access and evening programs vary. There’s parking at the observatory, but it can be busier around popular programs.
Head back downtown for Diablo Burger, known for its locally sourced burgers; budget around $15–30 per person. It’s a casual stop after a full drive, and you can finish the evening with an unhurried wander nearby if you still have energy. Check today’s opening hours before heading over, especially if your observatory visit runs late.
This is a very full day: budget 9½–10½ hours of driving, then another 2–3 hours for the park and Cadillac Ranch, before meal and fuel breaks. Leave around dawn, keep the stops focused, and check road and attraction conditions before setting out. At Petrified Forest National Park, near Holbrook, allow about 1½–2 hours for the scenic drive and one short trail or viewpoint. The entrance fee is typically charged per vehicle; check the park’s current fee, hours, and facility status before you go, as access can vary.
After continuing west on I-40, stop at Cadillac Ranch, just west of Amarillo. It’s a quick roadside visit—allow 30–45 minutes to walk out to the cars and back. There’s no admission charge, but the ground can be muddy after rain, and the spray paint on the cars is part of the experience, so bring your own if you’d like to add to it.
Finish at Tyler’s Barbeque for Texas-style brisket and sides; budget about $15–30 per person. This schedule could put you there near closing, and barbecue restaurants can sell out, so check today’s service hours and call ahead if possible. If the timing doesn’t work, grab dinner in Amarillo instead and save Tyler’s for another visit—the park stop and long drive make this a late-arrival day.
This is a long transfer day: allow about 7½–8½ hours of driving, plus meal, fuel, and rest breaks, and leave early from Amarillo to reach Little Rock with daylight to spare. After checking in, spend 45–60 minutes around the River Market District: browse the indoor market if it’s open, then take a breather along the Arkansas River waterfront. The district is compact, and downtown parking is available in garages and metered spaces; check posted rates and hours.
Next, drive about 10 minutes south to Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Allow 1–1½ hours, but check the visitor center’s current hours before setting out: after a full day on the road, you may arrive too late for entry, and access can vary with operating arrangements. If it’s closed, you can still see the exterior, but treat the visitor-center visit as a timing-dependent stop rather than counting on admission. Finish at Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill downtown for contemporary American fare; budget roughly $20–40 per person. It’s a convenient end to the evening, but if the drive runs late, prioritize dinner and save the historic site for a return visit.
Leave Little Rock early for Knoxville; the direct drive through Memphis takes roughly 8–9 hours before fuel, meal, and rest stops. The National Civil Rights Museum is a meaningful stop, but visiting adds a substantial detour and 2–3 hours inside. Only include it if you’ve confirmed admission and are comfortable arriving late in Knoxville; check current hours and ticket requirements before setting out. Otherwise, keep Memphis** to a quick break and protect your evening.
After checking in, spend 45–60 minutes around Market Square, the walkable heart of downtown, where you can browse the square and nearby streets at an easy pace. Then head to Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar for dinner—plan on about $20–40 per person. Check current hours and consider booking ahead, especially if you’ll arrive during the dinner rush.
Leave Knoxville around dawn for Pax, taking I-40 east to I-81 north, then I-66 east and the Washington-area routes toward Southern Maryland. Plan on roughly 8½–10 hours of driving before breaks, with traffic around Washington potentially adding time; the final approach to Pax is slower than the highway miles suggest. With fuel and meal stops, expect to arrive in the afternoon or early evening. That leaves too little dependable daylight for both historic sites before dinner, so the practical plan is to add a night in the area and visit them the next day. If you must keep everything on Day 5, call both sites before setting out and be prepared to miss an outdoor visit if you arrive after closing.
In the workable, extra-night version, visit Historic St. Mary’s City first; allow 2–3 hours for its outdoor grounds and exhibits, and check current hours, seasonal access, and admission details before driving over. Then continue to Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park for about 1–1½ hours. Confirm its opening arrangements as well—these sites aren’t a good bet for a late-day arrival, and daylight matters for enjoying the grounds.
Finish at The Front Porch in Leonardtown, budgeting about $20–40 per person and checking current service hours before making the drive. If you keep the original one-day schedule, treat dinner and a timely arrival in Pax as the priority; fitting the drive, both attractions, and dinner into one day is not realistic without risking closed gates or a very late finish.
No packing list attached yet.