Cross Country Trip - August 10-31, 1985
This trip took us from Amsterdam, New York, across the northern
U.S. with the big stops being Badlands National Park, the Black Hills
of South Dakota, and Yellowstone National Park. From there, it was
south through Salt Lake City and across Nevada to Lake Tahoe and on to
San Francisco. Then on down the Pacific Coast Highway to the LA area
for Hollywood, Disneyland, the beaches, and a ride down to San Diego
and a walk across into Tijuana. From there, it was up to Las Vegas,
across the Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon and then right on home.
Over 20 years after the trip, the first version of this trip report
was created from the trip log and scans of pictures. Some updates and
additions were made during the 40th anniversary review of the trip,
including information from the 1985 Rand
McNally Atlas that was used on the trip, and this big scrap
book [Picture] with all kinds of
things saved from the trip.
Details of the trip from mileages to start and stop times and where we
had lunch can be found in the scans of the trip
log. There is a page of my pictures taken with a Polaroid instant
camera, complete with original captions as written back in 1985.
These are all on one page: [75
Pictures].
The big collection is below -- scans of the pages of the main photo
album from the trip. The pictures were taken with a regular 35mm
camera. Thumbnails of each page here are links to larger versions of
that page. The page containing each of those includes links to the
largest scans of each photo. My best guesses for the routes travelled
are shown for each day.
August 10, 1985
Route: From Amsterdam, New York, I-90 West to I-290 West and I-190
North in Buffalo. Unknown route through Niagara Falls and across into
Ontario. QEW to the Hamilton area, then an unknown route to Ontario
401 West. Ontario 401 West to Windsor, where we crossed back into the
U.S. into Detroit on the Ambassador Bridge. I-94 across southern
Michigan and to Gary, Indiana. Here, we picked up I-90 again and
continued into Wisconsin into the night (about 1000 miles on the day by
midnight). There is some contradictory information about the route
across Ontario. The trip log shows a gas stop in Ingersoll, which is
near 401. But, the highlighting in the 1985 Rand McNally atlas shows
a route along King's Highway 3...
Route: Through Wisconsin and Minnesota on I-90 through the night and
into the early morning. Continued on I-90 across South Dakota to the
eastern end of the Badlands loop. Badlands loop through the park to
Wall (and of course, Wall Drug), and back on I-90 to Rapid City for
the night. (about 800 more miles on the day).
From the scrap book: a South
Dakota tourism brochure, and a page of things from the visit to Wall
Drug.
Route: US 16 West out of Rapid City into the Black Hills. Probably
Alt. US 16 to Custer State Park, then drove the Custer State Park
wildlife loop. US 16 West from Custer into Wyoming and to I-90. US
14 (probably) across the Bighorn Mountains to Cody. (about 460
miles).
From the scrap book: a Black Hills tourism
map with the Super 8 Motel receipt from Rapid City, a bag and some
postcards from Mount Rushmore, and our park map and park entry
pass from Custer State Park.
Route: US 14/16/20 from Cody into Yellowstone National Park. Drove
the northern part of the park loop from Fishing Bridge up to Canyon,
Tower, Mammoth Hot Springs, and back down to the west entrance and out
to West Yellowstone, Montana. (almost 200 miles on the day).
From the scrap book: Yellowstone receipts
for the park entrance fee ($2!), replacement of U-joints on the
van ($37.50!!), safety pamphlets, and Yellowstone guide books
from several of the stops..
Route: From West Yellowstone, Montana, back into the west entrance of
Yellowstone National Park. Took the southwestern part of the main
loop through Old Faithful and down into the West Thumb area. US 89
(and others) South into Grand Teton National Park. US 89 through
Jackson and into Idaho and then Utah. I-15 South to I-80 West and
into Nevada just before midnight. (about 550 miles).
From the scrap book: A Grand Teton pamphlet
and a printout from a kiosk in Grand Teton National Park..
Route: I-80 West through the night across Nevada to Reno. (about 400
miles).
The only picture is the last one on the last page from the 14th.
From the scrap book: Casino encouragement
from the Pioneer Inn in Reno..
Route: Unknown from Reno to South Lake Tahoe, California. California
89 North back to I-80 at Truckee. I-80 West into San Francisco. US
101 North to Mill Valley. (about 350 miles).
From the scrap book: Post cards, guide
books, and some items from the Howard Johnson's in Mill Valley..
Route: US 101 and California 1 to Muir Woods. California 1 and US
101 into San Francisco. Unknown route south to San Jose (probably US
101). (a little over 100 miles for the day).
From the scrap book: At Muir Woods, in San
Francisco, and San Jose.
Route: Unknown routes (probably a lot of US 101 and local roads) from
San Jose up to San Francisco, and back. (just over 100 miles for the
day).
From the scrap book: San Francisco items.
Route: Probably California 17 to California 1/Pacific Coast Highway.
Pacific Coast Highway and US 101 south into Los Angeles. Freeways
including I-10 and I-5 to Buena Park. (about 475 miles).
From the scrap book: PCH ride items.
Route: Lots of LA freeways from Buena Park to Burbank, Hollywood,
Pasadena, and back to Buena Park. (about 225 miles).
From the scrap book: LA, Hollywood, and
Buena Park items.
Route: Freeways and local roads from Buena Park to Anaheim, Los
Angeles, Huntington Beach, Gardena, Carson, and back to Buena Park.
(about 175 miles).
From the scrap book: Anaheim Stadium items.
Route: Freeways and local roads from Buena Park to Disneyland and
back. (probably less than 20 miles).
From the scrap book: Disneyland items.
Route: Mainly I-5 from Buena Park to Tijuana and back. (probably
around 200 miles).
From the scrap book: One Mexico item.
Route: Freeways and local roads from Buena Park up to Los Angeles and
back. (probably around 40 miles).
From the scrap book: Items from Knott's
Berry Farm and the Dolphins-Raiders game.
Route: Probably California 57 to I-10 West to I-15 North to
Las Vegas. (around 300 miles).
From the scrap book: Items from Las Vegas,
mostly from our hotel, the Circus Circus.
Route: US 93 from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Kingman, Arizona. I-40 to
Williams. Arizona 64 North to Tusayan. (around 275 miles).
From the scrap book: Page from Hoover Dam
and into Arizona.
Route: Arizona 64 from Tusayan through Grand Canyon National Park to
US 89 at Cameron. US 89 South to I-40 East to Winslow. (about 175
miles).
From the scrap book: Pages of items from
the Grand Canyon and other things in Arizona.
Route: I-40 East from Winslow through the day and night to somewhere
in the eastern Texas panhandle when midnight came. (around 600
miles).
Route: I-40 East from Texas to I-44 East at Oklahoma City. I-44 East
all the way to St. Louis. (stop for the night of the 29th in Terre
Haute -- mileage for the 29th around 850 miles). I-70 East to
Indianapolis. I-74 East to Cincinnatti area. Unknown routes through
the Northern Kentucky area to Fort Thomas. Probably I-71 to I-90 back
to Amsterdam. (around 950 miles on the 30th and 31st).
From the scrap book: Pages of items the ride
home through the middle of the U.S. and
the final page noting our last few travel
milestones.
E-mail domain: teresco.org, username: terescoj+pics -
Sun Aug 31 09:05:35 EDT 2025
Copyright notice: All images are copyright © James D. Teresco unless otherwise specified. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
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