My Road Trip with Photos (Sacramento-ABQ and Back)

Finally took my '12 Prius C on a first long distance trip after 16 months of ownership

DAY 1: I left to begin my trip immediately after finishing delivering the mail the same day. I drove from Sacramento to Austin, Nevada where I parked my car on top of Austin Pass behind communication tower (my god! it's total pitch black night with BILLIONS of beautiful stars above!!!) I chose to park there because once I start up in the morning, all I had to do is drive all the way down using least fuel this way . My car did very well entire trip without any hiccups!

DAY 2: Yeah, sleeping in my car might sound odd as I was testing if it's worth sleeping in the car...it's somewhat uncomfortable being me 5' 10" but it's doable! Drove from Austin Pass above Austin, NV to Moab, Utah stopping often to take photos.

Day 3: Got a really good sleep at a very nice hotel and a very good meal! Headed south to Wilson Arch then 4 corners monument before driving all the way to Albuquerque via US 550.

A week and half later after flying to Texas and Florida, I returned to Albuquerque to rest a day more with friends before leaving yesterday (11/19).

Day 14: I left Albuquerque at 5:00AM headed west via I-40. Funny thing is when I got into Arizona state line I pulled into Arizona's welcome sign which was a mile or so west of actual state line, being me tad tired not having a coffee yet I didn't pay attention to the "No Parking" sign (No excuse, I know) snapped photo of myself in front of the sign and I got into the car getting ready to leave when Arizona state trooper pulled behind me with full siren lights on...I was like "Uh oh...did I forget something? I then looked up and saw the no parking sign and said to myself "Shit! How did I miss that!?!?" But the trooper was young and very nice, he understood that people like to take photo of welcome signs but there were a reason why "No Parking" signs were up at this specific location due to wrecks that often happened there. I apologized for not paying attention but he let me go with a warning after checking to make sure I don't have any warrants or vehicle being stolen or expired. He then asked if I posted the photo on social media which I said "Yes" he wanted to see it and showed him the photo. He gave me a thumbs up and to enjoy Arizona the rest of the way *whew*. After entering California near Needles, I decided to take nearly 75 mile long historic U.S. 66 road between near Essex and Ludlow. Arrived to a rest stop north of Kettleman City on I-5 after 16 hours of driving.

Day 15 (today, 11/20): Got up from sleeping in my car at a rest stop...my wife alerted me that there were big rig wreck near Sacramento and all NB lanes were closed so I decided to take detour to my hometown...but I went straight to Toyota dealership to have my car serviced for 20,000 mile! The whole trip was awesome especially driving part!

Gas cost from Sacramento to Albuquerque? $60!!!! and back? $75 Friends and family couldn't believe I spend THAT much!

Here's the photos...

U.S. 50 "America's Loneliest Highway"..Mountain behind is Austin Pass in Nevada


Utah welcome sign at Nevada/Utah border on U.S. 6/50


Car is in Utah on U.S. 6/50 and the mountains (Great Basin National Park) is in Nevada


Drove small gravel road into dry Sevier Lake in western Utah, off U.S. 6/50...didn't go further due very soft/wet grounds some 500 feet ahead


My car and Wilson Arch (25 minutes south of Moab, UT on U.S. 191) The Sun was almost coming up


Early morning sun rays as seen thru Wilson Arch...NEAT!


Arizona state line near 4 Corners National Monument


Historic U.S. 66 near Essex, CA


Rest Area overnight north of Kettleman City, CA off I-5


Of course...my car in shop for it's 20k mile service immediately arriving my hometown

 

Thanks!

50mpg overall for this roundtrip...not bad!

 

LOL No...just propped seat all the way to back seat with my face facing driver's side windows with my favorite "thin" pillow and really thick blanket to keep me warm

 

LOL! You'll do fine with whatever trip you plan to go...Grand Canyon is beautiful!

 

Almost 2,400 miles