Kinda Cannonball – NY to San Diego in 6 stops

[John in the Woods]

UPDATED with new stops, courtesy of the some great advice below and elsewhere on this forum. Seven days driving, six overnights. I head out Monday, and I'll post a few pics as I go.

Thanks to all!

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My lifelong buddy called last weekend. The VA folks sent him home to soak in some peace before the cancer claims what no one ever could. He asked me to come out and help him line up his affairs, and get into a little more trouble while he still can. We grew up on the same block, and he's dragged my carcass out of more bad situations than any two idiots should ever see, so there's no way I could or would ever say no.

My setup is pretty much outlined here, (2021 JTRD picked up in late 2020, now about 67K on it) with a few minor tweaks this summer. That's the hand I've got, and other than the fabled CP4 fuel pump I'm pretty confident in it all. I've been living out of my truck since the end of April, and I've been spending the summer in Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and Long Island. So the trek to San Diego will be pretty much a coast-to-coast / corner-to-corner transit. My goal is to get there with 5 or 6 overnight camping stops along the way.

I did some quick work on Google maps to break it down into chunks and find a few potential camp-over spots along the way. What I'm hoping for is to tap the collective wisdom here and find the places a fool in Ithaca with a keyboard would never know.

So, here's the very rough plan. I'm looking for clean, safe and easy, with a few pretty things along the way as a bonus. I'll keep the trail driving to a minimum (just a little to get to a good quiet site if needed) and otherwise focus on getting there.

With that, please dive right in and smarten me up!


Start — Long Island, NY

Stop #1 — MON 08-28 @ Youngstown, OH (West Branch State Park. 446 miles, 7:14)

Stop #2 — TUE 08-29 @ Ottawa, IL (Starved Rock State Park. 444 miles, 6:59)

Possible stop at Jeep factory in Toledo along the way

Stop #3 — WED 08-30 Lincoln NE, (Pawnee SRA. 458 miles, 6:46)

Stop #4 — THU 08-31 @ McConaughy Lake (Lake McConaughy SRA. 279 miles, 4:05)

Primitive camping on the beach

Stop #5 — FRI 09-01 @ Moab UT (Dead Horse Point State Park. 586 miles, 8:44)

Reservation in to be sure I have a spot, but first I'll check these spots out suggested by @Partysub in this thread from 2021 -- https://maps.app.goo.gl/kwhJErkof4rDKJvv9 and https://maps.app.goo.gl/e219ukF6NLzsThrQ8

Stop #6 — SAT 09-02 @ Tocqueville Falls UT (37°17'09.0"N 113°16'25.3”W, 335 miles, 5:23)

Shooting for dispersed camping

ARRIVE — SUN 09-03 Oceanside, CA (442 miles, 7:07)


Also, if you have any suggestions for where an old Army medic, a washed up PR hack and a top-heavy Gladiator can get into trouble in Southern California, I am all ears.

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[John in the Woods]

I camped here once, outside of St. George. High up on a mountain with amazing views and near Toquerville Falls.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmrKAjE12pW1H3dU7?g_st=ic

Thanks for the smarter option. Exactly what I’m looking for. No reason a 2,800 mile ride can’t be pretty sometimes.

 

[teamblkdog]

iOverlander is a campsite-finding app that has helped me out more times than not. Check it out and good luck on your trip.

 

[kevman65]

Only advice I can give you, avoid stopping anywhere near a major city, period.

 

[Silversport23]

I would suggest considering a different NE stop, lake mcconaughy area. Camp grounds or ample white sand beaches to cruise and camp wherever

 

[Jefe1018]

I camped here once, outside of St. George. High up on a mountain with amazing views and near Toquerville Falls.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gmrKAjE12pW1H3dU7?g_st=ic

Torquerville is an awesome spot to stop. It is a 4x4 road, make no doubt about it when getting there. Not too difficult, but be prepared.

If not there, a little ways north is Dixie national forest, either Duck Creek (basically next to Navajo Lake) or Panguitch Lake would be my recommendations. Some developed campgrounds are there, some are first come first serve, with dispersed camping being aloud.

More on the beaten path north of St George, Pine Valley offers a very nice developed campground as well.

Coming down into Vegas, not much that would not, be out of your way. Christmas Tree pass could be a place to spend the night as well, but not as pretty as the sights in Utah(sorry no pics of that one). Wheeler pass is an old horse and buggy road between Las Vegas and Pahrump, good wheeling, camping aloud, but not as pretty as Utah and about an hour or two north out of your way.

I‘m not a fan of anything in California, but the Kelso dunes are okay. You can’t drive on them, but some folks get a kick out of the old territory for some historic sense.

Godspeed.

 

[John in the Woods]

Only advice I can give you, avoid stopping anywhere near a major city, period.

Amen brother.

 

[John in the Woods]

iOverlander is a campsite-finding app that has helped me out more times than not. Check it out and good luck on your trip.

Good tip. I’ve heard about it, but never used it. I think it’s time I step up.

 

[John in the Woods]

Torquerville is an awesome spot to stop. It is a 4x4 road, make no doubt about it when getting there. Not too difficult, but be prepared.

If not there, a little ways north is Dixie national forest, either Duck Creek (basically next to Navajo Lake) or Panguitch Lake would be my recommendations. Some developed campgrounds are there, some are first come first serve, with dispersed camping being aloud.

More on the beaten path north of St George, Pine Valley offers a very nice developed campground as well.

Coming down into Vegas, not much that would be out of your way, Christmas Tree pass could be a place to spend the night as well, but not as pretty as the sights in Utah.

I‘m not a fan of anything in California, but the Kelso dunes are okay. You can’t drive on them, but some folks get a kick out of the old territory for some historic sense.

Godspeed.

Torqueville looks perfect. Like an East Coast off-roader’s Southwest dream. Might as well use the 37s and the lift for something off the beaten path.

if I chicken out, I’ll slink over to Pine Valley. Thanks for the insight and the inspiration.

 

[Jefe1018]

Torqueville looks perfect. Like an East Coast off-roader’s Southwest dream. Might as well use the 37s and the lift for something off the beaten path.

if I chicken out, I’ll slink over to Pine Valley. Thanks for the insight and the inspiration.

I just added pictures of all the places I mentioned. Torquerville is getting busy, so just know it won’t be as empty in the warmer months and on weekends.

Don‘t chicken it, lots of full size trucks make it, I’ve seen Subarus and the little cubed Jeep too, whatever the model is, the worst one they make. Just mostly be prepared for a flat, some of those rocks are sharp.

 

[John in the Woods]

I just added pictures of all the places I mentioned. Torquerville is getting busy, so just know it won’t be as empty in the warmer months and on weekends.

Don‘t chicken it, lots of full size trucks make it, I’ve seen Subarus and the little cubed Jeep too, whatever the model is, the worst one they make. Just mostly be prepared for a flat, some of those rocks are sharp.

Ok. I’m in. Great shots. Looks like we’re both running Ruby diesels. I like the idea of giving my Mickey Thompsons a good test. Thanks.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Godspeed to you and your friend.

The OP is more touching than anything I've read on social media in a while. I can't relate, but I admire that kind of friendship.

 

[Sandevino]

Godspeed and good luck. This will be the first Jeep Cannonball run!!

 

[John in the Woods]

I would suggest considering a different NE stop, lake mcconaughy area. Camp grounds or ample white sand beaches to cruise and camp wherever

It’s a stretch from stop #2 in Illinois, but seems beautiful. It also sets up Moab as a one-day drive heading west. I’d only be there one night, but I feel like all Jeep owners need to visit Moab at least once!

I’m also guessing there might be a trail or a place to camp somewhere near Moab. Just a hunch ?

 

[Timoleon]

If your route ran by Las Cruces, I would ride a chunk of the drive with you bearing the flag. You are headed across a bit north of us but we'll be thinking about you and your bud.

Keep us posted on your drive and plans. I am sure there are lots of opportunities to get in trouble when you get to San Diego.

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