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Desert to District: El Centro to D.C.

This 14-day transcontinental journey begins in the Imperial Valley of California, crossing the heart of the American South to reach the capital, before returning West through the Ozarks and the High Plains.

14days
42stops
6315km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Albuquerque · Oklahoma City · Nashville · Washington D.C. · Mount Vernon · Washington D.C. · Bristol · Little Rock · Santa Rosa — start in Desert Sunrise, end in El Centro.

DAY01

Desert Sunrise → Albuquerque

1307 km · 12h 3m driving · long drive · Overnight in Albuquerque
  1. Desert Sunrise· start
  2. 105 km · 1h 11m
  3. 08:00
    El Centro
  4. 475 km · 4h 17m
  5. 12:00
    Tucson
  6. 727 km · 6h 35m
  7. 17:30
    Albuquerque· overnight
DAY02

Cadillac Ranch → Oklahoma City

470 km · 4h 17m driving · long drive · Overnight in Oklahoma City
  1. 10:30
    Cadillac Ranch· start
  2. 447 km · 4h 1m
  3. 12:30
    Big Texan Steak Ranch
  4. 24 km · 16m
  5. 17:00
    Oklahoma City· overnight
DAY03

Fort Smith → Nashville

555 km · 5h 2m driving · long drive · Overnight in Nashville
  1. 10:00
    Fort Smith National Site· start
  2. 291 km · 2h 39m
  3. 13:00
    Little Rock Central High
  4. 263 km · 2h 23m
  5. 18:00
    Nashville· overnight
DAY04

Knoxville → Washington D.C.

712 km · 6h 45m driving · long drive · Overnight in Washington D.C.
  1. 10:30
    Knoxville· start
  2. 290 km · 2h 43m
  3. 14:30
    Roanoke Star
  4. 423 km · 4h 2m
  5. 19:00
    Washington D.C.· overnight
DAY05

National Mall → The White House

3.4 km · 12m driving · Overnight in The White House
  1. 09:00
    National Mall· start
  2. 2.4 km · 9m
  3. 11:30
    Smithsonian Natural History
  4. 1 km · 3m
  5. 15:30
    The White House· overnight
DAY06

Lincoln Memorial → Kennedy Center

9.3 km · 19m driving · Overnight in Kennedy Center
  1. 09:00
    Lincoln Memorial· start
  2. 6.7 km · 12m
  3. 11:30
    Tidal Basin
  4. 2.6 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Kennedy Center· overnight
DAY07

United States Capitol → Eastern Market

5.2 km · 18m driving · Overnight in Eastern Market
  1. 09:00
    United States Capitol· start
  2. 4.9 km · 17m
  3. 11:30
    Library of Congress
  4. 0.3 km · 1m
  5. 14:00
    Eastern Market· overnight
DAY08

Georgetown Historic District → Washington Harbour

13 km · 21m driving · Overnight in Washington Harbour
  1. 10:00
    Georgetown Historic District· start
  2. 12 km · 18m
  3. 13:00
    Dumbarton Oaks
  4. 0.8 km · 3m
  5. 16:00
    Washington Harbour· overnight
DAY09

Arlington → Mount Vernon

11 km · 21m driving · Overnight in Mount Vernon
  1. 09:00
    Arlington National Cemetery· start
  2. 4.4 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    The Pentagon
  4. 6.8 km · 11m
  5. 15:00
    Mount Vernon· overnight
DAY10

International Spy Museum → National Portrait Gallery

36 km · 34m driving · Overnight in National Portrait Gallery
  1. 10:00
    International Spy Museum· start
  2. 35 km · 31m
  3. 13:30
    The Wharf
  4. 0.8 km · 3m
  5. 16:00
    National Portrait Gallery· overnight
DAY11

Harrisonburg → Bristol

497 km · 4h 54m driving · long drive · Overnight in Bristol
  1. 11:00
    Harrisonburg· start
  2. 215 km · 2h 8m
  3. 14:30
    Wytheville
  4. 283 km · 2h 46m
  5. 17:30
    Bristol· overnight
DAY12

Jackson → Arkansas River Trail

825 km · 7h 48m driving · long drive · Overnight in Arkansas River Trail
  1. 10:00
    Jackson· start
  2. 681 km · 6h 19m
  3. 13:00
    Graceland
  4. 144 km · 1h 29m
  5. 16:30
    Arkansas River Trail· overnight
DAY13

Oklahoma City → Santa Rosa

991 km · 9h 3m driving · long drive · Overnight in Santa Rosa Blue Hole
  1. 10:00
    Oklahoma City Memorial· start
  2. 541 km · 4h 52m
  3. 14:30
    Palo Duro Canyon
  4. 450 km · 4h 11m
  5. 18:00
    Santa Rosa Blue Hole· overnight
DAY14

Winslow → El Centro

881 km · 8h 29m driving · long drive
  1. 09:00
    Winslow· start
  2. 612 km · 5h 33m
  3. 13:00
    Old Town Scottsdale
  4. 269 km · 2h 56m
  5. 18:00
    El Centro
Heads Up
  • Day 1: 12h 3m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 2: 7h 59m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 3: 10h 17m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 4: 10h 38m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 11: 5h 59m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 12: 10h 2m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 13: 11h 57m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 14: 12h 21m driving — plan rest stops
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