DRMabe
EF1
I'm just seeking some advice as I'm starting the early planning stages of my first plains trip I plan to make in May 2012. Planning to come out around the middle of May, and still til the end of the month. Trying to decide on driving my personal vehicle or flying and renting a car.
First off, I'm in Winston Salem NC, roughly 19 hours-1,115 miles one way from my driveway to Oklahoma City. I don't mind long drives at all, so I'd likely drive 12-14 hours the first day and the next day I would finish. So looking at a day and a half to get there, and a day and a half to get back. 3 days of vacation time just spent traveling. If gas prices are around $3-$3.50, I should spend about $145 each way in gas.
Second option, fly and rent a car. I could probably fly for about what the gas to and from will cost me ($300 +/-$50). For some reason it's cheaper to fly to Wichita KS than to OKC, so I would likely go that route. Car rental for 2 weeks, I'm figuring maybe $950 or so. I'd obviously want full insurance. But for those of you that rent cars, or have rented.....how does the insurance work in the event of alot of hail damage? I plan to try and completely avoid any large hail if possible because I don't want to lose windows or have to drive the car back to them damaged. I'm figuring on either a full size car or an SUV. I plan to avoid muddy roads, don't care to get stuck somewhere.
Just any advice will be helpful as I will consider almost anything. I'm hoping I can do the full trip for around $2,800, hopefully less. At this time I'll be coming alone, but I hope that will change or I can meet up with somebody here to run with out there. I have about 14-15 months to plan this thing, so I'm open to all suggestions. I do chase some locally when we get severe weather, but due to trees and hills, it's just not the same as it would be there. I have "some" chase experience though.
I do know for fact that I will be driving out to KS in June of 2013 and my wife and kids will be with me. They will be visiting a friend for a week or so while I break off and go do my thing.
First off, I'm in Winston Salem NC, roughly 19 hours-1,115 miles one way from my driveway to Oklahoma City. I don't mind long drives at all, so I'd likely drive 12-14 hours the first day and the next day I would finish. So looking at a day and a half to get there, and a day and a half to get back. 3 days of vacation time just spent traveling. If gas prices are around $3-$3.50, I should spend about $145 each way in gas.
Second option, fly and rent a car. I could probably fly for about what the gas to and from will cost me ($300 +/-$50). For some reason it's cheaper to fly to Wichita KS than to OKC, so I would likely go that route. Car rental for 2 weeks, I'm figuring maybe $950 or so. I'd obviously want full insurance. But for those of you that rent cars, or have rented.....how does the insurance work in the event of alot of hail damage? I plan to try and completely avoid any large hail if possible because I don't want to lose windows or have to drive the car back to them damaged. I'm figuring on either a full size car or an SUV. I plan to avoid muddy roads, don't care to get stuck somewhere.
Just any advice will be helpful as I will consider almost anything. I'm hoping I can do the full trip for around $2,800, hopefully less. At this time I'll be coming alone, but I hope that will change or I can meet up with somebody here to run with out there. I have about 14-15 months to plan this thing, so I'm open to all suggestions. I do chase some locally when we get severe weather, but due to trees and hills, it's just not the same as it would be there. I have "some" chase experience though.
I do know for fact that I will be driving out to KS in June of 2013 and my wife and kids will be with me. They will be visiting a friend for a week or so while I break off and go do my thing.