Hello. I completely understand the difficulty with signposting and exits. I am ex-military (combat medic), but have also driven taxi cabs in large cities, and semi trucks over-the-road in 48 states. You need to get ahold of a few maps: A large Interstate Highway map($40), a Pocket City Map ($10) (which shows metro regions of the large cities in all 50 states). Both maps are made by Rand McNally. There is one more map: The Highway Exit Guide ($30). I do not remember who makes this last map. All the forementioned maps can be purchased at most large american truckstops. (T/A and Pilot truckstops are your best bet). American highways more or less come in three varieties: The large Interstate highways marked with Green signs (all of which are labeled I-... . I- denotes Interstate. The next one or two numbers are either odd or even numbered. Even numbers are for East to West highways, odd numbers are for North to South highways. When there are additional numbers (usually a third number), it means the highway is a variation of the original Interstate. Examples would be Beltway around a city, or a Loop around a portion of a city, while the original highway might actually continue through the heart of the city. The next type of highway is a US Route. It is always a Black and White sign, in the shape of a shield. These highways are marked well, but become confusing, as a route may enter a town, morph from a highway to a large street with stoplights and stop signs. The route will sometimes turn onto a different street, with almost no warning, then morph again into a highway as the route exits the town.The third type of highways are State, County, and Local Route or highways. The quality of road and thoughtfulness applied to signposting is generally the least of all highways. The reason has to do with funding and lack of standardized practices compared to all US Routes and Interstate highways.I suggest using the Interstate Highway map to plan your overall trip. The Highway Exit Guide is not really used as a map, per se, but it lists in detail what services (such as Rest Areas, Fuel Stations, Hotel/Motels, Dining, Shopping, and Automotive Service/Repair) are available at every exit. This should prove to be invaluable on your trip. The Pocket City Guide is best kept in an easy-to-reach location for the driver, to be used as you are actually driving, and need to make a snap decision about an unplanned stop, or getting un-lost in a big city. I advise purchasing a small MiniMag flashlight, which can be held in the driver s mouth to briefly view the Pocket Guide while driving at night. This way, the driver does not loose his/her nightvision.As far as where to start, it depends on what season you will travel in. Also, where do you wish to spend the most time? Definitely try to see Virginia and possibly West Virginia. The Appalachian Mountains are pretty unique, kinda haunting compared to the mountains of the West (Colorado, etc).Let me know if I can help further.
If you actually want to visit the cities you listed then a rental car isn t necessary for much of the trip. Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington are well-served by AmTrak (train), so you can travel from city-center to city-center and take a taxi from the train station to your hotel. AmTrak also offers passes for international visitors:www.amtrak.comThen rent a car for local trips as required, such as to drive around Virginia from Washington.
You book on the website, It is a easy way to hire a car in the web, you can book it by credit. Here are some good car hire website, you can visit them and select the cheap car.www.enterprise.co.ukwww.easycar.comwww.avis.co.ukAlso you can use a tool to compare the cheaphttp://www.luanpa.net/hire-car/compare-car-hire/342
try travelling to Miami, or the Niagra Falls
I m a native of NYC who has traveled all over my native East CoastIf I m doing this trip I start by flying in and out of the same airport and of course renting and returning my car to the same airport As you may or may not know drop off fees for returning a car to an airport that you didn t rent it from tend to be high Unlike the relatively empty West Coast and Mid -America the Northeast between the mountains and the ocean is jam-packed with a phenomenal amount of interesting things to see and do .So doing a loop drive allows you to see new things on the way back to your airport.I would start this process by getting a total airfare + car rental cost from 4 primary airports ; IAD EWR JFK BOS and 5 secondary airports ;DCA BWI PHL LGA BDLAs far as my native NYC goes ; at best having a car is useless and at worst having a car is a major hindrance in a city that is extremely hard to drive inWhen you find yourself in the area of NYC park your rental at an airport long term lot -EWR JFK LGA -and take public transportation into ManhattanThe NYC subway system runs 24/7/365 and is just an incredible value.http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/mcgtr��Feel free to ask again when your plans firm up
the northeast US is probably the most interesting--you can see the largest and best american cities (nyc, boston, DC) plus the quaint coastal and mountain towns of new england--you should definitely include those in your trip---best part is that most of these places are very close eachother so you wouldnt spend alot of time travelingSome areas to ocnsider::manhattan, nyburlington, vtboston,masscape cod, mass especially provincetownsomewhere in maine---portland, bar harbor, acadia nationalk parkyou can probably even include montreal or quebec city, canada--they are known as the most european feeling cities in north america and are only about 5 hours from boston or maine and only an hour from vermont