Just a thought, but the shortest direct route from NY to LA is about 3,000 miles. This route covering many of the ideas is 7,00, plus all of the added side trips and stuff figure 7.500 or more. England is about the size of Florida. Dude, get a really comfortable car. I'd avoid the Southern third of the country East of New Mexico in August because of the temperature and humidity. You could go in June, but that would limit some of what you can do in the mountains of the West, especially this year. but you may be able to ski a couple places. If it were me in August I would do something more like this. Eat at Montgomery in on the river in Cincinnati and go to Cedar Point in Cleveland.
If you're going from Texas to Santa Fe I threw in a side trip to see the alien stuff in Roswell.
If you're going from Texas to Santa Fe I threw in a side trip to see the alien stuff in Roswell.