If you're in college, try and get away for 10-12 days and head westward. I've done the trip twice from Chicago. The first time my friend and I drove to Sacramento to catch NCAAs, the other time we headed to Eugene for the '08 Trials. They were both awesome experiences. We camped along the way, which is either free to $15 a night, we ate a lot of PB&J and didn't buy anything other than the essentials. We headed north through Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana through Idaho and down to Oregon the first time. The other time out to California we drove straight across through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada. Both drives are pretty amazing, just keep an open minded and enjoy the open road. Have fun!