F12 Drive from Dallas to LA

1,436 miles means you're taking the interstate pretty much the whole way. Which'll get you there fast, sure, but doesn't really let you take advantage of the F12. You could make that trip just as fast (and more comfortably) in a Kia K900.

My advice: Go back to Google Maps, type in those same starting points and destinations again, then click on the slider icon below the destination (it'll be called "Route Options" when you hover your cursor over it) and select "Avoid Highways." It'll take longer, but be a lot more fun.

If you have more time—dip down in New Mexico and drive through either the Gila Nat'l Forest or the Coronado Nat'l Forest, then in Arizona, head north past Phoenix and visit the Grand Canyon. Then go west, stop at Joshua Tree National Park and/or the Salton Sea (it's impressive in a post-apocalyptic way, and has some decent roads), then hit up El Mirage State Park on the way to L.A.

 

Truly the best car to do it in!

Best of luck!

 

Take the book "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" with you and eat your way there!

 

I've done San Diego to Dallas. The fast way: Make your way to I40 at Amarillo via US287. Then I40 to Barstow, off to the I15 south and into LA. If you are of a mind, a side trip to Santa Fe. Take the Turquoise Trail (NM 41) north from I40. Beautiful with arty little towns along the way. IN SF stop for burgers at Bobcat Bite, a NM tradition. And the Coyote Cafe is great for NM high cuisine.

 

What a great drive I hope you can post some pictures etc along the way ..

 

Google Route 66 and start a thread 'f12 does Route 66 '

 

Yep. "Flagstaff Arizona and don't forget Winona."

 

If you only take one part of 66, go through Oatman. The road to and from, either direction, are quite lovely and well suited to the car.
Edit: and just west of the point where 66 hooks back to I-40 is the exit for National Trails Highway, another section of Rt 66. Go to Amboy, then hang a left towards Twenty Nine Palms on Amboy Road: Another quite lovely stretch of road for the F12. Hwy 247 just west of Joshua Tree is also a lovely little stretch of open road well suited to the car, with still more gorgeous scenery, if you take the time to look away from the amazing asphalt.

 

My wife and I have done this trip 4 or so times since we moved to DFW, the last time in my 911. It's an "easy" 1400 miles if there is such a thing since the only large cities you hit are El Paso - which I've never gotten into any traffic - and Phoenix - which has a by-pass if you do not wish to go through it.

Some thoughts…

1. I would not get off the main highways. To be honest, for much of west Texas, NM, etc. once you get off the main roads in small towns, like Sierra Blanca, route 66, etc. - the roads are not up to snuff in many locations. I scraped the front of my 911 in a couple of "cow patty" towns in west Texas, despite going slow and careful. Besides, you can legally do 80 from past Monahans to El Paso county line, and cops seem lenient into mid-80's.

2. Little towns that are fun to stop and rest include IMO - Van Horn, TX (couple of hole in the wall joints and coffee shop), St Clair winery in Deming, NM, and Mesilla (near Las Cruces, NM). These are not Michelin star places, but a good place to stop, grab some coffee, take a breather, etc. If, after the 1000th sign for THE THING in Az, you are tempted to look, don't, it's a mummy or skeleton IIRC.

3. Everything Jason said about the parks and such, definitely a +1 from me on those. Especially, Joshua Tree, it's very nice, especially if you like desert scenery. I'd skip Salton Sea, to be honest, and spend the day in Palm Springs.

4. Gas up as often as you can. That V12 is not a gas sipper, and so you can don't want to get caught out in the middle of nowhere running low, or in a small town where premium gas is not available/doesn't get used much.

5. Most importantly, have a great time, and as others said, post lots of pics. Chat with the locals; it's our have part of hitting the road. In that Prancing Pony of yours, you're gonna have a lot of people wanting to talk to you! Hell, I got rock star treatment - pictures, high fives, comments from sexy baristas, everything short of autographs - driving through small towns in NM in my humble 911!

Safe travels…T