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Punch the route into google maps and see if you have any friends or family relatively on the way. Even if its an hour or so out of the way and you havent seen them in a while, breaking it up without staying at sketchy motels is nice plus its fun to reconnect
find a good captivating podcast series or audio book, makes time go by way quicker than music in my opinion.
look up a map of your cell provider- not only you know where the dead spots are, but you also know when you can call friends and family on the road to pass time.
if you disc golf, the midwest has some amazing disc golf courses that generally arent out of the way. i always like stretching my legs by playing the first 9 at some really cool new courses.
obligatory make sure you have an emergency kit, accessible layers if winter, and know how to change a tire, etc.
unless you play tourist for a day in chicago and see museums, monuments, etc, you have unfortunately a pretty bland drive. Enjoy it though- i think everyone needs to take a big solo road trip at some point.
Make sure your ice chest is easily accessible
Have a towel to clean up where you can grab it
A garbage bag
eye drops
line up bathroom and refueling and use rest stops to pee in between those cuz it's way faster than exiting off the interstate
Make sure things aren't loose behind you so they don't come flying into the back of your head when you have to slam the brakes
What route are you taking? If it's i80 I highly recommend stopping at the Iowa 80 truck stop and getting the chicken fried steak breakfast. Staple of my cross country drives.
- Before you go check your car thoroughly, check all the fluid levels (engine oil, trans, brake fluid, power steering etc). Prob best to do an oil and filter change too. Jack up the car and give the tyres a wobble with your hands at 11 and 1 o clock on the tyre. Is there any play? Get it looked at.
- if you’re doing it by yourself get shitloads of rest. I have no idea how truckers do it (drugs maybe) but i’ve done it on my own a couple of times and it wrecked me bc instead of getting proper rest I just tried to drive as much as possible in 24 hrs, bad idea it makes you feel like shit
- Pack healthy food or stop in town at a supermarket, the gas station food really clogs you up or gives you the shits. Either way i always really crave fruit
- Energy drinks/caffeine can work maybe once or twice a day but if you drink a lot you will feel bad and make yourself more tired
- If you’re not worried about time then stay off the interstates. Something way nicer about rural routes, you see way more and you meet some lovely people
- If you’re motelling or camping then plan your night stops a little in advance. Make them easily reachable goals in a days driving. It’s nice to have somewhere as a goal where you can call driving done for the day and watch the sunset
- If you’re sleeping alone in your car consider a defensive weapon/firearm. That one is totally subjective to who you are and what you feel comfortable with but pepper spray at walmart in the hunting section is like 6 bucks, same with a machete
- Watch for deer especially at night. I drive from CO up through into Northern Wyoming at night a lot and the amount of deer and elk on the road is unbelievable… really easy to hit them because the road has absolutely no people on it (real Western vibe) and you’re probably tired
- Emergency kit, keep it in your car. High vis vest, warning/breakdown triangle, SNOW CHAINS, spare engine fluids, spare water, extra layers, torch, other stuff i’ve prob missed out. I’m sure you’re aware most of the West in winter is no joke. Maybe even a little spare gas? If you’re off the interstate gas stations can be pretty sparse.
- See the sights and enjoy it. It’s cliche but life is about the journey… probably not a drive most people do a lot so find a way to make good memories
I’m sure there’s smart stuff I missed so maybe someone can add on to this?
If you’re going to be driving through CO I’m sure my wife and I can put you up for a night if you’re trying to save money. Our apartment is tiny but it’s warm and we make good food.
Most importantly have a great drive. On the right day those highways are freedom…
Its easier than you think. I drove across Canada from Quebec to BC. That drive was the best thing Ive ever done. Depends how much time you have.
If you wanna race it: bring coffee and cash. Use cruise control as much as possible. Bring lots of music.
If you can take your time: do the detours. Check out attractions and get to know the places history as you are staying there. I traveled with a skateboard to wake up from the long hauls.
I tried to stop at every bike park/trail location and ride it for 3 days. Banff, Fernie and Rossland were amazing places to ride famous trails!
don't do it inside your car if you must though. I have multiple friends who have gotten into trouble because they decided to hotbox their car on their way across the country
Rparrdon't do it inside your car if you must though. I have multiple friends who have gotten into trouble because they decided to hotbox their car on their way across the country
There’s a couple of states on that drive which are still really strict on weed right? I think Kansas is on of them if you take I70. I80 you go through WY and there it is totally illegal
Most recently, I did toronto to banff in one shot with the help of aderall, redbull and mcds. Slept 9hrs, then banff to vancouver in another leg. the second leg was much prettier.
Honestly your first time (assuming you have no car problems) is the best one. Experiencing the landscape changing as you go further and further is pretty awesome. Going places youve never been is really all the excitement you need for the driving.
through the prairies i usually have some tv show running in the background.
Managing stress is pretty important too. I personally always worry about breaking down or getting robbed at a rest stop. The better shape your car is in, the more relaxed you will feel about it. the more your items are concealed/secured and the safer the places you stop are, the better you will feel about it. keep an extra jerry of gas (in canada there are some stretches of road without gas for like 200 miles). check fluid levels and tire pressure (bearing temps if you have a trailer) ever couple of stops. just being well prepared mentally and physically for likely possibilities makes the entire thing feel less daunting.
I've done cross country to Montana from Maine and back a few times, I really enjoy driving and seeing the country and staying off the interstates as much as possible. The last time I did it in 2021 I went down through New York, stopped in Allentown, PA the first night. Then Lexington Kentucky for the second night. Stopped the next night in Columbia Missouri and watched the Gators play Mizzou in football (I went to UF). Then I started slanting south and stayed in Liberal, Kansas. I really enjoy the drive up through New Mexico and Colorado so I stayed a night in Taos and then headed north and took the Million Dollar Highway through Colorado to Grand Junction. I kept going north after that through Flaming Gorge, Utah. You would probably want to head west on 70 from Grand Junction instead of going further north. I think total drive time was around 56 hours to get to Montana but would be a lot shorter to SLC.
Woman to woman here— if you get the weird feeling about a place you’re sleeping at go somewhere else. Be safe & smart. Have a good playlist, snack on fruit so you’re not just eating junk. Don’t get off the highway for gas if it’s a drive into a small town unless there are no roadside gas stations and you can’t make it to another town. Have a full tank when going on the more remote stretches even if you just filled up.
I did the drive from MT to DC two years ago, broke it up into three days. Don’t stop in Gary, Indiana. Look up your route and plan your stops. Chicago was worth the stop imo, but I grew up nearby so it was like a hometown visit/a good leg stretch.
**This post was edited on Nov 6th 2023 at 4:56:10pm
Did mammoth to Seattle in one day and podcasts are a must i probably listened to 8 mayrand pod episodes
it also really helped to eat good doesn’t matter if its packed food or takeout
Nebraska sucks, so does Iowa, but as along as you stick to I-80 thru WY youll be fine. Nebraska is a bitch of a drive. Im about to do one myself thru CO, but ive done both drives myself. Nebraska/Iowa sucks so much.
Podcasts def help on drives. Listening to music. Some of my friends do audiobooks but I haven't gotten into them.
Change your oil if it needs it, also never a bad idea to have a little oil and coolant with you if you're driving something old.
Gas is pretty convenient honestly. Def can be a mix when filling up. Some states/regions are way cheaper. If you csn time them right.
Personally i really like driving at night in some of the meh states. But that doesn't work the best with hotels.
If im gonna get a hotel i try and do it at a reaosnable enough time to get my monesys worth especially for just me trying to sleep s few hours. Hotel prices def very a decent amount. Sometimes looking at the towns/ ahead of you for hotel prices quick can be nice when you're getting tired or its getting late.
If you have a tent and hammock you'll use at all keep it handy where you dont have to unpack your car. I've actually thrown my hammock out in parks or the forest to catch a mid some mid day naps along the way.
Doesn't hurt to kwep an extra canned coffee or energy drink for a break glass in case emergency when yiu get tired. Hotels are pretty well spread a part but you hit sections where its a bit further between. Sometimes taking a nap quick in the car is good. Msybe not the most comfy if your car is full but better thsn falling asleep driving.
Personally I dont think speeding is worth it. Ill go a few over the whole way but basically the speed limit. Don't want them tickets. Also work zones, watch that shit. Buddy of mine got a ticket in one driving west from the northeast a couple years ago.
People mentioned weed. That's the thing thats most likely gonns get you in triuble for smell. If you don't have anything else illegal maybe send it. But could be worth having a throw away pipe and small stash you can get rid of. It's less of a big deal but some of those states still really believe in the drug war. Or smoke not in your car.def would blow it out the windows and keep the car fresh if possible.
You could meander and hit random roads and see some sites but I usually keep to the highway. Out west in the mtns ill take some different roads sometimes if I'm feeling it.
Do you skate?? If you skate even if you suck keep your shoes and skateboard handy. Great way to stretch the legs for a bit and you could hit stupid amounts of skateparks in a trip easy.
I like stopping in Denver and driving through CO more personally. Also have a lot of friends there. Can do moab if you do that route or tske a trip after the season.
Nebraska and Wyoming can be pretty gnar in wind/snow storms. Low vis, flat, no definition, blowing snow. They'll close the highways sometimes so worth paying loose attention to the weather and planning your route etc.
Idk. I really enjoy being on the road. It holds a special place in my heart. Have fun! Stay safe!!!
**This post was edited on Nov 7th 2023 at 5:21:49am
r00kieWhere was this information like five years ago? Definitely drove that stretch with about $2000 in cash on hand.
Some states have banned it but it's actually fairly common all over the country. It's pretty shitty because they say "if you arent doing anything illegal and the money is legit you can get it back in court" but it's pretty hard to prove, and even if you prove its legit no guarantee you'll get it back.
Just a highway shakedown brought to you by the drug war. Also the weird laws where there's "homeland security" cops places jist so they can get around your rights better.
Cash is less a thing now but a lot of people bring some cash when they move. My friends were buying cars to flip and driving several states away sometimes with cash. Idk it's pretty shady but some counties/states go way harder than others. Since they're allegedly saving the world they can prettend that they're actually not sketchy af.
PowstagramThere’s a couple of states on that drive which are still really strict on weed right? I think Kansas is on of them if you take I70. I80 you go through WY and there it is totally illegal
kansas is in its own league of cop fuckery. they put up fake checkpoint warning signs on i70 and then search every vehicle that tries to take the next exit. real drug checkpoints are illegal, but they still claim probable cause for a search because supposedly exiting = intent to dispose of drugs. if you have plates from a legal state there is a 1000% chance they are going to tear your car apart looking for weed
TLDR if you see one of these signs on your drive, DO NOT STOP OR EXIT
Just crank it out in one go only stop for gas but remember you can get 50 miles after it hits empty. Sometimes your legs get tired, just put it on cruise and sit criss cross on the seat, or even snuggle up with a blanket of you want. If you start to doze off just roll all the windows down and crank the music. Good luck
I usually hate using any single use disposable thing but baby wipes are a necessity.
In the same vein, bring a little bag of actual cutlery with you so you don’t have to use plastic when you’re on the road.
Bring more water than you think you’ll need, then pack more. I have two stainless steel growlers that I got from Walmart probably almost a decade ago and they stay cold forever and you don’t have to use random gross water bottle fill stations.
If you’re sleeping in your car, bring some sheets/a tapestry/whatever works and some safety pins and pin them up along your windows when you go to bed. You do not need anyone else knowing you’re a woman traveling by herself.
If you don’t like driving at night, don’t do it. The lights will play tricks on you especially during the long straightaways. I have a bad astigmatism and I would drive only maybe two hours in the dark and pull off and get back on the road at first light, just easier for me and the old ass eyes.
good luck! I do the drive from connecticut to california and back at least every other year if not a little more frequently so dm if there’s anything else you’d want to know
