How to ride cross country
Cross-country driving is a fun and exciting way to spend your time on vacation, especially if you are traveling with your family. But before you embark on your epic journey, there are a few factors you need to keep in mind. You must fully plan your trip,…
Cross-country driving is a fun and exciting way to spend your time on vacation, especially if you are traveling with your family. But before you embark on your epic journey, there are a few factors you need to keep in mind. You need to fully plan your trip, make sure you have everything you need before you leave, and follow the rules of safe driving while traveling.
Part 1 of 2: Before leaving
Preparation is key to ensuring the success of a cross-country trip. Making sure you have a good itinerary, knowing where you'll be staying at the end of each day, and packing what you need is paramount to making your journey run as smoothly as possible. Luckily, there are a wide range of online resources at your disposal to help make the planning process easier.
Step 1. Plan your trip. Travel planning is the most important part and includes many factors.
This includes the route you want to take, how long it will take you to get to and from your destination, and any points of interest you plan to visit along the way.
Take into account how much time you have to travel and determine how many hours you need to drive each day to complete it within the allotted time. The journey from coast to coast takes at least four days one way.
It's best to schedule at least a little more than a week for driving in addition to the time spent sightseeing and visiting various places along the itinerary or destination.
To plan your route, you have several options to choose from, including using a road atlas and a marker to mark your route, printing directions online using a program such as Google Maps, or using websites such as Furkot designed to to help you plan your trips.
Step 2: Book your hotels. Once you know the route and the places where you plan to stay overnight along the way, it's time to book hotels.
The easiest way to book the hotel rooms you need is to look at a map and figure out how long you plan to drive each day, and then look for cities that are the same distance from where you start at the beginning of the day.
Look for hotels close to where you plan to stay, keeping in mind that you may need to look a little further in less populated areas.
- Functions: Make sure you book your hotel stay well in advance to ensure that the hotel you want to stay at is not busy. This is especially important during the peak tourist season, such as during the summer months. In addition, during certain periods of the year, the place may be visited by tourists more often than usual.
Step 3: Book a rental car. You also have to decide if you want to drive your own car or rent a car.
When renting, do this well in advance to make sure the rental company has a car for the period of time you need it. When comparing car rental companies, look for companies that offer unlimited mileage.
With distances in the US exceeding 3,000 miles in some places, the cost of renting a car from a rental company that doesn't offer unlimited miles can really go up, especially when you factor in round trip travel.
Step 4: Inspect your vehicle. If you plan to drive your own vehicle cross-country, check it out before you leave.
Be sure to check the various systems that typically fail on long trips, such as air conditioning and heating, battery, brakes and fluids (including coolant levels), headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and tires.
It is also recommended to change the oil before driving over rough terrain. The same goes for tuning, which helps keep your car running smoothly on a long trip.
Step 5: Pack your car. Once your vehicle is ready, don't forget to pack the essentials you may need for your trip.
Remember that you should expect the trip to take at least one and a half to two weeks depending on the stops. Pack accordingly. Some items to take with you include:
- FunctionsA: Consider signing up with a car club like AAA to take advantage of a roadside assistance program. Services that these types of organizations offer include free towing, locksmith services, and battery and fuel maintenance services.
Part 2 of 2: On the Road
Your itinerary is planned, your hotel rooms are booked, your vehicle is packed and your vehicle is in perfect working order. Now it remains only to get out onto the open road and continue on your way. As you travel along the route, you can remember a few simple tips that will keep you safe and make your trip more enjoyable.
Step 1: Keep an eye on your gas gauge. Depending on which part of the country you are in, there may be few gas stations.
This is mainly in the Midwest and Southwest of the United States, where you can literally drive a hundred miles or more without noticing any sign of civilization.
You should fill up when you have a quarter tank of gas left in your car, or sooner if you plan to travel over a large area with little to no maintenance.
Step 2: Take breaks. While driving, take breaks from time to time, allowing you to get out and stretch your legs.
The ideal place to stop is a rest area or a gas station. If you have no other choice but to pull over to the side of the road, be sure to drive as far to the right as possible and use caution when exiting your vehicle.
Step 3Change your drivers. If you are traveling with another licensed driver, change with him from time to time.
By swapping places with another driver, you can take a break from driving and recharge your batteries with a nap or snack. Plus, you want to enjoy the scenery from time to time, which is hard to do if you're driving all the time.
Just like when you take a break, when changing drivers, try stopping at a gas station or a rest area. If you must pull over, turn as far to the right as possible and use caution when exiting the vehicle.
Step 4: Enjoy the Scenery. Make time on your trip to enjoy the many beautiful views available throughout the US.
Stop and dive into it all. Who knows when you can expect to be there in the future.
Cross-country driving gives you the opportunity to see the US up close and personal. If you properly prepare for your trip, you can expect to have a safe and fun time. In preparation for your road trip across the US, ask one of our experienced mechanics to run a 75-point safety check to make sure your vehicle is in top shape for the trip.
