Advice for a lengthy road trip?
November 8, 2011 6:01 AM Subscribe
About to drive from Boston, MA to Portland, OR with a buddy who is moving out there. Anyone have any sage travel advice?
The car is all tuned up, we have a route planned, we have a long audiobook and some snacks. Are there any cardinal sins of travelling cross-country that I should know about? (Is it okay to nod off in the car in a rest area?) Any awesome places that we should stop briefly along the way?
The car is all tuned up, we have a route planned, we have a long audiobook and some snacks. Are there any cardinal sins of travelling cross-country that I should know about? (Is it okay to nod off in the car in a rest area?) Any awesome places that we should stop briefly along the way?
My usual advice, absent any routing info, is when you're driving through the square states and the very empty middle part of the country, stop at the first place you can as soon as you need to. There are long stretches of nothing-at-all out there, so if you push yourself on bathroom/gas/food to "make good time" or whatever, it may be 2-4+ hours before you even see another exit, much less one that actually has a gas station/hotel/whatever.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 6:20 AM on November 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 6:20 AM on November 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
If you're open to some route advice, I've got some: don't take the Ohio and Indiana Toll Roads. No good reason to do so. Taking US-30 will be about an extra ten minutes and will save you about $22 in tolls plus a solid $0.10-20 a gallon in gas prices. You also get to drive through a pretty cool wind farm in western Ohio. US-30 from central Ohio all the way to the Illinois border is pretty much entirely a four-lane divided highway with few stops, so you can make almost as good time as you can on the interstate.
I happen to live in Fort Wayne, IN, which is on the way, so feel free to shoot me a message if you're inclined to head that way.
posted by valkyryn at 6:22 AM on November 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
I happen to live in Fort Wayne, IN, which is on the way, so feel free to shoot me a message if you're inclined to head that way.
posted by valkyryn at 6:22 AM on November 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Pertinent route information.
valkyryn, will definitely check out US-30, thanks!
posted by pwally at 6:28 AM on November 8, 2011
valkyryn, will definitely check out US-30, thanks!
posted by pwally at 6:28 AM on November 8, 2011
In many states on the Great Plains, the rest stops have weather alerts. Heed them.
Audio books are better when you're driving solo. Led Zep is better when you're platooning the drive.
If you take a nap at a rest stop (and by all means, do so!), try to park uphill. That way, kicking the seat back gets you into a more horizontal position, which is easier to sleep well in. Place a small towel in the small of your back when sleeping. Scoot the seat forward a notch or too, as well, so the seat will lay back more. A hat over your eyes goes a long way toward sleep assist.
If you're both tired and there's no rest stop nearby, pull off the road at the next exit, then cross the crossroad, and park on the entrance ramp back on the highway. Set your phone for no more than ten minutes. Pass out.
Other tricks for sleeping...wherever - keep your hands where a cop can see them. If you tell a cop the truth - better to take a long nap (you're never planning to "camp overnight", even if you are, wink wink) than crash - they'll appreciate it. Lock your doors.
Gas station snacks are expensive. Get some clif bars, some trail mix, some drink mix packets (I like the Crystal Lite wild strawberry mixed with grape Propel) and a couple gallons of water. Piss on the passenger side of the pulled-over car, facing the same way as you're travelling.
Take a blanket and a pillow, and a pair of flip-flops to drive in. you can keep your "outside" shoes behind your feet. Take tissues; the dry Rockies air will do fun things to your sinuses.
If you know your route, try to figure out where the microbrews are. They tend to be spaced out, but a nice break. Only have one beer unless you're eating, too.
Even if you're iron-butt driving straight through, plan on no better than 60 mph average during the day. There will be accidents, piss stops, gas stops, construction, and side-by-side truckers on long uphills. You *might* be able to make up to 67 mph average at night.
Check your oil and clean your windshield at every gas stop.
I've driven from central NH back home to St. Louis in a car with no radio, and from the Grand Canyon to Glacier National Park, each on straight-through drives. It can be really fun, or it can really suck, depending on your attitude.
Take pictures.
posted by notsnot at 6:38 AM on November 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Audio books are better when you're driving solo. Led Zep is better when you're platooning the drive.
If you take a nap at a rest stop (and by all means, do so!), try to park uphill. That way, kicking the seat back gets you into a more horizontal position, which is easier to sleep well in. Place a small towel in the small of your back when sleeping. Scoot the seat forward a notch or too, as well, so the seat will lay back more. A hat over your eyes goes a long way toward sleep assist.
If you're both tired and there's no rest stop nearby, pull off the road at the next exit, then cross the crossroad, and park on the entrance ramp back on the highway. Set your phone for no more than ten minutes. Pass out.
Other tricks for sleeping...wherever - keep your hands where a cop can see them. If you tell a cop the truth - better to take a long nap (you're never planning to "camp overnight", even if you are, wink wink) than crash - they'll appreciate it. Lock your doors.
Gas station snacks are expensive. Get some clif bars, some trail mix, some drink mix packets (I like the Crystal Lite wild strawberry mixed with grape Propel) and a couple gallons of water. Piss on the passenger side of the pulled-over car, facing the same way as you're travelling.
Take a blanket and a pillow, and a pair of flip-flops to drive in. you can keep your "outside" shoes behind your feet. Take tissues; the dry Rockies air will do fun things to your sinuses.
If you know your route, try to figure out where the microbrews are. They tend to be spaced out, but a nice break. Only have one beer unless you're eating, too.
Even if you're iron-butt driving straight through, plan on no better than 60 mph average during the day. There will be accidents, piss stops, gas stops, construction, and side-by-side truckers on long uphills. You *might* be able to make up to 67 mph average at night.
Check your oil and clean your windshield at every gas stop.
I've driven from central NH back home to St. Louis in a car with no radio, and from the Grand Canyon to Glacier National Park, each on straight-through drives. It can be really fun, or it can really suck, depending on your attitude.
Take pictures.
posted by notsnot at 6:38 AM on November 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
I've driven cross country three times and have done I-80, I-90 and I-40/85/95. My preference for scenery is I-80, which will allow you to visit the Badlands, Black Hills, Yellowstone and the Tetons, followed by I-40 (though the Southern Tier is way out of your way). I found the endless farmland between Chicago and Colorado on I-90 to be mind-numbing.
Are you doing this drive as fast as possible or are you planning on taking time to stop along the way? The last time I did the drive, I budgeted a week, which was good for, say, spending a full rest day in one city, and being able to go on different diversions whenever an interesting sign caught the eye ("Biggest Bookstore in the Rocky Mountains, you say?")
+1 on notsnot's advice on making your own trail mix rather than indulging in gas station snacks. Also -- apples, cheese and grapes work well for munching. Whoever rides shotgun can also be in charge of making peanut butter sandwiches. Also, keep a couple of gallon ziplocks to use as trash bags, and be mindful of emptying out whenever you get to a gas station to fill up. It's easy for clutter to accumulate and for the cabin to get gross.
Bring earplugs and an eye shade if you're a light sleeper and planning on camping out at rest stops.
posted by bl1nk at 6:57 AM on November 8, 2011
Are you doing this drive as fast as possible or are you planning on taking time to stop along the way? The last time I did the drive, I budgeted a week, which was good for, say, spending a full rest day in one city, and being able to go on different diversions whenever an interesting sign caught the eye ("Biggest Bookstore in the Rocky Mountains, you say?")
+1 on notsnot's advice on making your own trail mix rather than indulging in gas station snacks. Also -- apples, cheese and grapes work well for munching. Whoever rides shotgun can also be in charge of making peanut butter sandwiches. Also, keep a couple of gallon ziplocks to use as trash bags, and be mindful of emptying out whenever you get to a gas station to fill up. It's easy for clutter to accumulate and for the cabin to get gross.
Bring earplugs and an eye shade if you're a light sleeper and planning on camping out at rest stops.
posted by bl1nk at 6:57 AM on November 8, 2011
I've driven that route a couple of times. I thought I-80 was dead boring, but you are avoiding Chicago, which is a good thing.
Speed limits change from state to state, be aware of this. Doing 90mph in South Dakota, after you were fine doing 90mph in Montana is generally frowned on. Audiobooks are good, but something to listen to while one of the two of you is dozed off is probably a good thing, otherwise you are both going to end of listening to large parts of the book over. Another audiobook or music, whichever.
Don't be afraid to stop the car for a few on the side of an empty highway to stretch your legs if you need to.
On preview, bl1nk, I think you're mixing up I-80 and I-90. I-90 goes through South Dakota with the Badlands, is closer to Yellowstone, etc. My memory of I-80 is Nebraska, more Nebraska and even more Nebraska. I kind of despise that state now.
If you can, try to drive the last of the route in daylight. The drive along the Columbia is magnificent.
Bring extra water. You probably won't need it, but it doesn't take that much space and it helps ease the mind.
posted by Hactar at 7:20 AM on November 8, 2011
Speed limits change from state to state, be aware of this. Doing 90mph in South Dakota, after you were fine doing 90mph in Montana is generally frowned on. Audiobooks are good, but something to listen to while one of the two of you is dozed off is probably a good thing, otherwise you are both going to end of listening to large parts of the book over. Another audiobook or music, whichever.
Don't be afraid to stop the car for a few on the side of an empty highway to stretch your legs if you need to.
On preview, bl1nk, I think you're mixing up I-80 and I-90. I-90 goes through South Dakota with the Badlands, is closer to Yellowstone, etc. My memory of I-80 is Nebraska, more Nebraska and even more Nebraska. I kind of despise that state now.
If you can, try to drive the last of the route in daylight. The drive along the Columbia is magnificent.
Bring extra water. You probably won't need it, but it doesn't take that much space and it helps ease the mind.
posted by Hactar at 7:20 AM on November 8, 2011
Oh! Another thing: figure out what size your gas tank is, and what your mileage is. Multioly those numbers to find your maximum range. Get gas at the next station after you hit 70% of that.
I found that out the hard way, at 1:30 a.m. in Kansas. The previous gas station for some reason didn't fill the tank all the way up. The next exit after I ran out of gas with gas was 9.5 miles down the road. Fun little jog on the interstate.
posted by notsnot at 7:24 AM on November 8, 2011
I found that out the hard way, at 1:30 a.m. in Kansas. The previous gas station for some reason didn't fill the tank all the way up. The next exit after I ran out of gas with gas was 9.5 miles down the road. Fun little jog on the interstate.
posted by notsnot at 7:24 AM on November 8, 2011
Build in time for a day to stop and take a break in case you get really, really just are sick of driving. The time I drove cross-country, I was making great time for the first few days, but then surprised myself by having a tiny meltdown over NOTHING in a chicken restaurant somewhere in Kansas -- and took that as a sign that I needed to get to a hotel with a pool and spend a day sitting next to it, and NOT driving, to catch my breath. After doing that, I was back on the road just fine.
Speaking of which -- if you are indeed going through Nebraska, that may be much like Kansas which was kind of...scenically homogenous. Allow yourself to stop and look at the ridiculous and stupid roadside attractions, because not only are they gloriously kitschy and wonderful, it will also be a godsend of THANK GOD SOMETHING I CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT ISN'T FLAT LAND WITH NOTHING ON IT HALLELUJIAH.
Find the roadside diners with waitresses who dress in pink nylon uniforms and call you "hon". They're still out there and they are fantastic.
If you are driving through a teeny-tiny middle-of-nowhere town, and have a moment, stop in a gas station or something and take a look at a copy of the local paper. If you fall in love with one of them, get it -- it's a cheap souvenir. (WHY you fall in love with it may not matter. I have a copy of a paper from my trip solely because it's from a town called Freedonia.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:34 AM on November 8, 2011
Speaking of which -- if you are indeed going through Nebraska, that may be much like Kansas which was kind of...scenically homogenous. Allow yourself to stop and look at the ridiculous and stupid roadside attractions, because not only are they gloriously kitschy and wonderful, it will also be a godsend of THANK GOD SOMETHING I CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT ISN'T FLAT LAND WITH NOTHING ON IT HALLELUJIAH.
Find the roadside diners with waitresses who dress in pink nylon uniforms and call you "hon". They're still out there and they are fantastic.
If you are driving through a teeny-tiny middle-of-nowhere town, and have a moment, stop in a gas station or something and take a look at a copy of the local paper. If you fall in love with one of them, get it -- it's a cheap souvenir. (WHY you fall in love with it may not matter. I have a copy of a paper from my trip solely because it's from a town called Freedonia.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:34 AM on November 8, 2011
My recommendation is to have multiple sources of audio entertainment. I know I'd go crazy listening to only one audiobook (even a great, long, one) for the entire trip. I actually really like XM or Sirius for this- lots of variety and you get to have fun discovering things to listen to.
posted by jeffch at 7:50 AM on November 8, 2011
posted by jeffch at 7:50 AM on November 8, 2011
As ever with these threads, I'll point to Jamie Jensen: his Oregon Trail route from Cape Cod to the Oregon coast, focused on the old US 20, offers alternatives to the interstate for when you feel like taking in some local scenery, and points you away from the toll roads mentioned upthread.
posted by holgate at 8:00 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 8:00 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I asked a question about the Minneapolis-Boston/NYC part of this trip a few years ago and got some good tips.
A few things:
- Plan on sleeping in a bed every night if you can afford it. 3,000 miles is a long way. On my trip, I found that I would start fading after it got dark. At this time of year, that's pretty early.
- Motels in the middle of nowhere can be really, really cheap. If you do decide to get one for the night, start thinking about it late afternoon/early evening. Pick up one of those circulars in all the rest stops and call ahead to the place with the cheapest deal. If you have a smartphone, you can also go on hotels.com or hotwire.com to look up deals. Think an hour or two out because in really rural areas, you can go a couple of hours between places with motels.
- Pay close attention to weather reports. You don't want to get stuck on the side of the road during a snowstorm. Even if you're not listening to the radio, turn it on every hour or so and find a station with the weather.
Oh and definitely stay off I-80 in Indiana like valkyryn says. I got that advice, too, and didn't heed it and it is indeed awful! It's also really difficult to get off of it once you're on.
posted by lunasol at 9:12 AM on November 8, 2011
A few things:
- Plan on sleeping in a bed every night if you can afford it. 3,000 miles is a long way. On my trip, I found that I would start fading after it got dark. At this time of year, that's pretty early.
- Motels in the middle of nowhere can be really, really cheap. If you do decide to get one for the night, start thinking about it late afternoon/early evening. Pick up one of those circulars in all the rest stops and call ahead to the place with the cheapest deal. If you have a smartphone, you can also go on hotels.com or hotwire.com to look up deals. Think an hour or two out because in really rural areas, you can go a couple of hours between places with motels.
- Pay close attention to weather reports. You don't want to get stuck on the side of the road during a snowstorm. Even if you're not listening to the radio, turn it on every hour or so and find a station with the weather.
Oh and definitely stay off I-80 in Indiana like valkyryn says. I got that advice, too, and didn't heed it and it is indeed awful! It's also really difficult to get off of it once you're on.
posted by lunasol at 9:12 AM on November 8, 2011
Indiana Dunes is really amazing and worth the short side trip. Makes the Indiana part much better!
posted by gregglind at 9:16 AM on November 8, 2011
posted by gregglind at 9:16 AM on November 8, 2011
Take the intriguing little side trips to go see cool stuff! You may feel some urgency to keep moving, but go ahead and take those little detours. I've never regretted the time spent exploring, only the times I've skipped something that looked interesting.
Also, road food is an adventure. Don't expect anything in particular, just take the bad with the good. Hopefully you'll have a couple of serendipitously amazing meals on your way.
posted by Specklet at 10:02 AM on November 8, 2011
Also, road food is an adventure. Don't expect anything in particular, just take the bad with the good. Hopefully you'll have a couple of serendipitously amazing meals on your way.
posted by Specklet at 10:02 AM on November 8, 2011
One other thing I like to do is plan my hotel stops ahead of time, mainly because I know how far I can go in a day before I get tired. Some hotel groups/companies have a "find hotels along route" option (I know there's one for Holiday Inn Express, since it's what I use all the time) you can use that will find things within ~5 miles of the interstate, or whatever you choose. This ensures I always know where I'm going, I always know I have a safe place to stop, and usually those hotels have food, gas, and other signs of civilization around them. But my trips are usually moving-type trips where I have a car full of everything I own and would rather have a safe, boring trip than going exploring.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:03 AM on November 8, 2011
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 11:03 AM on November 8, 2011
Try to get off the interstate if you can. There ate often state highways that run roughly parallel to the interstate. They're usually just a teensy bit slower but heaps more interesting. If you have a road atlas it will help you see them. Get a road atlas if you don't have one.
I had great luck with Priceline for hotels. You can do the "name your own price" thing in the morning before you leave--or even in the road if you have a smart phone!--and get great deals on hotels and motels.
Which brings me to, don't stay at the cheapest place. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a clean, quiet motel, which you're more likely to get if you spend even a bit more money. I like staying at places with free breakfast so you can at least get some fresh coffee and fruit or juice before hitting the road. Sometimes you luck out and they have a waffle maker. Score!
Do avoid the toll road across Indiana. It's super boring and expensive, and surreal as you pass the same cars over and over again, and see the same families at every rest stop.
I've driven from California to Massachusetts or the reverse four times and those are the main things I can think of!
posted by apricot at 12:13 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I had great luck with Priceline for hotels. You can do the "name your own price" thing in the morning before you leave--or even in the road if you have a smart phone!--and get great deals on hotels and motels.
Which brings me to, don't stay at the cheapest place. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a clean, quiet motel, which you're more likely to get if you spend even a bit more money. I like staying at places with free breakfast so you can at least get some fresh coffee and fruit or juice before hitting the road. Sometimes you luck out and they have a waffle maker. Score!
Do avoid the toll road across Indiana. It's super boring and expensive, and surreal as you pass the same cars over and over again, and see the same families at every rest stop.
I've driven from California to Massachusetts or the reverse four times and those are the main things I can think of!
posted by apricot at 12:13 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Forgot this: stop at a Runzas in Nebraska for their specialty.
Actually, eat as much weird regional food and candy as you can.
posted by apricot at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Actually, eat as much weird regional food and candy as you can.
posted by apricot at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Avoid routes that take you too far north. You don't want to get stuck in snow. Also, 2nding the 2nd half of Apricot's advice! Oh heck yeah!
posted by 2oh1 at 12:29 PM on November 8, 2011
posted by 2oh1 at 12:29 PM on November 8, 2011
If you do social media (especially facebook), map out the route to share it with your friends, and photograph the living bejebus out of that trip! An iPhone or Android phone would be excellent for that (bring the charger adapter for the car). Look, it's going to be a long trip, and even a super awesome fun road trip can mentally wipe you out. Having fun stuff to do really helps.
posted by 2oh1 at 6:39 PM on November 8, 2011
posted by 2oh1 at 6:39 PM on November 8, 2011
Response by poster: 2oh1 we have iphones, and I just bought a canon eos 60d dslr, you best believe I'll be capturing the living bajeesus out of this trip :)
posted by pwally at 7:13 PM on November 8, 2011
posted by pwally at 7:13 PM on November 8, 2011
« Older Looking for a Bergman interview. | Where Should I Go for an Surf Vacation in December... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rtha at 6:05 AM on November 8, 2011