Your Guide to Traveling Across the United States

Traveling across the country with your family or friends is a great way to get out and see our fine country. More and more people simply take an airplane to get from one side to the other and don't get to appreciate the true beauty this country has to offer. If you are planning on taking a road trip across the United States, here are some things you should do to prepare yourself for your great adventure.

Plan ahead! This isn't something that you can just jump into your car and drive off into the sunset. You must know where you are going and plot your route. Go out and buy a road map or GPS navigation unit. I would suggest maybe both, or at least the map. This way you can mark up your map to show your route so you have a good understanding of where you are and where you need to be. You should allow yourself a couple extra days in your schedule just to be safe. This isn't something you want to rush.

Whatever your route may be, there are plenty of sights to see along the way. Research what you want to see on your way and allow yourself the extra time to stop off and go sight seeing. This will also help break up the boringness of driving on the highway for hours on end.

Spring and fall are the best times to travel across the country. You won't have the bitterness cold of winter ruining your sight seeing or causing dangerous road conditions, or the excruciating heat of summer keeping you inside that air conditioned car. These seasons are also the times at which the scenery can be at its true beauty.

Make your reservations before hand so you will have a guaranteed place to stay at night. You will need to make sure you follow your schedule to get there on time though. There is nothing worse than a long days drive to find every hotel in sight has no vacancy, unless you don't mind sleeping in your car.

You should have plenty of items packed for your trip. Pack plenty of food and water. You don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to eat or drink. I would also recommend a couple blankets and matches. This way you can have a fire and blanket to keep you warm if your vehicle dies in an uninhabited area. You should also have some extra cash set aside incase of an emergency only. Make sure your vehicle has a spare tire. If it doesn't, then get one. You should have some tools with you to change a tire or fix a minor problem if it were to occur. Bring along an extra fan belt, and possibly an extra radiator hose. These are common things that can go wrong while on the road that can bring your trip to a screeching halt. So be prepared.

To reduce the risk of something happening to your vehicle, you should get it fully serviced before you head out on your trip. Make sure all tires are in good shape with plenty of tread on them and are at the proper air pressure. Tell your mechanic what you are planning on doing and he can assist you in what to keep an eye on and his advice on what to service.

Stay alert! While driving, you can get into a zone and possibly fall asleep. Some of the highways across the United States are purely straight for miles and miles. You should drive no more than four hours at a time before stopping and taking a break or switching drivers. And I recommend that you drive no more than ten hours in the day. Any more than that and you are just burning yourself out and could cause a serious accident. Roll your window down as much as possible. The extra wind will keep you alert and awake.

Watch your gas. You should fill up when you reach half a tank. You don't want to end up in the middle of nowhere with no gas. Filling up at half a tank will allow you enough of a cushion if you end up not being able to find a gas station. Half a tank should be plenty to get you to the next station to fill up.

No hitchhikers! This should be common knowledge in today's society. You just don't want to take the risk of picking up strangers. Too many things can happen that you don't want to be a part of. Stay safe.

Last but not least, watch your speed. While traveling through other states than your own, the speed limits might be different so you need to keep an eye out and know how fast you should be going. If you get a speeding ticket in another state, your options are somewhat slim. Either you pay the fine, or if you choose to fight it you must return to the state you got the ticket in and go to court. This can be a large burden to do, so most will pay the ticket. That's not what you planned on spending your money on now is it? Drive the limit and you won't have any problems.

These are just a few things you should do to have a safe and fun trip across the United State. You might not ever have another chance to do something like this again, so make the most of it. Happy traveling!