Have you been on a road trip to another state by car? How was it?

[Sugar100]

I plan to go on a road trip next month to visit a lover, handsome fellow. 😜 and I hate airplanes that’s why I will go by car.

but I’m scared travel alone and fear my car will get stuck in the middle of nowhere. How was your experience?
any advice traveling to another state by car? dos and don’ts?

[abc3643]

I have driven on trips of hundreds and even thousands of miles many times.

Travel on interstate highways as much as you can; truck plazas are frequent enough for you to rest, eat, and even shower if you want. They are like oases in the travel desert. Another reason to travel on interstates is that truckers travel them 24/7, so, if you have a problem, there will always be a trucker who will notice and radio in help for you if you can't call yourself.

Get AAA before you go. This way, if your car DOES break down, you can have it towed for up to 200 miles (I think) for free.

However, if you are really worried about your car's reliability then, if you can afford it, consider renting a car. Rental cars are constantly maintained and are new, so they are very reliable AND if they breakdown, you don't have to worry because it's not your car - they will replace it for you at no cost.

Make sure you have enough $$$ for gasoline. For planning purposes, ASSUME $5 / gallon and 20 miles / gallon fuel economy to be on the safe side. This means ever 4 miles will cost you $1. In reality, it won't be that high, but I always err on the side of caution. However, if you are driving your car, that $1 per 4 miles is closer to reality because there is the hidden cost of wear-and-tear on your car from driving. This is why the government has a mileage rate for people who drive their own car for a job. Right now, according to the IRS, it's $0.655/mile which is $2.62 / 4 miles. So, as you see, that "$1 per 4 miles" in real costs is not off base. Still, just for gas for this trip, conservatively assume every 4 miles will cost you $1. So, for example, if you are driving 400 miles each way, assume you will need $200 just for gas.

Now, what about lodging? You need a place to sleep if your going to be spending more than a day driving. Hotel/Motel rooms are not cheap! You need to plan this out yourself. You often can get rooms for under $100/night, but hotel rates are in constant flux. Nice thing is you can often get a 10% if you have AAA.

========

So, tell us what your starting location is, what your destination is, and how long the trip is to last.
Maybe I can be more specific in helping you plan for your trip.

[abc3643]

That IRS link I forgot to post.
www.irs.gov/.../standard-mileage-rates

[abc3643]

www.gsa.gov/.../privately-owned-vehicle-pov-mileage-reimbursement

[Sugar100]

I plan travel from Cali to Washington DC!

I don't know how much money I’ll need for Gas I’m bad at math lol

And my car is used and at the moment in repair shop but I don’t trust drive it for the trip.

How much would a rental car cost?

I plan go only 3 days but it would take 2-3 days to arrive and 2-3 days to return back! So like a week trip it’ll be !

[Sugar100]

I thought triple A only covers 15 miles max?

If u rent a car would u need triple A still or no?

[abc3643]

If you have AAA, you can get a discount on a car rental.
Logistically, your trip is extremely difficult.
When I was 29, I left the Albany NY area on a Thursday evening to drive to Los Angeles for my new job starting Monday. I got to LA Sunday afternoon and, on the trip, I slept in my car on the side of the road or at rest stops or truck plazas. That's comparable to what you would drive.

Renting a car is pretty much out of the question. It would cost you about $1000 IF it's only a week.

No, this trip is not really feasible for you to do in a week. You COULD take Amtrak, but that'll be expensive and time-consuming too, but you don't have to worry so much.

Really, you need to fly or take more time for the trip.

Where in California are you leaving? That's important.

[abc3643]

You do not need AAA to rent a car, but you do need to be at least 25.
The trip would be about 6000 miles, so you'd have to assume about $1500 in gasoline.

[Sugar100]

Why this trip is not feasible for me?

I checked rn to rent a car for a wk it’s $400 total not bad.

[Sugar100]

The car I want is pricier so $400 lol it’s similar to my own car

[Sugar100]

I checked the air bnb for 3 days at the state I’ll go to & it would total cost $200 .

[Sugar100]

I just need estimate how much money for gas I need I’m bad at march

[Sugar100]

Math

[Sugar100]

I’m 26

[Sugar100]

1500 in gas?

[Sugar100]

U spent $1500 on gas for ur trip?

[abc3643]

I say PLAN on $1500 for gas.

For a low-ball estimate, assume $3.50 / gallon and 35 miles/gallon ("MPG"). That's 10 cents a mile. That means the trip would cost at least $600 in gas. But, in reality, a car getting 35 MPG is in good shape and likely newer. And the price of gas will likely be higher than $3.50.

So, a closer estimate is:
25 MPG
$4.00/gallon
That's 16.67 cents / mile.
For 6000 miles, that corresponds to $1000 for gas.

Honey, driving across the United States is like going to the moon, not the local supermarket. It's a lot more expensive and you have to do a lot more planning.

So, you need to ask yourself:

Am I willing to spend $2000 on gas, hotels, and food to spend a few hours with a man OR
Perhaps I should get over my fear of flying / hatred of planes and spend less than $1000 in airfare to spend 6 days with him?

[Sugar100]

Ok so online I used an estimator I would need about $500 of gas for the trip to Maryland 😮 but I don't know if that’s just to arrive or it’s $500 for the whole trip?

[Sugar100]

I think the costly part is me having no new car, if I had a new car I wudnt been rent $400 for a new car… that’s making my trip more expensive

[Sugar100]

2315 miles it takes from me to Washington …

[Sugar100]

I’d rather do the road trip I hate planes LOL

[abc3643]

$400/week is cheap for a rental car but DOES IT COME WITH UNLIMITED MILES?
If not, throw that $400/week figure out the door because they will be charging you something like 30 cents/mile for every mile after 750 miles.
Well, 6000 - 750 = 5250. That's $1575 for those extra miles. So, your rental car would cost you $400+$1575 = $1975... almost $2000.

[Sugar100]

Yes it comes with unlimited miles

[abc3643]

Oh, and rental car companies require you to fill up the tank when you return the car or they will charge you $6/gallon or so if they have to do it.

So, $2000 in rental and $1500 in gas. That's $3500.

====

Honey, you need to fly. If this is for a week, you need to fly. The cost/benefit analysis for you is horrendous to do anything but fly.

[abc3643]

"U spent $1500 on gas for ur trip?"

No. My trip was in 1992 so it was probably a few hundred.

[abc3643]

No, that $500 is TO Maryland, not coming home. So, their estimate is like my more realistic estimate earlier... $1000 in gas.

[Sugar100]

Maryland look like a very small city lol

[Sugar100]

$1000 gas plus $400 to rent car plus $50 to fill up tank wen I return it , plus $200 for 3 day stay at air bnb , 1650 plus food $2000 total….

[abc3643]

Always have a "safety margin" which is an amount of "just in case" money for unexpected crises or purchases. So, for a trip like this, at least $500, but $1000 is safer... or have a nice credit card with $0.00 balance. Also, you'll be paying for the rental car with a credit card anyway; if you use cash or a debit card, they will "hold" a lot more.

And you are still not thinking about the TIME.
You will have NO time there.
It will like...
3.5 days driving LA to DC
Meet the guy for coffee
3.5 days driving DC to LA

YOU NEED TO GET OVER YOUR ISSUES WITH PLANES.
After all, a future husband is going to want to fly to places... like Hawaii or Europe.

[Sugar100]

lol I won’t meet the guy for cofee. It’ll be 3 days together.

[Sugar100]

It’s around $1300 for plane. $800 Totsl cost of plane plus hotel plus food totsl cost $1300 in airplane

[Sugar100]

I guess by car it’s expensive cuz I don’t own a good new car that’s y we had add $400 to rent a new car.

[abc3643]

For all this money that you want to spend on this trip, consider instead flying in First Class.
Believe me, you won't hate flying once you experience First Class. Not cheap, but it is fabulous and much more worth it for a 5-hour flight.

Here's an example flight...
United Airlines
Nonstop (about 4 hours) round trip LAX (Los Angeles International) to IAD (Dulles International Airport).
Leave Wednesday 22 MAY and return Wednesday 29 MAY (so that straddles Memorial Day Weekend)
For First Class, prices are between $1100 and $2000 total depending on the time of day you fly.

[Sugar100]

What’s so special of first class?

[Sugar100]

Check my PM

[abc3643]

"What’s so special of first class?"

1. Better passengers.
2. MORE ROOM... leg room, arm room, seat width.
3. Get on board first and get off first.
4. They treat you better; you get your food faster and have a better choice. Freebies.
5. More comfortable.

Watch this from Seinfeld episode "The Airport".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU9iKViFPlU

[WindAtMyBack]

Lots of times. The number of times I've crossed state lines in a car is in the hundreds, possibly over a thousand.

Advice?
Just kick back and enjoy.
Don't get impatient to get there.
Listen to some good music. But mix it with quiet time.
Take breaks.
Make sure you take a poop. (seriously, driving long distance can cause constipation)
Make sure your car runs well before leaving.
Check tire pressure, oil etc.

Mostly, just enjoy the drive. Getting there and seeing things along the way is half the fun. When you fly, you miss everything. Traveling by land is the only way to see what's in between point A and point B.

[Sugar100]

I plan drive to another state to visit someone but I’m scared my car will break down in the middle of nowhere

[WindAtMyBack]

Will you be going through areas with no phone reception?

But even without a phone, many millions of people have done it for ages. How far are you going?

[trippovention]

I haven't been on a road trip myself, but I've heard plenty about them! They sound like an exciting way to explore different places, experience new things, and bond with friends or family. Depending on the route and destinations, road trips can offer a mix of scenic drives, interesting pit stops, and memorable experiences.

As for Trippovention Travel Agency, let's imagine they specialize in organizing unique and adventurous road trips to exotic locations around the world. They could offer customized itineraries, luxury transportation options, and expert guides to ensure travelers have an unforgettable journey. From traversing the deserts of the American Southwest to winding through the lush landscapes of New Zealand, Trippovention could cater to travelers seeking one-of-a-kind road trip experiences.

[electromagnetic]

Roads trips are so fun. Especially when you get to stop at diners and try their foods. USA is the best for it compared to Canada but still quite fun.

[exitseven]

Yes, I have driven to Florida once and to Oklahoma too. I have also driven to Canada a few times and everywhere in the northeast. I always had fun. I miss travelling.

[DJB72]

I did 920 miles from Cape Town to Windhoek and 820 miles from Cape Town to Pretoria in South Africa.

Here you're more likely to be facing extortion from corrupt cops than freelance criminals.

America would be a pleasant drive after that. Plus here you have to look out for elephants, buffalo - actual buffalo, not bison - rhinos, lions, etc on the long roads. I love road trips...

[Sugar100]

Is it expensive to travel by car to another state?

[DJB72]

In South Africa it's cheaper to drive than fly

[Sugar100]

What is the estimate total amount of money you need to Travel cross country by car 2-3 days?

[DJB72]

Outside SA I've no idea of fuel efficiency or price

[docster]

I would stay away from interstate rest stops. They can be iffy, especially at night. Better to use restrooms at gas stations or restaurants.

Hopefully your car has cruise control. I did a solo road trip 400 miles without cruise control and my right ankle was so numb I could hardly use the brake.

[bowenw]

Flying is safer especially for a female. If you have to drive, try not to overdo it. Limit yourself to a specific number of hours driving in a day so you aren't too tired, for example 8. Stay in good hotels where you will be safe.

[katiesmuff]

I've driven from Florida to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South and North Carolina for different golf events and all have been trouble free.

[Fireguy17]

yepppers, and motorcycles.
I have been to all the lower 48 states, Canada & Mexico on a bike, and rented one in Hawaii.
Great fun.
Take the road less traveled.

[DryGermanGuy]

I have driven to or in pretty much all of Germany’s 16 states…🤔

[TheDaydreamer]

i think it depends, i'm going on a road trip over the summer with my church for a mission trip, so i'm excited for that

[Madlc]

I have been analysing your profile and came to a conclusion that you are from India?

The next analysis is If you worship cows 🐄🤔

[zagor]

Many times. Never had any major problems. I wish I had the time to do so now; I hope to in late May, at least to Arizona and Utah.

[Nikki1989]

Yeah, it sucks. It takes too long to go anywhere by car.

[JayBones2469]

I've driven through 26 of the 52 states multiple times. It's awesome. Stay out of heavily black/democratic towns and you will have a wonderful time.

[VV3ZZY123]

I've been car camping in another state for 75 days now. It's a challenge for sure!

[VV3ZZY123]

If your driving at night through the backroads.. watch out for deer. They hang out in groups in some spots and like to jump in front of you.

[jahaims]

A ton of times. It's just like driving anywhere else.

[CubaPirate]

Vegas to Santa Monica return in one day

[Sugar100]

I’m going to a far state , cross country road trip. I’m a bit scared go alone but excited

[Sugar100]

Think it’s 2-3 days

[CubaPirate]

Have fun

[Sugar100]

So you live in Santa Monica?

[Sugar100]

Any advice for traveling alone by car in a road trip?

[CubaPirate]

No I was an vacation from England

[Sugar100]

So u drove from
England to Vegas?

[CubaPirate]

No lol

[eagle1951]

car truck train, bus plane only things I have not done is walk and bic lol

[Nice222]

yes many times. I love driving and traveling.

[NathanDavis]

on a chase... yes

[Sugar100]

Wdym on a chase?

[NathanDavis]

on the loose... catch and chase...

[Anonymous]

Driving and travelling always looking tiring for me. Flying is better

[Lliam]

Lots of times. They were great.