Me and 2 friends want to travel from Orlando FL, to Upland California in a 2005 Grand Marquis. Can someone tell me some things well need and personal experiences.
have done cross country trips by car many times. Just wrapped one up today, actually. Cash, credit cards, back up cards for big repairs (I had to replace the radiator one time in the middle of Texas & one time keys were locked in trunk in a rest area in Arizona). Spare keys with different people responsible.
I recommend an AAA membership for a few reasons: for a small fee--like $60 a year--you will have free roadside assistance for flat tires, break downs, plus free tour guides with listings of all motels/hotels, the prices, how to get to them, etc. For the price of less than one tow you get all that.
Finally, have a good working cell phone with no roaming, and a reliable charger. There are stretches where it is far between exits, especially out west, and you may not see a trooper or anybody to help for days. It is more boring than fun if you stay on interstates, but if you have time to spare try to get off at least a couple of times to go on US routes so you can see the small towns and people's houses. Some of my most memorable travel tales have taken place off the beaten path, but one of my faves was on I20 way back in the day. My friend and I were tooling along on a cold, sunny winter day in '80 when we came across an overturned Coors beer truck, an 18 wheeler. I pulled over, ran back, and loaded as many beers as would fit in the tail of my big old flannel shirt. WE had free beer all the way to San Diego! The saguaros in moonlight, TexMex food in west Texas, leaving stuff behind in motel rooms--good times!
Comments
Don't speed across Texas. They will get you.
Don't stop at ANY border towns.
have done cross country trips by car many times. Just wrapped one up today, actually. Cash, credit cards, back up cards for big repairs (I had to replace the radiator one time in the middle of Texas & one time keys were locked in trunk in a rest area in Arizona). Spare keys with different people responsible.
I recommend an AAA membership for a few reasons: for a small fee--like $60 a year--you will have free roadside assistance for flat tires, break downs, plus free tour guides with listings of all motels/hotels, the prices, how to get to them, etc. For the price of less than one tow you get all that.
Finally, have a good working cell phone with no roaming, and a reliable charger. There are stretches where it is far between exits, especially out west, and you may not see a trooper or anybody to help for days. It is more boring than fun if you stay on interstates, but if you have time to spare try to get off at least a couple of times to go on US routes so you can see the small towns and people's houses. Some of my most memorable travel tales have taken place off the beaten path, but one of my faves was on I20 way back in the day. My friend and I were tooling along on a cold, sunny winter day in '80 when we came across an overturned Coors beer truck, an 18 wheeler. I pulled over, ran back, and loaded as many beers as would fit in the tail of my big old flannel shirt. WE had free beer all the way to San Diego! The saguaros in moonlight, TexMex food in west Texas, leaving stuff behind in motel rooms--good times!
Money-
For:
Gas
Inns
Food
fun ****
and
in case your car breaks down, for tickets home.
It will take you a week if you plan on stopping at a few places like Yellowstone or Vegas