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Roadtrip
I'm a 20 year old female and am trying to plan a trip for this autumn or winter. I will be traveling (alone) from Oklahoma to California to stay with my brother for a few days. I plan on driving. While I know that will be more expensive than buying a plane ticket (after gas, food, and a night or two in hotels along the way) I prefer this way because I want to sight-see on my way there.
Basically I need to know how to save money on my trip. I have the funds to make this trip happen but obviously I'd like to save as much money as possible. I've never travelled on my own before so I'm a little clueless!
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Doing a road trip in the cold and autumn weather is a great way to get out there and enjoy what the nature has to offer.
Before you go, make sure you are fully prepared. Load up the boot with an emergency kit, check your tire pressure and make sure your car or any vehicle insurance.
I have an interesting experience of the Waimoku Falls road trip. The 4 mile round trip to the falls and back takes in several great waterfalls before reaching the spectacular Waimoku Falls, and a board-walk journey through dense, dark bamboo forest that we're unlikely to forget.
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Have you considered taking a bus. It is inexpensive and you can route yourself to get on and off the bus close to the sights you really want to see. I mention this as women traveling alone is not the safest thing, unfortunately.
If you are going to drive alone then map out your route well ahead of time. Stick to the interstate highways and plan to drive a set amount of hours a day. Have hotel reservations at each stop and check in with your brother or parents at a time they expect you to while you're on the road.
Truck stops are a great place to stop for food and fuel. They are usually well lit, many are family friendly and the food is usually good to great, plentiful and inexpensive. They also have well stocked convenience stores should you need to pick up anything. So if there are numerous trucks parked there and family cars as well, it is a safe bet the food is good. These are great places for any meal of the day and all meals of the day are served around the clock.
For dinner ask the desk clerk at your motel where they like to eat. They will steer you away from any tourist restaurant if you ask nicely. Most motel these days offer some type of breakfast so you won't have to pay for that meal.
Before you leave have your checked over by a good ASE mechanic, your local car dealer is a good choice. Tell them you are going to drive to CA and they will check the car over, perform any routine maintenance and look for anything that could cause you trouble on the road and correct it before you leave.
Make sure you have copies of your car's registration and insurance card. Make copies and have one copy in your purse and one copy in the car.
Now this will sound strange but most of us have locked their keys in the car at one time or another. As I fire fighter I have had to open a number of cars because people have locked themselves out. Not all fire or police department will do this. Get a copy of the key numbers from the dealership where you purchased the car and keep them with you. If you ever lock yourself out a locksmith can make you a key from the numbers. A lot less expensive than the cost of them trying to pick the lock. Do not use this key to start the car as it won't be programed to the cars computer and you will be locked out of the starter for 15 minutes. Just use it to open the door.
Mostly though common sense prevails. Purchasing food or gas near tourist areas is going to be more expensive than in town or near the highways. Eat at truck stops that are well used by truckers and families or at chain restaurants
whose signs you will see on the highways. The food should be what you expect and the prices close to what you would pay at home.
Most important should you have a break down on the highway, pull to the side of the road. Get out of your car and on the other side of the guardrail or barrier. Call 911 from your cell phone and ask for assistance. Stay away from your car until help arrives.
Enjoy your road trip.
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