12 Essential Tips to Make Your Cross-Country Trip a Success 

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Traveling cross-country can be the adventure of a lifetime. What can you do to ensure your getaway goes off without a hitch, especially if you’re going solo for the first time? 

A bit of mindfulness and planning are all you need. Here are 12 essential tips to have a successful cross-country trip. 

1. Plan

Do you thrive on spontaneity? While it’s fun to follow the road wherever it may lead, reality and biology dictate certain needs. Do you know where you will: 

  • Eat?
  • Sleep?
  • Use the restroom?

Choosing secure landing pads in advance is wise, even if you’re a black belt. Planning stops where you can reasonably expect safety doesn’t preclude spontaneous side trips — it simply ensures you aren’t left sleeping somewhere sketchy with the associated risks. Planning potty breaks matters, too, especially if your anatomy makes roadside stops tricky.

2. Phone 

You need someone to have your back. Give your itinerary to someone at home and plan regular check-ins by phone or FaceTime. They can see you’re OK and contact the authorities with your last known location if you fail to make your next stop. 

3. Pack

Mix-and-match ensembles help you get the most out of every piece you pack. Go with a neutral scheme, picking one shade for highlights. Keep your suitcase light by looking up laundromat locations while planning bathroom, food and rest breaks — throw in a load while you see a few sights and have less to schlep. 

4. Prep

At a minimum, you need the following two kits in your car: 

  • A car safety kit: Your kit should include a spare tire, jack and lug wrench, antifreeze, water and oil. You’ll also need small hand tools, including a socket set, flares and triangles. Take a basic mechanics course before you go or upgrade your roadside assistance through your insurance or AAA. 
  • A first-aid kit: Order it a week before you depart to learn what’s inside and how to use it. 

5. Play 

Are you traveling with little ones in tow? Ensure you have extra backup chargers for their devices. A special goodie bag with inexpensive toys from your local dollar store can also provide a needed distraction from “Are we there yet?”

6. Park

A vehicle break-in can spell disaster. There goes your luggage, camera and computer. Most newer cars come with installed alarm systems, but it also helps to keep valuables locked out of sight in your trunk whenever possible. Renting a car helps if yours lacks this amenity. 

7. Explore 

Your cross-country trip is your chance to see the country. Make it successful by planning some quirky stops. Here are some unusual roadside destinations worth checking out on your journey: 

  • Holbrook, Arizona: It’s a tiny speck in the middle of nowhere. However, it’s not far off Interstate 40, and you’ll find dozens of dinosaurs around town. 
  • Rye, Colorado: Stop here to see the Bishop’s Castle and go from dinosaurs to fire-breathing dragons. 
  • Newark, Ohio: While traversing the east, stop in to see the world’s largest basket. It’s big. 
  • Blue Earth, Minnesota: Head north if you’ve ever wanted to meet the Jolly Green Giant in person. 

8. Learn

Spots like the World’s Largest Ball of Yarn make for interesting scrapbook fare. However, you’ll learn more by stopping at various museums and science centers on your cross-country trip. Here are some of the best ones to visit to ensure your journey’s success:

  • The National Air and Space Museum
  • MOMA
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art 
  • The Getty Center
  • The Tech Interactive 

9. Taste 

Why eat the same fast food you can get at home for every meal? A cross-country trip is your chance to taste regional cuisine. Make it a flavorful tour of America by identifying farm-to-table establishments and local favorites at each stop to enjoy authentic gumbo, fry bread, fried alligator or nopales. 

10. Mingle 

Another fascinating aspect of cross-country travel is meeting people from all walks of life. Brush up on your conversational skills before you depart, arming yourself with a cache of questions so you can mix and mingle like a pro, perhaps making a new friend or two. 

11. Protect 

Criminals can ruin a cross-country trip, and they don’t only target your car. A backup lock or door stop for your hotel room costs little but protects you from an accidental key swipe opening your lodging to a stranger. 

It’s best to leave valuables at home. However, you’ll need your ID and cash, so invest in a travel belt that keeps these necessities against your skin instead of in a pocket where they’re vulnerable to theft. It’s up to you if you carry a dummy wallet in case of a holdup. 

12. Photograph 

This trip could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Memorialize it on film. There are more ways to store your photos than ever in secure cloud storage, while a few choice prints become wall decor or scrapbook fodder. Ensure you have plenty of backup chargers — a dead phone is a safety hazard and a disappointment when you have only minutes to snag that sunset shot. 

Plan a Successful Cross-Country Trip 

Traveling across the country can be a life-changing experience. You now have the tools to pull off your vacation without a hitch. 

Use these tips to ensure a successful cross-country trip. Travel broadens your horizons — learn how to do it right.