Reminder: The Old Glory Club already has a wide network of people across the country. If you're a member of one of our chapters, there's a good chance you can find a place to crash for a night or two wherever you're going. All you have to do is ask.
I like the in between places. The little spots that should be quite banal, but when you stop, is full of detail. I love pulling over on the side of a dirt road and just turning off the motor. I live in the city where you can easily forget the sound of the highway isn't universal. Fortunately I can get in my car and go 15-20 minutes in about any direction and be on dirt roads. Places so quiet you can hear a sparrow chirp from 200 yards away.
I did the same in my early 50's, visiting all fifty states and all but American Samoa of the U.S. territories. I came to realize I belong in the American West because the open and less encumbered landscapes fit my personality, there are fewer bugs, and the dryer climate appears to be better for my allergies. It could also be that there are more man-made toxins in New England from where I hail. A journey such as this helps one remember that the country is not the land, and our people are not the government.
I am the same, though sometime in my 40s I stopped driving more than about 6 hours per day.
I got tired enough of overpriced crap motels that I bought a fiberglass "egg" travel trailer. I redesigned the interior, outfitted for off-grid application w/solar and so forth. I lived in it on the road for 3 yrs. My dog has been to 35 states.
The biggest unforeseen problem with the trailer was parking it in urban areas. You can't stay in friends' driveways or on the street because neighbors complain immediately. I ended up staying in a lot of Walmart parking lots. I still avoided paying to park for the most part - probably only paid to camp about 4 times in 3 yrs.
Also, I found the road lifestyle involved a surprising amount of shopping. Since I only had a small cooler, I was buying ice and fresh food almost every day.
I bought the trailer for $8k, put about $7k and a few months into renovations, lived in it for 3 yrs, then sold it, off-grid ready, for $11k. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience, though I would probably prepare better if doing it again in terms of food and a DC fridge to reduce trips to the store.
Traveling with others, it is important to learn which gas stations can be relied upon. The days of "lots of truckers so it must be good" are gone. Basically every state/region has a local chain that's decent.
Great tips. The only other thing I would add is know your elevation. I’ve driven through the Rockies and to my surprise had trouble breathing over 10,000 feet. Some people may be more sensitive to altitude than others. I’m fit and don’t have any issues at lower altitudes, so it caught me off guard. Something to keep in mind.
I’ll get like that just going up hills in the NE. If your going through the Rockies I’d advise you to anticipate an additional hour or two to pause driving and acclimate to the altitudes
This is a great article thanks for sharing it. I’ve driven across the country several times with my wife over the last thirty years. It’s definitely an amazing and beautiful land filled with wonderful people. I’m still missing a hand full of states to complete my list but having traveled to Europe, South America and Asia I definitely appreciate the USA for both geographic beauty and cultural superiority.
You also learn a lot about yourself and your travel companions when you explore the country.
We used to camp in tents or the car when we travelled but have graduated up to the glamorous world of travel trailers and that really allow you to live on the road quite comfortably. It also allows you to really live somewhere for a period and learn the area and people. We really love the south west near the four corners area probably because it’s so drastically different than my home state of Florida.
America is without question a place where you travel by plane when required, never by preference. You put on some Iced Earth, gas up, and just start rolling. Never forget our Heritage, and love that which we have.
Great read! I agree with you about traveling being magical. America is a beautiful continent and I'm thankful I've had the money and the means to see most of it. Greatly appreciated the bag of holding reference haha :P
I love road trips. Love the tips here, I made one this past winter into jewlandia Miami and it was nice. I didn’t have the money for hotels, so I slept in my car, and used my tent. The little roll up / blow up mattress used for camping and or backpacking are so freaking awesome. A night or two I slept on the beach. Kinda nervous doing that but I made it through. It was a rough time money wise at that time, but wouldn’t do it another way.
I’m so done with forking 1,400 a month for a place to put a mattress, shit and cook food, I’d rather be homeless.
But who will build the roads?
Sorry, had to
Reminder: The Old Glory Club already has a wide network of people across the country. If you're a member of one of our chapters, there's a good chance you can find a place to crash for a night or two wherever you're going. All you have to do is ask.
I like the in between places. The little spots that should be quite banal, but when you stop, is full of detail. I love pulling over on the side of a dirt road and just turning off the motor. I live in the city where you can easily forget the sound of the highway isn't universal. Fortunately I can get in my car and go 15-20 minutes in about any direction and be on dirt roads. Places so quiet you can hear a sparrow chirp from 200 yards away.
With a car, you can go anywhere you want.
I did the same in my early 50's, visiting all fifty states and all but American Samoa of the U.S. territories. I came to realize I belong in the American West because the open and less encumbered landscapes fit my personality, there are fewer bugs, and the dryer climate appears to be better for my allergies. It could also be that there are more man-made toxins in New England from where I hail. A journey such as this helps one remember that the country is not the land, and our people are not the government.
I am the same, though sometime in my 40s I stopped driving more than about 6 hours per day.
I got tired enough of overpriced crap motels that I bought a fiberglass "egg" travel trailer. I redesigned the interior, outfitted for off-grid application w/solar and so forth. I lived in it on the road for 3 yrs. My dog has been to 35 states.
The biggest unforeseen problem with the trailer was parking it in urban areas. You can't stay in friends' driveways or on the street because neighbors complain immediately. I ended up staying in a lot of Walmart parking lots. I still avoided paying to park for the most part - probably only paid to camp about 4 times in 3 yrs.
Also, I found the road lifestyle involved a surprising amount of shopping. Since I only had a small cooler, I was buying ice and fresh food almost every day.
I bought the trailer for $8k, put about $7k and a few months into renovations, lived in it for 3 yrs, then sold it, off-grid ready, for $11k. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience, though I would probably prepare better if doing it again in terms of food and a DC fridge to reduce trips to the store.
Traveling with others, it is important to learn which gas stations can be relied upon. The days of "lots of truckers so it must be good" are gone. Basically every state/region has a local chain that's decent.
Great tips. The only other thing I would add is know your elevation. I’ve driven through the Rockies and to my surprise had trouble breathing over 10,000 feet. Some people may be more sensitive to altitude than others. I’m fit and don’t have any issues at lower altitudes, so it caught me off guard. Something to keep in mind.
I’ll get like that just going up hills in the NE. If your going through the Rockies I’d advise you to anticipate an additional hour or two to pause driving and acclimate to the altitudes
This is a great article thanks for sharing it. I’ve driven across the country several times with my wife over the last thirty years. It’s definitely an amazing and beautiful land filled with wonderful people. I’m still missing a hand full of states to complete my list but having traveled to Europe, South America and Asia I definitely appreciate the USA for both geographic beauty and cultural superiority.
You also learn a lot about yourself and your travel companions when you explore the country.
We used to camp in tents or the car when we travelled but have graduated up to the glamorous world of travel trailers and that really allow you to live on the road quite comfortably. It also allows you to really live somewhere for a period and learn the area and people. We really love the south west near the four corners area probably because it’s so drastically different than my home state of Florida.
America is without question a place where you travel by plane when required, never by preference. You put on some Iced Earth, gas up, and just start rolling. Never forget our Heritage, and love that which we have.
Great read! I agree with you about traveling being magical. America is a beautiful continent and I'm thankful I've had the money and the means to see most of it. Greatly appreciated the bag of holding reference haha :P
I love road trips. Love the tips here, I made one this past winter into jewlandia Miami and it was nice. I didn’t have the money for hotels, so I slept in my car, and used my tent. The little roll up / blow up mattress used for camping and or backpacking are so freaking awesome. A night or two I slept on the beach. Kinda nervous doing that but I made it through. It was a rough time money wise at that time, but wouldn’t do it another way.
I’m so done with forking 1,400 a month for a place to put a mattress, shit and cook food, I’d rather be homeless.