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Road trip advice!
cr0w
Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
Hey guys, I'm looking to embark on a road trip here in the next couple of months, and I need some advice on what to bring, the amount of funds needed for it, etc. etc.
Basically, I'm looking to drive from Houston (where I live) to Las Vegas. I have an '08 Ford Focus, so gas is probably going to be the least expensive part of the trip. I'm not going to Vegas to gamble, drink, or party. I basically want to get there, see the strip, stay the night somewhere cheap, and head back. The objective of my trip is to see everything I possibly can between here and there, and to do something on my own and for myself for once in my life. Obvious destinations are the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, but I'm currently researching other places to visit, as well. I plan on camping along the way in the state parks I visit to save on motel costs. The problem is I've never done anything like this on my own before, so I don't even know where to begin in terms of preparation. I don't have a set length of time for my trip...I just plan on driving until I either feel the urge to come home or run out of money, whichever comes first.
So any help that you guys can offer would be appreciated. Mainly I need to know what I should have for camping, and what type of budget I should allow myself. I've already started saving and have about $500 put towards it, and I've kind of decided that a grand should be enough, though I'm not entirely sure. If I take my own food, camp most of the way there and back, and don't end up spending much on gas, I assume a grand is more than enough. I don't plan on carrying that much in cash on me, obviously, but being that, again, I've never done anything like this before, I don't know whether I should take traveler's checks or just use my debit card.
Thanks in advance.
Basically, I'm looking to drive from Houston (where I live) to Las Vegas. I have an '08 Ford Focus, so gas is probably going to be the least expensive part of the trip. I'm not going to Vegas to gamble, drink, or party. I basically want to get there, see the strip, stay the night somewhere cheap, and head back. The objective of my trip is to see everything I possibly can between here and there, and to do something on my own and for myself for once in my life. Obvious destinations are the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, but I'm currently researching other places to visit, as well. I plan on camping along the way in the state parks I visit to save on motel costs. The problem is I've never done anything like this on my own before, so I don't even know where to begin in terms of preparation. I don't have a set length of time for my trip...I just plan on driving until I either feel the urge to come home or run out of money, whichever comes first.
So any help that you guys can offer would be appreciated. Mainly I need to know what I should have for camping, and what type of budget I should allow myself. I've already started saving and have about $500 put towards it, and I've kind of decided that a grand should be enough, though I'm not entirely sure. If I take my own food, camp most of the way there and back, and don't end up spending much on gas, I assume a grand is more than enough. I don't plan on carrying that much in cash on me, obviously, but being that, again, I've never done anything like this before, I don't know whether I should take traveler's checks or just use my debit card.
Thanks in advance.
cr0w on
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For the driving part of your trip, i suggest taking along plenty of music and maybe even some audio books for those late nights when you might drift off. Listening to a story requires you to pay attention a bit more then plain old music. Some snacks and drinks that can easily be handled while driving so you can limit your stops and save time. I also would suggest getting a CB radio installed in your car. You can get a magnetic mount antenna so you wont have to do anything permanent to your vehicle. They are great to find out about speed traps, local information like places to stop, or to just simply pass the time talking with nearby truckers. You cant forget about a good GPS unit. I have both a CB and a GPS in my truck and find them to be extremely helpfull. And last but not least, i have both an atlas of North America and a guide to every truck stop in the U.S. That truck stop guide is nice to have if your looking for a rest room and dont feel like dropping your pants behind a bush on the side of the road.
As for camping off the top of my head, this is what i would take.
tent
sleeping bag
cooler for food storage
cooking gear
good knife
axe / hatchet for cutting fire wood (make sure to check on the laws for camp fires in state parks.)
fishing gear
rope (can also be used for for a clothes line)
toilet paper
towel
good pair of gloves
boots
one of those portable shower stalls where you can collect rain water or something and then heat it over your camp fire
I know this is a lot of stuff to haul but i'm just thinking what i would take if i were you and i happen to drive a extended cab truck with an eight foot bed. Revise as needed for your own needs.
EDIT: I would also like to 2nd what the above two posters have suggested. You should really have a credit card in case that happens. As for the friend tagging along, it could be a good idea but i also understand the need to do something on your own.
There are deeper reasons than just wanting to do something on my own, but that's really the root of it. I'm 28 years old and am still stuck in the same position I was when I was 16. I just need to get out and do something and be by myself for a while. It's a cliche, I know, but maybe I'll find something out there that convinces me it's a good thing to wake up in the morning. Having these plans has given me a goal, and that's already done wonders for my state of mind. Now I just need to do it so I'll have some confidence in myself. Like I said, it's more than a road trip to me, so I might just need to go it alone.
this, or even a portable if you don't want one permanently installed
I know it may seem like a very strange thing to do, but when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone signal it's nice to have an alternate way to call for help
But if you do get a portable, be sure to get one with an external antenna port and hook it up to a roof mounted magnetic mounted antenna. I have a set of hand held radios and their range is crap compared to my dash mounted cobra radio with an antenna mounted on the roof.
EDIT: channel #9 is for emergency use. I don't know what the policy from town to town is but i have seen road side signs that say "police monitor CB channel 9"
And even you've already mentioned that you're just going to take a peek at Vegas and not do any gambling or partying, I still recommend going inside a few of the nice casinos, try out a little gambling, and maybe check out a buffet.
I plan on doing a road trip or a back pack trip through Europe next year after I graduate, and I'm brainstorming where I should go.
Sounds like fun.
As for camping gear, I would take:
tent
multi-tool knife
sleeping bag + pillow
bottles of water
towel
I'm going to guess you're not actually going to camp for the sake of camping, but just to grab some sleep. So I wouldn't pack too much camping equipment. And you'll probably be eating at restaurants instead of cooking your own food, so just some non-perishable foods to carry around with you will be good.
edit: and hey! Houston to Grand Canyon. I'm live there and I did that before. Oh my god going through West Texas made me die from boredom. What do you plan on doing in Grand Canyon? How detailed is your plan? Do you want to do the touristy stuff in the south rim or get away to the north rim away from society? there is a ton of stuff in the Grand canyon. You don't just stop by and see it. People can spend a season in there with so much to do.
Really? I never did understand the attraction there. I mean, hey here's a giant hole in the ground. YAY...? Guess this explains why people actually go there.
I try and go on a trip at least once a year, and find that it definitely helps sort things out, clear my mind, and help me relax. So congrats on making this happen. If you don't have anyone going with you, at least leave an itinerary with the places you're staying, and a timeline.
Camping...basically just to sleep and enjoy the time by myself, relax and whatnot. I may hike, depending on how I feel when I get up in the morning. Like I said, I'm not going with any timeline, I'm just packing up and driving. I'll figure out what I want to do on the fly. If I hit a place that I feel I need to spend time in, I'll do just that. The Grand Canyon is one place I plan on spending a bit of time at, I'll probably be heading to the north rim, assuming it's open.
I'm not going to be doing any serious camping, but being that I don't know how long I'll be at any particular stop or on the road in general, I'll probably pack more than I need.
I recommend picking up some jugs of water (same container as a gallon of milk). You could easily find them for $1 a piece. Pack 5 or 6 of them and you've got water for drinking, hobo shower, boiling water for tea/cider/meals, cleaning your cooking gear, or any other uses. Fill them up whenever you get a chance at a campsite (clean drinking water only, though). I've also seen small propane grills at Target on clearance for $9. I've used one for camping, and compared to my $100 Jetboil, it's much better for cooking a big meal. Will heat up any meal in just a couple of minutes. Stews, soup, canned pasta, pretty much anything you want.
Water>Food>Shelter. If you've got those covered, you're good.
Re: Audio books. I'm going to be bringing a lot of music, but audio books I can't do. The droning on of someone's voice puts me to sleep, and I sure don't want that.
Um, if there's any tips I remember I'll post more. That should cover you for what you're doing
I'm leaving this Friday morning with my brother, whose schedule opened up so he can go along with me. I'm going to be leaving Houston and we're going to drive in shifts until we reach Roswell, NM, where we'll sample the local alien flavor before driving on to the Grand Canyon. Once we get there, we're going to set up camp at one of their campgrounds for two or three days, and after that we're heading south through Sedona on our way back to Texas, stopping at El Paso and then heading back into Houston. We'll have about $1500 to play with while we're out.
I have to be back by the 8th, because I just got a job offer I can't refuse that starts on the 9th. I have a good amount of time to do what we want, and I'm incredibly excited about it. Thanks again for all the advice guys, it really helped.
Kick ass. Remember that in the desert it can get very cold at night, even if the daytime is warm. Get a good sleeping bag, some blankets, and build a fire. Nothing sucks more than sleeping when you're cold and having to drive the next day.
I actually worked at work on Saturday. Also I went out on a date with a real life girl.
Can you like, permanently break the forums?
The best road trip I ever went on was one hatched two nights before or something; some friends decided we would all meet up at joshua tree to camp. Only, the weather was terrible by the time we all met up in L.A., so we decided to turn left and head for vegas. The entire week was basically a complete train wreck, but we all had a blast.
I do not necessarily recommend replicating the white knuckled 'oh fuck do we have enough gas' roll across nevada (cause fuck gas prices in whatever that last little shithole town is), but those are the sorts of things you remember.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
I know what temps we're looking at.
I actually worked at work on Saturday. Also I went out on a date with a real life girl.
Can you like, permanently break the forums?