Answer for Safety and Tips - My Long Road Trip!!!?

Question

I would travel by plane but it would cost me a total of $481.90 there and back! To get there in and back in gas would only cost me $360! Do you think it's better to drive or ride on an airplane? I'm traveling from Nashville, TN to Flanders, NJ(Trenton, NJ if flying).

Since I plan on driving(unless someone changes my mind);

~Tell me how to be safe.

~Tell me what things to be aware during the trip(in other people) so that I can be safe.

~Tell me safest places to rest and eat that are still not too expensive.

And please, if you have any additional information for me about safety, or ANYTHING really, just reply here or e-mail me! This is my FIRST road trip! It's 837.86 miles and it's going to take me 13hours and 16 minutes. Also, I'm driving alone! How can I keep myself entertained and awake?! Help!

Answer 1

Having driven from Ames, Iowa to Plano, Tx in a single day and only stopping for food and fuel, I probably covered about the same distance.  I didn't need to stop to rest as badly as I needed to stop to use a restroom.

If you plan to stop to sleep, breaking your journey into two days, the safest thing is going to be motel room, which will probably bring you into about the same price as flying.

If you choose to catch a 20 minute cat-nap in a rest stop, be sure to pick one that has lots of trucks in it.  Truckers are usually a friendly and helpful bunch.  If you're asleep in your car with the windows closed and doors locked, they're going to get in the face of someone trying to get into your car.

I calculated, at 20 mpg, and $3/gallon, about $252 for gas, incidentally.  Unless you're driving something insanely large, and inefficient, you could use the extra $100 you've budgeted for a room both ways if you wanted to stop for the night.

On of the best way to be safe is to make sure your car is ready for the trip.  Check your tires, (making sure that they're at the posted air pressure listed on your driver's door post,) check your enging and transission oil, have your alternator and battery checked, (free at Autozone or O'Reilly,) make sure your spare tire, jack and lug wrench are in good condition and readily accessible.  Make sure you know how to change a tire, add oil or transmission oil.  Carry jumper cables and make sure you know how to use them safely.

As for things to be aware of in other people, don't pick up hitchhiker's for one thing.  

Gas station panhandlers are another thing to be aware of; if they see you've got cash, or know you've got cash, they can become a threat.  Simply claim that you used, or are planning to use, a company credit card and don't have any cash if they ask for money.  

For safety's sake on the drive, it might be best to wear jeans, and carry a man's wallet rather than a purse.  The less you have to show how much cash or how many credit cards you have, the better.  

Clean your car, leave nothing that anyone might want in plain sight.  That means put your bags, presents, whatever in the trunk.  Keep your CD's and Ipod in the glove compartment or center console, locked when you're not in the car.

Eating is fairly cheap along the highway.  There are usually fastfood places in any town.  Truckstops also usually offer food, as well as rolaids, at fairly low prices.  It's a chance to eat and rest all at the same time.

As to how to stay awake, take your ipod, take your favorite CD's, and listen to them.  Take audio books, take anything you enjoy listening to.

Coffee is your friend, so take a thermos and a travel mug.  Most of the truckstops have an inexpensive price for filling both.

Loves and Flying J truckstops, at least in my area, tend to be the best places for food, fuel and bathrooms.  They're not always as competitive for gasoline prices, but it's worth the extra expense and added safety.  

If you feel yourself starting to get tired, find an exit, pull over and walk around until you feel alert enough to get back in the car and head for the next rest area or truck stop.  The bigger chains will be the safest place to snooze for 15-20 minutes.

Your cellphone should have an alarm clock built in, or you can take a battery powered alarm clock with you to keep you from oversleeping.

Enjoy the scenery, drive carefully, and be ready to notice things as you head back to Nashville that you hadn't noticed on the way to Flanders.

Add an additional few hours into your travel time budget for resting, fueling up and eating.  Have a good trip.

D

Answer 2

please get some sleep and please dont fall asleep while driving. you dont wanna end up getting airlifted like me and my car in 3

and umm dont eat too much to be superfull cause this causes you to be sleepy ,so when you drive to keep you awake , eat something like sunflower seeds and sing

just pay the extra 120 its safer and faster .alot less tireing too

Answer 3

If you have been to Trenton after dark you are one brave soul to go alone fly it is a lot safer

Answer 4

your gonna drive 13 hours to save 120 dollars???? no way take the airplane and get there in a couple hours..

Answer 5

If you are dead-set on driving, take a friend with you and split the driving up. Not only will it be easier, you'll have someone to talk to and help navigate for you.

Beyond that, make sure your car is in proper order in every area. The usual oil change, tune-up, and tire rotation are good things to do before going.