I am interesting in hitch hiking from Boston to California this summer. Any Tips?

Question

I am a high school student and I want to go on a sort of self discovery trip ending up at Yosemite National Park. Has anyone done anything similar to this?

Answer 1

People used to do that kind of stuff a lot.  That was a different, and safer, day and age.  I would seriously advise against hitchhiking.

Answer 2

Self discovery is about listening to your self and growing.  Times may be safer now, they may not be.  maybe you'll be lonely a lot, maybe you won't be.  The predictability, convenience, comfort and ease of the lifestyle that we have entered into has.....enjoy your life's adventures, they are yours.  Don't listen to others just be aware that they exist.   what you give is what you get.

Answer 3

I'm now an old guy and did something similar in the late 60's.

As`a father now, I say it's not worth the risk, do something different..........I had many things happen that I haven't forgotten and most of them were good.

       Remember this.......You meet one kook out of a thousand in your everyday life. When you're hitchhikiing, one in 10 is some sort of a kook.....Most people are great but I'd be real leery of doing it now...There are a lot of ugly men out there who would love to get you in their car and they WILL stop for you....A lot of the time you'll kill for someone to stop and your guard will be down.......It's an extremely risky endeavor and not worth the chance especially by yourself. You MIGHT have a shot if a buddy goes with you.

         I remember having to jump out of a car at a stop light in St. Louis because I could tell the guy that picked me up was beyond wierd............I ended up in my travels being ok and the memories have lasted a long time..........Things were different then. I'd really be hesitant to do it in this day and age.

        A bus trip is reasonable and you get to see some of the country..........Come up with some dough and do that. It'll be a  experience and the chances of putting your life on the line will diminish............I understand what you want to do but you have to look at the bad part of it also........Be smart, be safe and have fun.

Answer 4

A very romantic notion... but a not so romantic reality.  You're going to be lonely a lot of the time, traveling and bunking up alone.  And if you're hitchhiking, you're going to be spending most of your trip in the passenger seats of strangers' cars... with strange people in them.   You're also going to need money unless you plan on sleeping under the highway.  For food, transportation, etc.  

Why not get some friends together and all fly to Yosemite together instead?