Help advice to drive across country by myself...?

Frank M.

bring extra money and snacks. make them go to the restroom and take care of business when you stop or they will be wanting to go when you're driving which can make you lose time. take stuff for the kids to do. also never pick up hitchhikers NEVER! also take a map just in case. I think that covers about everything. good luck.

cub6265

Relax and enjoy the country with the kids. Stop when needed, and do not make it a contest to decrease driving time. Without a time pressure, less stress is created.
If you do not feel safe in a certain area, listen to your instincts and do not make a stop until you reach a safer destination. Good luck and have a good time!

navigate100

Invariably, use common sense. I would ask those close to me whom I trust and have exhibited good reasoning ability and decision making. There are too many variables to answer this question outright. You might have a checklist to make sure you are equipped with everything you will need on the way. Always have contingent plans and allow for mishaps or problems to arise...they will. Make sure you have access to cash and someone to watch for your safety. Hopefully you have someone you can trust at the beginning and end of your destination. It depends on where you are starting and ending. It depends on why you are driving and taking risks with two 6 year old children on a long journey without another adult to accompany you on your trip. Is this trip one way or temporary? All of these considerations are important and change the methodology of your drive. Make sure you have the resources to do this without getting yourself in trouble. You really should try to have another adult go with you. I am a male and wouldn't think twice of doing it myself; however, even I wouldn't make the trip alone with two children. Anything can happen...anything! Be careful and thoughtful.

Dee Dee

Invest in a GPS device. You will want it.

shade tree mech

Are you moving or trip??.
You should check your roads on the map ahead of you so you can plan your fuel and lunch breaks.

Have your car checked out and fluids topped up Have a good spare for the car and trailer and a good jack.

Also you will travel much farther than you will believe each day because you have not done it before .
600 miles is not too much at 60mph on Interstates its only 10 hours.

If your moving I would stick to the Interstates and use truckstops { the parking lots are bigger and you have room to turn around and parking is easier}
and one big thing if you need help it's not too far away.

Don't try to do the speed limit on hills it will kill your car just try to keep it going steady.

The trailer you are going to use should have a total check like tires and tie downs and the hitch and lights .

In Canada we have ownerships for our trailers so you should have that too and ask your insurance if you are covered with a trailer??

Have water and snacks { dry not sticky }in the car and blankets to cover them when they get sleepy.
A pail and basin is handy in case someone gets sick and don't forget gravol { motion sickness pills } to keep nausea away.
And a little something to play with in their seats cause mom's busy ok.
I just looked at everybodies answers and it looks like you got a lot of good advice .
Good luck and have a good trip.

terrellfastball

Carry no more cash than you need per day. Debit card is good, Traveler's checks also good. Get them at the bank in $100 amounts, if lost you can get them replaced and not be out money. Just sign and get change for the day. Divide them up and keep in two or three places, if you lose your purse, you still have some. If a bag gets stolen, you still have some. BE SURE TO RECORD THE NUMBERS BY GROUP, so if some stolen you know which ones to report. ie., group one- purse numbers xxxxx01 to 08. group two, suitcase, xxx09 to xxxx15. Copy of list with each stash, be sure emergency phone number is on each list.

Keep in mind a trailer will really raise the amount of fuel you will use. Figure double.

Plan on a long trip. Speeds over about 60 will really consume fuel, especially with a trailer. Keep it to about 65, many of the company owned big trucks are governed there. A good steady pace and economical.

Try to get past major cities in off-peak times. If you are going to hit at rush hour, take a break. You don't need to add heavy traffic to your worries. This is in your planning, but may still raise it's head.

Don't try to over-extend your daily legs, you can't drive 1000 miles a day safely. Figure 400, will take about 12 hours with stops to play and sight-see.

Make sure your vehicle is ready. Have it checked and get all things corrected.
Special attention to tires and tire pressure. Be sure you have a good spare, not one of those donut things.

Got an atlas? Go to Wal-Mart if not. Their atlas should have a table of WalMart locations in the back, showing auto service locations in case you need one. Work can be warrentied at all locations. Also, you can usually depend on finding other things you may need for the youngsters, such as handi-wipes and snacks.

Plan the entire trip. Daily legs, nightly stops. Check fuel prices online to get an idea of where you can fill cheapest. Get what you need to get to these areas, then stuff the tank.

Allow plenty of time. Those youngsters will get restless, stopping at rest areas to allow play time will make the drive more enjoyable as they sleep. Check state online tourism sites and the atlas to look for things to do along the way. Picnics at stops will reduce costs and give youngsters more time to stretch and tire. Rest areas are blue dots or picnic tables on map pages, attractions usually red squares.

NO SUGAR SNACKS FOR THE KIDS. KEEP THEIR SUGAR INTAKE DOWN TO PREVENT RESTLESSNESS. You can get fresh fruit and cracker snacks, avoid sweet juices and sodas. Colored pencils, not crayolas, not markers! They don't mar the fabric as easily, nor melt in a closed car. Plenty of DVDs if you have a player.

Stop only where well-lighted. If you feel uncomfortable about a location, leave yesterday. Trust your feelings. With a trailer, try to use only parking spaces you can pull through, backing really raises accident risk.

thud.fan

I would do just about anything to avoid pulling a trailer, especially if I've never done so or haven't in a while...Hire a moving company to move your stuff (I've had great experiences with United Van lines...Moved from CA to GA then back again for about a dollar a pound - well worth it).

The key is preparation...Make sure your vehicle is in good condition, especially tires, brakes and engine...Map your route in advance - know where you want to eat, get fuel, sleep...Travel only during daylight hours - no travel after supper...Make sure you have someone who can keep track of and check in on you from time to time...Give yourself plenty of time and allow for delays due to roadwork, mishaps or detours...Get a motel every nite - the best you can afford...Think safety and security before anything else.

Have a great trip

MadGunner

Take alot of water

Wangsta

Bring extra money for gas

bungee

don't try to drive more than 500 miles per day. the trailer should be no extra problem just don't forget to turn a little wider than normal. you are going to have your hands full with your children. be careful

sweetaimers21

i did this last may. i drove from georgia to minnesota with my 3 year old and my younger sister and her boyfriend (who could be considered kids since they had no life experience) with a trailer. bring extra money. only stop if you are tired and try to make the bathroom breaks the same time as the food stops so that you make better timing by stopping less frequently. our experience was a little bad. first it was 90 degrees and a semi carrying those cages of chickens crashed. there were chicken parts all over the highway and traffic was backed up for over an hour. we finally got out of that mess and got on a road that didnt have an exit for 15 miles and we blew a tire. we had to drive on the side of the road 20 miles an hour till we got to the exit and stop at a gas station to find a tire place. i didnt have money so i had to write a bad check (wich i had to pay later). hopefully nothing like that will happen on your trip but if you bring extra money just in case and plan for extra time in case something happens. make sure you have a cell phone, even if its prepaid, bring jumper cables (maybe an auto safety kit would be good) and for the kids, bring coloring books and travel games. i made my daughter a mixed cd with all her favorite songs so when she got bored she we played her cd. if you have a portable dvd player that will be great. hope that helps.

also, bring a map. plan the trip ahead of time and highlight the roads you will be taking so you know exactly what exits to take. and if you go to mapquest or a like website that tells you how many miles you are on each road before you turn or exit... it makes it alot less stressful cause you dont have to worry about whether you passed your exit. and if you do get lost stop and ask for directions but make sure its a busy area that feels safe. if you get too tired stop and get a hotel if you dont feel you can drive anymore.

UCANTCME

Road trips are so much fun, I'd hate to think someone was thinking of not going for fear of personal safety.

You know, it would be 100% safer if there were two of you. Even two women are MUCH safer than a single woman.

I think if it was me I would just try to stay out of bad-looking neighborhoods, stay in well-lit areas at night, etc. Lots of people your age travel all over!

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