female traveling alone, very limited budget

I will be taking my first big road trip in May. I will be leaving the middle of the month and plan to take 2 to 4 weeks on the road. I will be leaving TN heading out west. I would appreciate any suggestions from anyone about places to see, especially local festivals or happenings during the end of May through first of June. I would also greatly appreciate any advice from other females that travel alone. I will be on a very limited budget. I am considering staying at campgrounds along the way. Would this be unsafe? I could use any advice anyone could give me. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for me and I want to make the most of it. Thanks for your help.

I have traveled by myself throughout many parts of the US and have always felt safe. Camping in established campgrounds should be safe. You might feel safer in the more commercial parks like KOA as they tend to be a bit more crowded. While that can be bad if you want solitude, it does make you feel safer. A lot of the national, state, and county parks are also very safe but the tent sites tend to be a bit more secluded making someone alone feel a bit less safe. But they are more beautiful and peaceful. A trade-off. While there may be a few places where service cuts out, I would definitely have a fully-charged cell phone with me at all times. And I would avoid driving in secluded areas and stopping at rest stops after dark. With those precautions, you should have a safe and memorable trip!

I am also planning to take my first road trip in the beginning of june from ct to florida, then to the west coast. i have just started checking out the internet and realizing there are so many other people with similar plans. although i would ideally like to go alone with my camera and my journal and not much else, i am also having reservations about going solo simply for safety reasons. at the same time, it is very difficult to find others who can take the trip with me because most people i know work and can't schedule the time off. i also work, but i am losing my job in may and wanted to take full advantage of that situation. as of now i have very choppy plans to have one person drive to florida with me and my dad (yes... my dad) drive west with me. i'd rather go alone, or with someone with similar agenda. i too would appreciate any advice about helpful websites for female road-trippers etc., and i will be happy to share any that I find along the way. thanks. good luck.

I am also planning to take my first road trip in the beginning of june from ct to florida, then to the west coast. i have just started checking out the internet and realizing there are so many other people with similar plans. although i would ideally like to go alone with my camera and my journal and not much else, i am also having reservations about going solo simply for safety reasons. at the same time, it is very difficult to find others who can take the trip with me because most people i know work and can't schedule the time off. i also work, but i am losing my job in may and wanted to take full advantage of that situation. as of now i have very choppy plans to have one person drive to florida with me and my dad (yes... my dad) drive west with me. i'd rather go alone, or with someone with similar agenda. i too would appreciate any advice about helpful websites for female road-trippers etc., and i will be happy to share any that I find along the way. thanks. good luck.

Erica,

Although far from finished, we have started a solo tripper resource page at http://www.roadtripamerica.com/tips/solo.htm

Losing a job in May seems like the perfect time to hit the road, we started our odyssey on a similar footing (although in our case, the job burned in a wildfire...)

Mark

LISA I ROADTRIPPED WITH MY SON MANY TIMES, I ALWAYS BECAME THE KID WITH HIM AS OPPOSED TO HIS BEING MORE ADULT IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED. HE TELLS ME THAT THOSE TRIPS GAVE HIM WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO HIS SOLO TRIP(S) GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR DAD I DO NOT THINK ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER WE LOVED THEM ALL. KEEP US POSTED GEO.F.

the best advice ican give you is to never pick up anyone
on the road , this is very dangerous even if its a woman.
2- always lock your door
3- if you happen to be in the city ,dont seem to be lost .Try to look like you are one of them.
4- rest areas are good if you plan to take time off, but make sure its well lighted and safe.
5- whenever you stop for gas, always turn car off lock your door and take keys with you .
6- make sure you are familiar with your car, like check to make sure there is engine oil, water coolant, a extra tire so on.
7- join AAA if you have to .
8- cell phone in case of emergencies
9- always plan ahead so you know where you will be.
10- good luck to you

the best advice ican give you is to never pick up anyone
on the road , this is very dangerous even if its a woman.
2- always lock your door
3- if you happen to be in the city ,dont seem to be lost .Try to look like you are one of them.
4- rest areas are good if you plan to take time off, but make sure its well lighted and safe.
5- whenever you stop for gas, always turn car off lock your door and take keys with you .
6- make sure you are familiar with your car, like check to make sure there is engine oil, water coolant, a extra tire so on.
7- join AAA if you have to .
8- cell phone in case of emergencies
9- always plan ahead so you know where you will be.
10- good luck to you

All good advice, but personally I find a little danger is good for the soul. Conventional wisdom has its fans, but I still feel comfortable picking up hitch-hikers. It is possible to meet characters hitch-hiking that one will never meet in other places. A month rarely goes by that I haven't picked up someone thumbing along. Some of them have been dicey -- but what a slice of life!

As much as I agree with our editor most of the time, I have to respectfully diagree this time. One proven law enforcement technique is to stop, question, and make warrant checks on hitchhikers whenever possible and lawful. It has been my experience that about 25% have active, current warrants for their arrest, many for violent felonies. I have not seen any recent studies but one done several years ago in which every hitchiker seen was stopped and checked showed that over 60% of them had either current warrants or a criminal record. I'm sure you can meet characters hitchiking you might not otherwise meet. You can also meet people (and fates) you would never, in your darkest dreams, ever want to meet. Dicey is one thing - deadly is another.

I would agree that it is generally a good policy not to pick up hitch-hikers, but there are always exceptions. Incidently, Megan, (Co-Editor/partner/etc), agrees 110% with you and so I reserve my hitch-hiking encounters to times when I am the solo occupant of the roadtripping vehicle.

I have been lucky, considering the mental state of some of those I have picked up in remote places, perhaps it says something about my own mental state. Risks are inherent (& maybe even vital) to living well.

i'm also a solo female, on a limited budget. My plan is to bring my cell phone with but buy a cigarette-lighter-charger for it. I'll also have a laptop. Whenever i can i will be sending emails and updating a weblog that i have family and friends reading. At least, if they don't here from me they know where i last was and what i was doing. I'm also buying a mace thing for my keychain. I'm also investing in AAA. I'm also planning my days in the youth hostel, inside the tent, or wherever...i don't think it's a good idea to hang out at the gas station pouring over a map.

good luck!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm also planning to drive to the west coast mid-may. Limited budget, yes, campgrounds, yes. My friends think I'm insane and my parents are behind me 100% - I obviously need more adventrous friends. :)

It's very encouraging to hear that I'm not the only one considering this. The Traveling Solo page is much apperciated, thank you Mark.

bunnymonkey, you may want to look into a cigarette lighter-charger for your laptop as well. I've got one, and it's great when you just cant find a normal outlet.

Lisa- I just joined the group and saw your inquiry. I'd strongly suggest the Jackson Hole-teton-Yellowstone area, especially the time of year that you'll be going. We were there 2 years ago over Memorial Day weekend. In Jackson on the Saturday, they have a large cowboy parade through town, followed by the first rodeo of the season. This is also the first Chuckwagon Supper and cowboy music show at the Bar-J Ranch. All of these are "don't miss" experiences. heading north out of Jackson into the Tetons, watch for moose, pronghorn, elk,coyote, and other wildlife. After that, going to Yellowstone is almost an obligation. Right around this weekend, elk cows are giving birth all over the park. And then there are the geysers, paintpots, fumaroles, and all the other geothermal wonders. You'll thank yourself for going.

hey that's a great idea. I didn' t even know you could get laptop chargers for the car.

I have a MSN website that are frequented by many female riders. Also have a listing of events in the MidSouth area and also a Biker Rest and Rescue board with phone numbers, truck trailers place to crash and grab some grub.

http://groups.msn.com/midsouthmotorcycleriders

I also know of a dear sister that went from Florida to California to Oregon and back to Florida all by herself and she has a wealth of knowledge about cross-country riding.

She also will answers question on my MSn board. Good luck with your trip and if you are through memphis..give a hollar.

Well its time again. The gypsy blood in me took over. I should be leaving va. around the end of may to the 2nd week of june. if anybody knows of anything at all(from touristy to things only you know about)from june to sept/oct that i shouldnt miss please email me. eastcoast to westcoast. if anyone wants to hitch, say hey.have fun this summer all.

I have been planning my trip west for months. (Going from Florida to Washington through the southern states). My brother was going to go with me and he bailed out. Here I am now with a yearning to travel and a fear to do so alone. I was planning on camping the whole trip and working along the way. I don't see how this is feasible without someone to travel with.

To any of you adventurous women looking to camp alone that are (for obvious reasons) a bit worried about safety, I have this advice: Camp at National Park Service or Forest Service campgrounds> Many of them hire a person or couple (in my experience, usually a retired couple in an RV) to manage the campground. If I am nervous about my safety I pick a spot near them or next to a family. I notice that they ask if you are alone and keep an eye (and an ear) out for you. When I travel alone I also make sure I have someone back home or at my destination spot that I MUST check in with once a day at the same time. That way they know I'm safe and i know if I don't check in, someone else knows something is amiss. It is scary at times to be solo, but also very rewarding. Be safe, have fun, buy some mace ;)

As a man, you may not understand how vulnerable women (generally speaking) feel. Do you ever hear about a man concerned about his safety when traveling solo?!

Mark ~ Women are so much more vulnerable than men when it comes to safety --- unfortunate but true. (Ever heard of a man who is concerned about his own safety while traveling solo?!) There are plenty of ways to have adventure while still being safe!

Plenty of solo travelers (of both genders) have expressed some concern about doing it the first time. Experience yields both confidence and expertise.

In two weeks I am throwing my clothes and writing stuff into my 1998 VW and driving solo from NY state to Seattle. Any updated advice from women out there who have done this lately? I'm absorbing everything here and getting more nervous, also more excited, all the time.

Solo from NY to Seattle -- Excitement is required. Plenty of good resources here. Have fun!

This is a perfect time of year to be making that drive -- especially if you take a northern route. Be sure to take warm clothes! I've been caught up there (Dakotas and Montana) a couple times in earlier years in September when the temps went suddenly cold (freezing and below) overnight! That was quite a surprise for someone who had just left sunny Phoenix which was still 100+! Keep your wits about you and you'll be fine -- you'll have a wonderful time!

Several people who posted on this list were leaving on road-trips. I was just wondering how the trips went and if anyone is going to do a trip report here. I would love to hear how your trip went.

And I hope all those who were worried about safety, had a great time and realize that they are no less safe on the road than they are in their hometown.

Looking forward to hearing about your trips! Judy