First Roadtrip

[Azraelz]

Hello, My name is Thomas. I have been trolling this forum for a while.
I read On the Road halfway through my senior year, which I am almost done with. It has inspired me to go out and roadtrip by myself, before I go off to college from san antonio texas my hometown, to college in Iowa. I will be turning 19 on my roadtrip if I do it.

I do not have ideas yet on where I would like to go, but some are popping up. I would like to go from coast to coast, but do now know where I should start,
From San Antonio, to california, to florida? i dont quite know yet, but i would like to hear from someone who has taken a trek like this before.

I would like to do this roadtrip alone so I can meet new people, see what America really is, and learn more about myself. And I cant do that here in Texas, where its a single mind.

So, where do I start.

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

One of the hallmarks of this site is that there are no boring places, and I would really encourage you to think that way about your trip - including your starting point. If you really think that people in your hometown think with one mind and you can't find the differences there, you're going to have a hard time finding them as you get out on the road. Traveling is a very worthwhile thing to do, but it doesn't magically open doors of perspective either.

I'd also keep that in mind as you decide where you want to go. You can find great and different things everywhere. No one else will ever be able to tell you where you should head, just go with your gut and see what the you find.

[Azraelz]

I Dont think they are one minded, Its just that the people that I am around, in ym school, not at work or people who come into my work and I talk to, i would like to just get out and travel, go camping and just see america.

Ive already put down some places i would like to go, and i would love for people to add more recomendations.

Road trip Planner

http://www.tripwiser.com/trip_planne...209daf2ad26dfa

[Midwest Michael]

I think you missed the point. What I'm saying is that if your goal is to go out and meet people and find "what america really is" then it makes a lot of sense to start local. Its easy to give up on an area that you are familiar with and say there is "a single mind" but if you can't find people with different perspectives beyond your own work/school situation while you are in your own hometown in a place where you are most comfortable, then how are you going to be able to do it out on the road in a place you've never been?

That doesn't mean you shouldn't travel and get on the road, but it is something to think about when you have the goals that you have stated.

[PNW Judy]

While I agree with what Michael is saying, it's possible you need to get "out there" to appreciate what you have "here" at home.

I think you've picked out some great destinations.

One of the major issues you need to do now are determining your budget, and if you have enough to do this trip. Check out this post for how to eat good while saving money on the road. At the top of that post is a link to a post about budgeting. Check it out and play with the numbers. Obviously, it's pretty important to know if you can afford this trip or not. You can always share your budget here and we can help you figure out if it will work or not.

You will also need a dependable car. Make sure you have a good, trust-worthy mechanic check out your car. Let them know you're planning on a long road trip so they can suggest upcoming maintenance items you'll need to take care of before you leave. And don't forget to ensure you have safe tires.

Once you've gotten these things taken care of, then you can start planning your route in earnest. You may discover you don't have the money to go coast-to-coast. That's OK. The places you've chosen are all west of you and will make a great trip. Do a circular route so you can avoid re-driving on the same roads. I prefer new roads whenever possible myself.

There are a lot of posts here at RTA about the places you're planning on going. Do a search, read around, do some route planning with a paper or online map, and then come on back here so we can help you tweak your route and offer other suggestions to help you have a great trip.

I'll just throw out another suggestion...and this might be especially helpful if you find that you can't afford the trip you're dreaming about. Why not make your trip to college in the fall your roadtrip? You can meander a bit while going north, take in some other sights, and still see a new part of the country, and meet new people.

Happy planning!