Winter drive from Connecticut to JBLM Seattle Washington

[CalOldBlue]

The only apps I really, really like when we travel, are TripAdvisor, and GasBuddy. The latter helps me find out what the gas/fuel prices are in various places, so we can plan fuel stops to take advantage of "better deals". Still, we've been known to see a sign at an exit and immediately get off, though we hadn't planned on fuel there, if the price was better. TripAdvisor is good for both lodging reviews/prices, and food reviews/prices. For reviews - if one person had a bad experience and the rest of the reviews were good, we go.


Donna

One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

[Hceballos]

Kids these days....... Rand McNally Road Atlas and hard copy maps are still my favorite.
And they always work, regardless of cell service.

The hilighter that I applied to the pages of my paper maps tracing my cross-country motorcycle trip in 1983 (post-Navy service celebration trip) is still legible. Try THAT with your fancy computer files......

Love it. I agree technology however advance it is, but it has somehow made more ignorant. I will look into a hardcopy map. Thank you.

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One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

Thank you. That is a great suggestion, with covid and reduced limited seating it will be a shame to be turned away due to no reservations. Thanks

[Hceballos]

Although you are not so good with technology, I highly recommend that you download the free app called iExit. I’ve found it to be very helpful even on short trips.

You select your state, highway and direction. You can then scroll through a list of every exit, including rest areas. I find THAT very helpful.

Select an exit and you will see a sorted list of gas stations, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other places of interest. Sometimes a special hotel rate will appear. I believe this app is sponsored by one of the free travel booklets you get at the rest areas.

I also find it helpful to have a travel app such as WAZE. They can sometimes reroute you around accidents, construction etc. If not, they can at least show you how far ahead the congestion continues. KNOWING you have a three mile backup is much less trying on the nerves than NOT knowing! Also, pack an “emergency” snack box to be opened only during such delays. Some snacks, a bottle of water and maybe a tuna lunch kit will make such delays much more bearable.

And whatever you drive, make sure you have a good set of all weather tires.

Have a safe trip.

Thank you very much 😊 we have a little pantry on our car just in case. I will be video taping our trip and share it in case anyone wants to see it. Thanks again.

[BillyGr]

One other app I use from time to time is Opentable to make restaurant reservations, primarily to make sure I have a place to eat when I get to a stopping place.

Selection is limited and tends toward high-end places, but not always. As a test, I just checked dinner in Fargo, ND at 7pm today; it came up with a few openings, including 5 or 6 in Fargo and some more in the surrounding area.

Thank you. That is a great suggestion, with covid and reduced limited seating it will be a shame to be turned away due to no reservations. Thanks

You may find that there are other places not showing up on these type of services, as some places stopped doing reservations with the more limited capacities available, as that way they weren't holding a spot for someone who didn't show up while turning away people who were there due to what looked like lack of space.