Quote Originally Posted by slbphd View Post
I do have a cell phone, just not the fancy kind with internet. That's why I was thinking of a cb, so I could hear about any problems on the road.

Are there best times to travel/drive? Or on a trip like this it doesn't make a difference?
While a CB would be better to alert you to sudden problems up the road due to accidents, etc., you might also want to visit the websites for the DOT's for the various states you're driving through and jot down their information phone numbers. Many also use 511 as the number to call, but not all. You could call in the morning, or on breaks during the day, if you want to check the status of the roads you'll be driving over the next day or few hours.

This is one reason why some advocate having a CB. If it's something you think you'll use and enjoy, there's no reason not to get one.

Time to drive? I think a lot of this just depends on what time of day you prefer driving. Me? I like getting up early and getting started, preferably no later than 7am, preferably by 6am. I generally don't stop until close to sunset. I prefer a longer day with a lot of time for longer stops along the way. Just do what feels comfortable to you.

However, I do adjust this based on the sun. Here's what I mean...when heading east, and if I'm driving on a road traveling due east and it's nice weather with a strong sun, I might leave a bit later until the sun is a bit higher in the sky so I'm not blinded by the direct rays. (If heading west, and the road is heading due west, just the opposite. I'll try to not be on the highway when the sun is setting.) Sometimes this means just a short window, maybe 30 minutes, where driving is a witch so I'll just pull over for a quick break. I just hate driving blinded.

Here's another tip...if you are staying in a bigger town or a city where traffic congestion might be an issue in the morning, stay on the east side of the city (since you're traveling east). Those going west should stay on the west side. This way when commuters are driving into the city for work, you'll be driving out of the city and, thus, should avoid the worst of the congestion. Don't be driving into any major city in the morning if you can help it!