Well, not strictly rainbow related, but I'm most likely going to be driving to Colorado with my boyfriend (and someone else if anyone needs a ride).. but I'm wondering if maybe I should just try to find a ride with someone who is going that way from here........ because I haven't really driven very far.. Is it insanely hard driving through cities, or on busy interstates...... should I try to avoid the cities if I drive? Any tips for first time distance drivers (I've been driving since I was 16, had my license since I was 18, and had one minor accident... I'm not a "bad" driver, just inexperienced) The furtherest I've ever driven would be like Richmond which is 3 hours from me.... nothing like 20some hours.. I don't get lost easily and am good with one way streets, if that helps anything. All tips would be greatly appreciated.. I'd give anything to be able to just get in the car and drive and not be a nervous wreck, I've always admired those people..
a walmart atlas for 4 or 5 dollars, believe it or not is the first thing i get. you can always go walmart camping for free, and you are safe. just bring some blinder for the lights. i dont like to drive more than 8 hours, and with the kids i have to stop every 100 miles for potty breaks. interstate driving is less personal but alot faster than highways.
I already have an atlas, and looking at it doesn't seem toooo hard, it's sort of looks like I have to take I-64 and then I-70... but then I realize it doesn't look hard on paper and I get discouraged !! I worry about things like 6 lanes of interstate and interchanges and toll roads ! I can do this....I think
I just made the trip from VA to Missouri... I-64 is great most of the time -- seriously, most of the time you can only see one or two other cars on the road with you except when it joins up with another highway for a bit. Make sure to get cash, as you'll have to stop at a couple of toll booths in WVa ($1.25 each). Take it slow and stay in a middle land through Charleston and Louisville so that you have plenty of time to get to the right or left lane as needed when other highways split off. But, compared to a lot of cities, they're really easy to get thru. For St. Louis, I suggest taking the loop around the city -- look it up on a map, but I'd suggest taking 255 south if you can, I think that's probably easier than the northern half of the loop, which becomes 270 at some point to the north. Again, just take your time in a slow lane. If you can get thru St. Louis after 6:30 pm or so, that's probably easiest, definitely don't do it between 3-6pm or whenever morning rush hour is!!! Once you're on I-70, traffic is a bit heavier, but not that bad. Sorry, I can't say much about getting around Kansas City, but that's the last big city before you get to Colorado. As for getting through, having someone there to talk to you and possibly take turns with you is a HUGE help. But definitely take breaks every couple of hours, don't push it any further than you feel safe driving. I usually break down the 14 hour drive from VA to MO into two days driving alone. I don't think it's that hard to deal with busy interstates -- just stay focused, stay sober (I know a lot of people like to smoke pot while driving, but that's just stupid at 70mph). Oh, and there is a decent rest area in WVa that I've stopped at... But once you're west of Charleston, I recommend stopping at truck stops rather than rest areas if at all possible. I would piss on the side of the road for all the passing traffic to see before using a rest area in MO -- they're that damn nasty!
a small suggestion, but here it is. take your time and enjoy the journey. plan extra time for small side trips to break the monotany of driving. enjoy the culture of america and take the time to soak it up. its not a race from point a to welcome home. let it enrich you
i personally find,, that 10 hours of driving is my limit,,.. an i drive 50,000 miles a year.. that bein said those 10 hours are spread over like 12 to 14.. youll find however once ya get past kansas city on 70,, ya just very well may wanna do a long haul 14 or 16 hour day of driving,, because they aint a whole hell of a lot to look at.. one thing i always loathed is sharing the driving,,.. sure its only 30 hours from richmond to denver,, but if yer takin turns an goin non stop,, it really takes the fun outta it.. i agree with merlin for the most part,, just take it slow an easy an enjoy,,.. no reason to get to the gathering all wore out from 35 hours in a car.. as far as St louis an kansas city,, .. definitly would try to slide thru both of them EARLY in the morning before traffic makes them a cluster fuck.. (denver would be the same) hope that helps.. love n light..
good advice all around , i've driven long distance and when i have time, don't like to go more than 5-7 hours at a stretch before i want to explore wherever i am. personally i try to steer clear of cities so large as to have 6 lanes of traffic, and take my pit stops in smaller all american type towns. most of them are pretty cool. 64 would definitely be the best way out of va. i'm in roanoke and could use a ride, otherwise i'll be hitching from the roo or ripple. depends on getting a ride from tennesee to ohio. wal mart atlases are good because they tell where the walmarts are. and though we might all have opinions on global coorperations (i know i do) they let you rest in their lot if ya get strung out from driving. good luck sis and hope to see ya there
thanks for the link very interesting. fine boycott wal mart. but they let you sleep int here lot if yur tired, plus they'v got greatb prices on prossesed meat
i've driven from VA to CA a couple times, (used to live in NoVA). I-64 to I-70 is the fastest, easiest route. Be forewarned though, I-70 through Kansas (like the hillbilly thar said) is brutal, the most boring flat scenery i've ever seen anywhere........thiers like exits to peoples houses, no joke.
you dont have to shop walmart to camp there. you would be susprized all the cool people we met living at the walmart. i learned about it from some hippies.
shhh.. there the corporate evil ,, with a parking lot.. no shit, in like 1985 i was fucked.. dood that had the ride that i had been ridin with.. pfft.. no serious.. that had to have been a brand new wal mart.. vernal utah.. yeah man hippies have somethin intertwined with wall mart.. luv n light l
