Have you slept at Rest Areas (trips, motel, budget, buses)

[Sixx Foot Three]

Originally Posted by lchoro

If you stop at local motels in small towns along your route, you should be able to keep your costs very low ($15-25). I stayed at places in California and Arkansas that were charging 10-15 dollars a night when I was driving cross-country. You may have to drive a couple of miles off of I-40 or I-10.

Thanks for the tip ichoro.......

6/3

[Sixx Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Karla with a K

6/3
you left right after I moved here (92) you will not believe the changes and growth. I think you will be pleasantly surprised
I know you said you want to drive but between the hotels(do you really want to sleep in a rest stop)and gas it might be cheaper to fly check southwest. they fly out from Albuquerque, NM is that near where you are. depending on when you fly they had internet specials from $99

I don't know if you spend much time on the jax forum but maybe some of of us regulars
can all meet up with you for oh I don't know Pizza lol

Karla.....At that time of year during the holidays it will probably a nightmare flying as it's bad already. Another thing is even though i'll be pushing it i love to drive cross country and see the other cities. Can't wait to see San Antonio and the HUGE Skyscrapers in Houston. Going over the HUGE bridge over the Mississippi river is cool (reminds me of Huck Finn..lol..) and going thru the Tunnel under the bay in Mobile, Alabama and of course seeing Tallahassee where we always went to go see FSU play (beat the Gators) etc...So as you can see even though i'm not playing tourist along the way i still enjoy going thru the cities on Interstate-10.

Pizza sounds great although i really miss the Barbecue. It's strange but when i moved away now for 13 years i miss everyday things like shopping at Winn Dixie and going over the HUGE Mathews and Dames Point Bridges and hanging out at Regency Square Mall and seeing the Cargo Ships moving along in the St.Johns river etc... I do listen to the Jax radio stations online at times i.e. the Point 102.9 (80's) and Rock 105 (classic rock).

Anyway thanks again.....6/3 (harry)

[Magnum Mike]

I wouldn't say I slept in rest areas, but I have taken a nap one time alongside Interstate 10 coming back to Phoenix from Houston in September of 1984. It was at night, and the stretch from San Antonio to El Paso is considered to be out in the middle of nowhere. I drove through there to Houston during the day, but drove back on that stretch at night. I stopped in one of those little towns along the interstate, you can pass in the blink of an eye. I stopped in the parking lot of a coffee shop, and the only reason I stopped was because it was pouring buckets of rain, so I pulled off the interstate around 1:00 AM or so and I took an hour nap in my car until the rain diminished. Before driving again, I went into the coffee shop and grabbed a little snack and a cup of coffee and I was on my way again, and I made it to Phoenix in the late afternoon.

Just use common sense, if you want to sleep in the truck, lock your doors. Also pick a rest area that sees a lot of traffic, and if possible, take a firearm with you just in case you need something to defend yourself with. If you're going to take a gun with you, make sure the state you'll be driving through allows you to carry a weapon. I know you're not allowed to carry a loaded weapon in Texas, unless it's encased, and away from the front seat.

[KwaK]

harry
it sounds like a fun trip
it has been years since I did a cross country road trip (pa to co)

let us know if your going to be out this way

[Sixx Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I wouldn't say I slept in rest areas, but I have taken a nap one time alongside Interstate 10 coming back to Phoenix from Houston in September of 1984. It was at night, and the stretch from San Antonio to El Paso is considered to be out in the middle of nowhere. I drove through there to Houston during the day, but drove back on that stretch at night. I stopped in one of those little towns along the interstate, you can pass in the blink of an eye. I stopped in the parking lot of a coffee shop, and the only reason I stopped was because it was pouring buckets of rain, so I pulled off the interstate around 1:00 AM or so and I took an hour nap in my car until the rain diminished. Before driving again, I went into the coffee shop and grabbed a little snack and a cup of coffee and I was on my way again, and I made it to Phoenix in the late afternoon.

Just use common sense, if you want to sleep in the truck, lock your doors. Also pick a rest area that sees a lot of traffic, and if possible, take a firearm with you just in case you need something to defend yourself with. If you're going to take a gun with you, make sure the state you'll be driving through allows you to carry a weapon. I know you're not allowed to carry a loaded weapon in Texas, unless it's encased, and away from the front seat.

Thanks mike and Rock n Roll dude !!

[Sixx Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Karla with a K

let us know if your going to be out this way

You betcha Karla....

[Crew Chief]

Most travel plazas (they're trying to get away from the "truck stop" label...) have well-lit, patrolled car parking at the front of the building. (I'd stay out of the big truck lot with your pick-em-up because they might think you're a LOT LIZARD... ("Lot Lizard" refers to pretty much anybody in the truck parking area that is not a trucker or with related to a trucker there; not just the "commercial company") Parking in rest areas, as others have noted, is a mixed bag. if all of the car spaces are taken, move on to the next rest area/travel plaza or motel. Many states ticket vehicles parked on the shoulders of rest areas. Have a great trip!

[foma]

If you've ever seen the movie "There's Something About Mary", then you know never, never ... NEVER stop at rest stops!

I see truckers do it all the time ... I would say if you are going to do that, use common sense and stop at one of the trucker-type rest stops so at least there are other people around. Don't just stop for the night at some obscure, dark, desolate-looking stop!

[foma]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I wouldn't say I slept in rest areas, but I have taken a nap one time alongside Interstate 10 coming back to Phoenix from Houston in September of 1984. It was at night, and the stretch from San Antonio to El Paso is considered to be out in the middle of nowhere.

I totally know what you're talking about Mike! We took that very same trip earlier this year when moving to PHX. Man, the speed limit is like 85mph headin' to El Paso. The funny thing was, I was so scared we were gonna run out of gas, that I'd stop for gas at every other station. Besides the highway and a few stores/gas stations, it's a pretty barren stretch! We drove during the day ... I probably would've been very uncomfortable d riving at night!

[Sixx Foot Three]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

Have a great trip!

Thanks Crew Chief !!