How to Take a Trip Along an Interstate (From One End to the Other)

Be prepared for, what could be, the longest journey in your life. Cross-country trips can last anywhere from a week to a week and a half if travelled for 24 hours a day under a 7 day week period.

Pack enough clothes to prepare you for the trip. You'll be covering a lot of miles, and with those extra miles, you'll be traveling often. Traveling that often, will necessarily mean you'll have to stay at hotels and motels, and changing your clothes often.

Take along a lot of money for the trip. Between all the gas you'll need to obtain to the money you'll need to use for lodging expenses nearby as well as tolls and automobile upkeep while traveling to the destination, a lot of money is needed.

Make sure your perform all necessary maintenance tasks on your vehicle. Check all fluids including the car's oil (in the engine), transmission, power steering and automatic brake fluid (ABS). Make sure your battery is well charged, and that all four of the car's tires have excellent tread on them. Make sure your brake system is well in tune. Check other items in your car, to make sure they work consistently too (steering column.

Know any areas where the specific interstate terminuses are. Decide if you are really ready to travel to the starting gate.

Travel to the starting terminus with your car.

Begin your journey, when you feel that everything is "in control" and everything is set, making sure that all items from the list have been checked off.

Plan to purchase at least one night's worth of lodging at designated stop-off-points, at least one night in advance of your arrival into the town or big city (two nights, if this lodging is in a bigger city).

Pull over every few hours. Bathroom breaks are always needed. Even if the area is just a legal pull-over spot on the side of the road, take this opportunity to rest and stretch your legs.

Travel this interstate and only this interstate until you've reached the other end's terminus of this interstate.

Turn around and head back for your home, once you've reached the other terminus.