I'm going to need some advice

[Corso]

So tomorrow morning I'm driving from El Paso to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Going to start a new life. Unfortunately.

29 hour drive not including stops.
I have barely ever done half that trip as a driver.

Does anyone have any good tips for this trip?
I sure could use some. I can use some help right now guys.

 

[nobody]

Sorry to hear you're struggling man. Find free places to park and sleep if you can't afford a motel. Don't drive more than 10 driving hours in a day for your own safety. You can do more but it's a pain. Plan out the route in advance and find gas stations you prefer using along the way.

Even 10 driving hours as opposed to travel hours can be pushing it for someone not used to it. pace yourself.

 

[Corso]

Sorry to hear you're struggling man. Find free places to park and sleep if you can't afford a motel. Don't drive more than 10 driving hours in a day for your own safety. You can do more but it's a *****. Plan out the route in advance and find gas stations you prefer using along the way.

Thank you so much! Money is not an issue. This is just kind of new to me. All I want to do is make it there safe.

 

[Tabascocat]

I’ve driven from Cali to Texas many times and from Seattle to Maine twice. Even driven to NC from Texas a few times. Take your time and see some tourist traps to rest your legs from driving. If in no hurry, keep it around 300-400 miles a day. Maybe spend a night in Biloxi and gamble a bit if that’s your thing.

Best advice I can give is plan the most scenic route. There isn’t much you can do out of El Paso along the I10 through West Texas but you can go kind of North and go across at a higher route. I would go up to Amarillo then go through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee then on to NC. It is a dreadful trip taking the 10 straight from El Paso…..done that at least 20 times.

If any specific questions, feel free to ask me. We travel(drive mostly) all over the country checking on our various businesses. Anywhere along the I10 from New Mexico to Georgia is terribly mundane.

Also, make sure your car is good to go. Get an oil change and maybe even flush the radiator…..it is very hot in the South. Check the tires to make sure the tread is fine.

 

[VaqueroTD]

The drive from El Paso to Dallas/Houston and some of the Deep South areas will be the sketchy or remote areas with no pit stops. Been a while since I’ve done the east west thing, but I believe you have two options the I-10 route through more of southern coastal areas (Houston, New Orleans), and the I-20 route through more of the Central Plains or Northern Deep South areas (Dallas, Jackson). You’ll probably end up in the ATL regardless as you go towards the Carolinas.

Like T said, stopping at Southern casinos is probably your biggest highlight unless you want to veer by the new stadium in Dallas. New Orleans is probably most recommended stop along that way to see something ’out of the norm’ although there are interesting little unique towns all throughout Texas. Atlanta is another good stop if on your route. Stop by a Hattie B’s for the best quick order of fried chicken from any franchise joint. Another cool slightly out of way place but still close to your route is Asheville, North Carolina. IF your route takes you that way, look for the Blue Ridge Parkway if driving in the day. The most scenic route available. Looks like you can also do the I-30 and I-40 route going to NC. Memphis, Nashville and some cool places along the way. Local food recommendations, depending on route - search online for best in that area: Texas, good steak or TexMex place… Louisiana, good Cajun place… Georgia/Tennessee, good soul food place.

If you can, get a month of satellite radio. Much better on those long drives. You’ll run into a lot of areas without much on regular radio on that stretch.

 

[Runwildboys]

Thank you so much! Money is not an issue. This is just kind of new to me. All I want to do is make it there safe.

Being inexperienced at long drives, I suggest you use AAA's TripTik, and note all the places to stay along the way. That way, you can stop whenever you start getting tired, instead of trying to push yourself to a particular destination that may be too far. We love you here...Safety first!!!

 

[Tabascocat]

I will also add:

Fast food will get old fast. Get ya a cooler packed with drinks and sandwich makings with a loaf of bread. Pull over to a rest stop, pee and make a sandwich.

As for hotels in the middle of nowhere, find one with some restaurants. Going in that direction, you can find at least a Texas Roadhouse or a Cracker Barrel…….waffle house at worst.

 

[Runwildboys]

I will also add:

Fast food will get old fast. Get ya a cooler packed with drinks and sandwich makings with a loaf of bread. Pull over to a rest stop, pee and make a sandwich.

As for hotels in the middle of nowhere, find one with some restaurants. Going in that direction, you can find at least a Texas Roadhouse or a Cracker Barrel…….waffle house at worst.

But DON'T OVEREAT! Eating too much will make you sleepy. Eat just enough to not be hungry...Beef jerky is great for snacking on. Just a few pieces satisfies your stomach and your taste buds.

 

[Centex]

I drove from Waco to Chapel Hill this year and Waco to Florida last year. Avoid interstate 10. Poor quality and many delays. I went Interstate 20 and cut north at Birmingham. Went though pretty stuff in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. Get a motel by 9 or you may have trouble getting one. I push it and go 800 miles a day but that’s a lot. If you are a history buff stop at General Chennault air museum in Monroe Louisiana. And you will pass near civil war battle fields of Shiloh and Vicksburg.

 

[Tabascocat]

But DON'T OVEREAT! Eating too much will make you sleepy. Eat just enough to not be hungry...Beef jerky is great for snacking on. Just a few pieces satisfies your stomach and your taste buds.

I rarely eat until dinner on the road, just snack…..jerky included

But, some people have to eat due to blood sugar, nausea, etc, etc. I eat and drink heavily in the hotel room at night

 

[big dog cowboy]

Money is not an issue. This is just kind of new to me. All I want to do is make it there safe.

Fly.

 

[bigdnlaca]

Did a round trip from LA to Alabama than LA to Atlanta one way. Try to hit as many cities as you can because towns are boring.

Stop at some attractions

Always drive after rush hour unless it will be a storm coming from the west, then you leave early before it hits and shut it down when the sunset.

Last, be nice to the truckers on the road and always do a traffic check on on-ramps for cops.

Good luck

 

[Creeper]

First, Raleigh is really nice. I hope you find you place there.

I drove from NJ to Alabama this past February. And I drove from NJ to Atlanta GA the year before. But I was not alone for either trip. I used the WAZE app to navigate. It pretty good because it alerts you to delays and cops that might be set up in radar traps.

 

[The Fonz]

It is not that hard brother i have done it many many times from Boston to LA and from LA to Seattle listening to radio to distract myself
So just take it easy enjoy the ride it will be nice at the end

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Sorry to hear you're struggling man. Find free places to park and sleep if you can't afford a motel. Don't drive more than 10 driving hours in a day for your own safety. You can do more but it's a pain. Plan out the route in advance and find gas stations you prefer using along the way.

Even 10 driving hours as opposed to travel hours can be pushing it for someone not used to it. pace yourself.

I second this. When I was younger, I could drive for 15 hours straight and get away with it. I can't do that anymore. Nowadays, I like to get an early start and then drive no more than 8 hours. Another thing I do is, I don't try to fight sleepiness. Even if I've only been on the road a few hours, if I start to get sleepy, I'll find a place to exit the highway, and find a place where I can park and take a nap. I sure as heck don't want to fall asleep at the wheel. Also, if I just need to walk around and stretch my legs, I'll stop for that, whether I need to more gas or not.
...
I don't know how old the OP is, or what condition he's in, but I'm sure he has some kind of idea what his maximum number of hours behind the wheel is. I look at it like a job. If I've put in 8 hours of driving, I've earned some time taking it easy in a comfortable hotel room and having a meal delivered.

 

[Runwildboys]

One more thing; Avoid rush hour. If it means leaving at 3 a.m. to get through a city before 6, it's well worth it to me, to keep from adding an extra hour or two to my trip.

 

[timb2]

I live in Tennessee formerly from North Carolina. If you travel TN to NC state lines it becomes mountains and can wear you out while driving. Be rested before you crossover....Avoid Atlanta,Georgia because it is a nightmare to drive through.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

But DON'T OVEREAT! Eating too much will make you sleepy. Eat just enough to not be hungry...Beef jerky is great for snacking on. Just a few pieces satisfies your stomach and your taste buds.

This is another thing I agree with 100 percent. I would also add that some foods are more prone to make you sleepy. Stuff with white flour or white sugar in them usually make me crash. So I take a cooler with me as well and keep healthy snacks like apples, oranges, carrots, etc.
...
I also use an Android app named Around Me that makes it easy to find things like restaurants, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets, etc. I think there's also an iPhone version.

 

[DasTex]

Audio books, podcasts, ice chest and red bull. You'll be good to go.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I second this. When I was younger, I could drive for 15 hours straight and get away with it. I can't do that anymore. Nowadays, I like to get an early start and then drive no more than 8 hours. Another thing I do is, I don't try to fight sleepiness. Even if I've only been on the road a few hours, if I start to get sleepy, I'll find a place to exit the highway, and find a place where I can park and take a nap. I sure as heck don't want to fall asleep at the wheel. Also, if I just need to walk around and stretch my legs, I'll stop for that, whether I need to more gas or not.
...
I don't know how old the OP is, or what condition he's in, but I'm sure he has some kind of idea what his maximum number of hours behind the wheel is. I look at it like a job. If I've put in 8 hours of driving, I've earned some time taking it easy in a comfortable hotel room and having a meal delivered.

Yeah, worst thing to do is push yourself when your eyelids feel like they have weights on them. Pull over into a strip mall if you have to and take a Power Nap; it’ll be safer for not only you but everyone else on the road.