After recently completing my sixth U.S. road trip, it’s time to sit down and talk about my experiences. I will preface this by saying that each trip was the result of a cross country move. Only once did I drive a U-Haul and the remainder of times I drove my car. And, while none of my road trips were spread out over the course of two weeks or so (they averaged about 5 days, 4 nights), I found a good balance between covering a lot of mileage while enjoying the journey and stopping along the way.

That said, I hope this gives you a little insight into some different options for a trip of your own. Let’s start off with the negatives.

Cons

Cost:

If you’re just trying to get from Point A to Point B, there are probably more cost-efficient ways. That’s a given. Between the cost of fuel, hotels, and food cross country road trips are not the least expensive but it’s certainly the most worthwhile option. (See ‘Pros’ below for more.)

I’m often asked what I do when it comes to booking a hotel. I’ve only used Airbnb for non-road trip stays but if you’re able to find places to rent in the area where you’ll be stopping for the night, go for it! You can use this link to sign up and get $40 off your trip! 

Personally, I hop on Booking.com to see what the best rate is for that night once I know for sure where we’ll be stopping for the night. Because cross country travel comes with some unpredictable events, I’ll wait until the afternoon to book, once I have a better idea of where we’ll stop. If you’re planning to stay in a popular place, you might risk there not being any rooms available if you wait until you arrive at the hotel. Get $25 off your first stay on Booking.com.

Wear and Tear:

And I don’t just mean on your vehicle. Driving in a car for days on end really does begin to wear on you. I found that even by stopping every so often for food, restrooms, or a fun roadside attraction, the drive still took a toll on my body. It’s a LONG journey, my friends. The change in altitudes and time zones and being hyper-aware on the road takes a toll on your body – mentally and physically. Was it worth it? Yes, absolutely. But it’s something worth mentioning.

On my most recent cross country road trip, I had a really difficult time. My body was not adjusting well to the time zone changes so I was hardly sleeping at night. You know what one day of air travel can do to you. Multiply that by however many days you’ll be on the road and factor in a little more.

Food:

If you’re a picky eater or have certain dietary restrictions, food on the road could be a challenge for you. As you can imagine, the more desolate parts of the U.S. have very few places to fuel up or stop for a bite to eat. Plan ahead as best as possible and bring some snacks that you know will hold you over until you find a place to stop for a proper meal. Even then, you might not have much to choose from. One night, after finally arriving at a hotel to stop for the night, all nearby restaurants were closed and my only option was to find dinner at a gas station. I was following a plant-based diet at the time so I’m sure you can imagine my luck…

Weather:

There’s only so much you can do about the weather so, unfortunately, it could really rain on your parade. Pun intended :) High winds, heavy rain, tornado warnings, and snow could all pose a threat on how smoothly your road trip goes. Plan accordingly and give yourself some wiggle room. On the flip side, the weather could very well be perfect and in that case, enjoy! On my most recent trip, we encountered gorgeous weather. It makes such a difference!

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Pros

See it all:

The more I drove across the U.S., the more in awe I became. The history, the views, the wonder of it all. It’s something that can only truly be experienced by driving cross country. You see towns you’ve heard in songs, and towns you’ve never heard of but instantly fall in love with. And what about all of the fun/off-the-wall roadside attractions you get to see? Oh, you’re not sure what I’m talking about? Here are a few of my favorite roadside attractions:

Standin’ on a Corner in Winslow Arizona

The Cabazon Dinosaurs in Cabazon, California

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas

As well as The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, the Meteor Crater in Northern Arizona, and driving along the old parts of Route 66.

It’s an adventure:

Depending on how much time you have, you can make the road trip as adventurous as you’d like! Stop for a few days to explore the Grand Canyon or Sedona. Dive into the incredible art scene in Santa Fe or become entirely enchanted by White Sands National Monument which you can read my guide for here! A U.S. road trip means not only do you get to SEE the beautiful scenery across the States but you get to EXPERIENCE it too.

The stories you’ll tell:

You’ll never forget that one time you road tripped across the U.S. (or six times in my case.) The things you see and experience will become stories you’ll tell over the years and the photos you take will be treasured forever.

Expand your horizons:

You see a lot on a cross country road trip. You drive through Indian Reservations, land that experienced famine or wildfires or floods, national forests, landmarks, and monuments, and towns that are left completely abandoned. It puts a lot of things into perspective as you drive from one state to another to another and so on. I feel so grateful to have experienced the culture of Tucson, the beauty of New Mexico, and the local foods and historic architecture of Louisiana, all thanks to my U.S. road trips.

You’ll never be the same:

The amazing thing about travel is the way you come out of it changed in the end. Besides, what’s the point in going through an experience if we don’t want it to have an effect on us? Allow the road to change you and shape you. Make use of the miles you have to think and ponder and question everything you know. See this experience for how incredibly unique it is and marvel at the wonder. I can’t tell you how many times I’d be staring out the windshield at a mountain higher and rockier than anything I had ever seen before with the sun setting behind me, in utter awe that this was real life. That I was actually experiencing this.

It’s easy to just put the pedal to the metal and go from Point A to Point B but if you slow down on your road trip, go into it with an open mind, and truly open your eyes, ears, and heart to what you’re about to experience, it will take your breath away unlike anything ever has before.

So, do the pros outweigh the cons?

Absolutely! The experience of road tripping across the U.S. far outweighs the cost, the time, the wear and tear, the limited food options, and the possible bad weather. Why else would I choose to road trip across the U.S. not once, not twice but SIX times? It’s worth it but you don’t have to take my word for it. Try it out for yourself and see!

Also, if you’re looking for all of the details on how to prepare for, plan, and successfully complete a long distance move, check out my course Soul-Centered Moving for a detailed guide paired with helpful personal development tools.

Have you made a long distance road trip before? Let me know your pros and cons in the comments!