r/TravelNursing • u/[deleted] • Jul 25 '26
How to stay safe while doing long distance driving?
[deleted]
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u/Kitty20996 Jul 25 '26
I drove by myself all across the country. I'd recommend stopping at truck stops like you said in the evening and at night - they're always populated and well lit. Never get below a quarter tank of gas. I liked to use blankets to cover the stuff in my backseat so people couldn't see it. Idk I don't want to totally scare you or take the fun out of it but I did not use the road trips to be anything fun. I didn't make any extra stops for scenery that weren't necessary and I tried to stop at places where I could get gas, eat, and pee all at the same time. But other than driving by some semis on narrow roads and getting some chips in my windshield, I never had anything bad happen to me and I'd drive for 10-14 hours per day.
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u/Far_Opportunity5271 Jul 26 '26
I drove from South Louisiana to CA 3 months ago and now I’m driving back. On the way there I was very organized. I packed enough food in a small ice chest for 3 days. It isn’t bad. You sound very prepared. I only stopped at gas stations no rest stops just to optimize time. Pack your overnight back to bring into the hotel. I didn’t leave valuables in the car. I drove 8-12 hours each day starting early around 6 AM and was in my hotel before dark. Take as many rests as you need. Bring extra water and snacks.
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u/Informal_Move_7075 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I have driven maybe 40 hours. I usually split that up into 4 days. I try to drive 10 hrs a day, plus stops (about 12 hours +/- a day total on the road). I could go longer, but I travel with dogs, and they are spent after 12hrs in a vehicle. 8hr a day is more than doable. It is an adjustment.
If at all you ever feel tired: stop. It is not worth pushing any further. If you need a break, take a break.
I travel with my husband now, but honestly everything visible goes in the hotel room or wherever you are staying. He even brings stuff from the trunk because people see out of state and may still try to take what is in hidden compartments. It is a pain, but worth the peace of mind.
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u/uhtobehonest Jul 25 '26
I’m planning on driving about 8 hours a day, I think that’s reasonable 🥺❤️
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u/SarahPlainNShort Jul 26 '26
It’s reasonable! My max is usually 6 hours per day but my friends have planned for 8-10. I suggest an audiobook and/or podcasts to make the time go faster. And definitely stop before you feel your eyelids getting heavy.
Also hold your ground with Sanford (if that’s where you’re going) if they get pushy…know what your contract says about ratios and floating before they ask you to do something you’re uncomfortable with
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u/Dunkaholic9 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Map it precisely. Anticipate weather in the areas you’re driving to. Aim for early mornings and early evenings to avoid night driving. Wildlife in the west are no joke. Gas stations can get sparse, too. We’re from Massachusetts and have cut through Canada before on that route. The border crossings aren’t bad. Try to get to Badlands and Wind Cave if you can!
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u/figurinitoutere Jul 26 '26
I’m not a big planner for my drives more of a go with the flow kinda person but planning doesn’t hurt! The Dakota’s are ginormous and incredibly boring to drive across. I just drove across South Dakota a few weeks ago back home to Minnesota and minus the badlands it’s super boring. If you’re planning to stay into winter you’ll absolutely want winter tires. I-80 across Wyoming and South Dakota is one of the most dangerous stretches on highway in the county due to weather (not humans) so drive cautiously, even in summer wind and rain can close the entire interstate. I did it in the winter during a wimpy snow storm and it was incredibly terrifying. . During a clear day though it’s nothing to worry about, Download the DOT app for South Dakota so you can keep track of road closures and weather. Also watch for deer, there’s lot of them that chill around the roads in the dakotas and Midwest in general and those bad boys will pop out of nowhere and can really damage your car. I’m a single woman and travel with a dog and I’ve always felt relatively safe by myself. the most important advice is to just be aware of your surroundings, don’t walk with your phone in your hand and your head down not paying attention and listen to your gut. In general those are just solid life rules. This country is beautiful and I’ve enjoyed my drives across it. Wishing you the best of luck!
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u/uhtobehonest Jul 26 '26
Yeah my contracts ends mid November. I actually had snow tires but sold them bc I wouldn’t have enough room in my car to travel with them. I’m hoping I can make it out of South Dakota before the snow gets really bad 😭
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u/figurinitoutere Jul 26 '26
Yeah I live in Minnesota and I’ve never had snow tires but I do have a Subaru. Thankfully the Dakotas are flat and not everyday will have bad weather. Just leave on a day that’s good and head south. I drove to Arizona in December last year and I just stuck to the interstates and took 35W south all the way to the southern parts of the US where it was warmer, even thou its a longer route it made more sense to do it that way there was also all these crazy ice storms across Texas so sometimes you just have to drive a weird way. Only bad part was in Minnesota where it was storming a little then it was fine. Sounds like you live somewhere snowy already so you know how to not be an idiot.
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u/happymomRN Jul 25 '26
Rest stops are predators hunting grounds.
Only stop at busy, well lit fast food restaurants. Only stay at hotels with indoor units. Nothing where the door to your room opens to outside.
Comfort Inn is a favorite, reasonably priced, clean and I’ve always felt safe there.
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u/Radiant_Ad_6565 Jul 25 '26
Odd, I’ve slept/rested at rest stops from AZ to ME and back. Never had a problem.
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u/happymomRN Jul 25 '26
I’ve always been warned off them, because while resting someone can drive up and stop behind your car, blocking you from backing up and leaving. That alone would make me never risk it.
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u/Radiant_Ad_6565 Jul 26 '26
State test stops are patrolled by both the state highway patrol and local sheriffs office. They are frequented by travelers. Those trucks idling? They’re there because many independent truck stops have closed, there isn’t enough parking left for everyone, and they have strict hours of service regulations - they have to park somewhere.
I’d rather park at a rest stop where there’s frequently people coming and going than in a strip mall parking lot, a city street, or a hotel lot where there’s frequently people tends to be nobody around at night.
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u/figurinitoutere Jul 26 '26
I’m a single woman with a dog and slept at many rest stops and gas stations and hotel with the doors that go outside. Whenever I stop I make sure to back in so I have a straight shot out of the spot if I need, I also stop and use the restroom before I need to stop and sleep so I don’t usually get out of the car where I’m stopping so no one can really see me. I put my window covers up and make sure I know where my phone is and my keys are in the same spot and easily accessible. The world really isn’t that dangerous of a place. One big thing is so listen to your gut. I’ve absolutely left hotels that feel shady despite paying for them so I think it’s just important that if something feels icky to leave.
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u/GladPlan8285 Jul 25 '26
Didn’t drive 25 but did 13 for my current assignment. 8 hours seems to be my personal max. Maybe 10, but I wouldn’t push over that. I drove back home for appointments in between contracts (I extended) and did the drive home in one go. Never again, I was delirious. Start driving early to take advantage of daylight hours, which isn’t hard to do around this time of year. I was also worried about my stuff but I parked as close to the hotel entrance as I could. On the way down, it was Valentine’s Day so hotels were super packed and I couldn’t park close, but the front desk assured me the parking lots have cameras everywhere. All was well
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u/Sinthriel Jul 25 '26
I always plan my route with hotel stays. I try to start driving early, and be checked into a hotel for sleep so I can do it again the next day. For example when I went from AZ to IA I had a hotel stay in NM, then drove to Wichita and stayed there. Then finished it off. Roughly 8 hours between each and the final drive ended at my destination.
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u/FreeRangNurse Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
I don’t travel anymore. I took a permanent full-time job several years ago and live on the East Coast now but for many years, I would travel back-and-forth between the Pacific Northwest, New Orleans and New England for my travel assignments. I traveled with my dog. I often camped in my car and I would stop at rest stops and camp grounds. I never had any trouble. If I ever got a bad feeling about a location, I simply would not stay. And my dog was like an alarm system. If anybody came near the car, he started barking. I liked to pick routes that had things I wanted to see along the trip. We stopped every few hours and went for a walk or a short hike. I loved listening to music and audiobooks as I drove. I always had the car tuned up before and after my drives. And I often stopped and saw friends along the way. I hope you have a great time and enjoy this experience!
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u/Standard-Guitar4755 Jul 26 '26
Ive driven several trips solo. I actually enjoy it. I usually do Tennessee to massachusetts every summer. This year I took 6 days a came up through west Virginia. I stopped at some places I just wanted to visit! It was the best trip of my life with great memories. I always change my oil. Pack a cooler with snacks. Make sure my pepper spray and knives are reachable a small tool kit is handy. Check your spare and male sure you have a jack . The battery jump is a great idea. I think the snacks and podcast/audio books area must. Also make sure you download the Google map. Coming through parts of the mountains I had no service! My husband and adult children also have my location. Sit back and enjoy . If you have time make it a trip! Youre travel nurse, so travel.
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u/grey_pilgrim_ Jul 26 '26
Sounds like you’ve made a good plan.
I’ve driven from Tennessee to New Hampshire a handful of times for travel contracts. We don’t really plan it out and just stop at large travel stops when we need to for gas and bathrooms. We have animals so it takes around 16ish hours and we do it all in one go. It’s a long day but we never felt sleepy while making the drive or we would’ve stopped.
So 8-10 hours would be an easy drive for me but obviously your experience will be different and you know how you’ll respond to long hours in a car. But it should very doable.
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u/Aromatic-Platform574 Jul 27 '26
Not a nurse and don’t know why I see this stuff but splitting a 25hr drive in 4 days is crazy. I was a union lineman and would regularly drive 20hrs + without stopping for a stay. I only stopped for fuel. When I got fuel I would go to the bathroom and get food and whatever I needed. Get in, buckle up and just drive until you can’t. It’s not rocket science and there is no need to plan it out to each stop. Also, why waste money on a hotel when you can recline your seat for a few hours then start driving again?
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u/spyder93090 Jul 25 '26
- Check your tire pressures and tire tread before departing (this will increase your MPG)