Tips for Driving Cross-Country: The Complete Checklist
Our drivers cover about 1,000 miles a day in other people’s cars, in every season. These are the habits that make that possible, written for anyone planning how to drive across the country on their own. At the end is an honest note on when it makes more sense to hand the keys to a professional.
How long does it take to drive cross country?
About 4 days. New York to California is about 2,800 miles and 42 to 45 hours of driving; our drivers cover about 1,000 miles a day and do it in 3 days or less.
Before you leave
These tips apply to a car, an SUV or a rental truck. For the truck side of a move, read driving a U-Haul cross country.
1. Plan the route and the stops
Use a navigation app or a paper map to plan the route, the fuel stops and the overnight stays before you go. Check fuel availability in the mountain West and the desert Southwest, where stations can be 100 miles apart, and look at the forecast for every state you will cross. Share the plan with someone at home so they know your progress.
2. Service the car
Oil, coolant, brake fluid, tire tread and pressure, wipers, every light, the spare and the jack, plus the heating and cooling systems. A pre-trip inspection is cheaper than a tow from the middle of Nebraska.
3. Sleep
Fatigue is one of the leading causes of highway crashes. Go to bed early the night before, aim for at least seven hours, and skip the alcohol and the heavy meal. Starting rested improves alertness and reaction time for the whole first day.
4. Give yourself more days than you think
A cross-country drive takes about 4 days. Build in time for traffic, construction, weather and the occasional detour; long-distance driving is about pacing, not speed. Our drivers do about 1,000 miles a day because it is their job.
On the road
5. Stop every two hours or 150 miles
Walk, stretch, drink water. Short breaks boost circulation and keep reaction time sharp, and they prevent the back pain that sets in on day two.
6. Share the driving, and plan on 10 to 11 hours a day
Swap seats at every second fuel stop, whether or not you feel tired, because the driver is the last person to notice fatigue. Plan on 10 to 11 hours of driving a day, and nobody drives after midnight. Plan full rest stops overnight, and have passengers get out and stretch too. If you are alone, plan the trip on six-hour days and accept that it takes longer.
7. Refuel at a quarter tank
Never assume there is a station ahead. In rural regions the next one can be 100 miles away, and running dry on an unfamiliar highway turns into hours of delay.
8. Eat light, drink water
Heavy or greasy meals make you sleepy, and sugar and caffeine crash later in the day. Nuts, fruit, granola bars and plenty of water keep your energy steady.
9. Use cruise control on open highway only
It holds a steady speed and reduces fatigue, but it also increases mental drift. Switch it off in traffic, rain and hills, and turn it off now and then on open road to stay alert.
10. Open a window now and then
A sealed cabin on recirculate gets stale and warm, and both make you drowsy. Crack a window for a few minutes every hour, keep the temperature on the cool side, and point a vent at your face rather than your feet.
11. Dress for sitting
Loose, breathable clothes, flat shoes that give you good pedal control, a lumbar cushion or neck pillow, and sunscreen on your left arm and face, which get hours of sun through the window.
12. Drive defensively
Four seconds of following distance, early signals, seatbelt on, phone away. Be patient with slower drivers; calm decisions reduce risk and make the trip smoother.
13. Watch the weather in every state
You can leave New York in sleet and reach Arizona in 100-degree heat on the same trip. Check the forecast each morning and pack for both: a blanket and warm clothes, a hat, sunscreen and extra water.
14. Plan a few good stops
A diner, a park, a landmark. Short detours break up the monotony, and long drives are easier with something to look forward to.
Vehicle checklist
- Engine oil, coolant and brake fluid topped up
- Tire tread and pressure, including the spare
- Wipers, headlights, brake lights and turn signals
- Jack, lug wrench, jumper cables, flashlight
- Registration and insurance card in the glovebox
- Roadside-assistance number saved in your phone
First-aid and comfort kit
- Pain relievers, motion-sickness tablets, antacids, allergy medicine
- Bandages and antibiotic ointment
- Wet wipes, resealable bags, sanitary products
- Bottled water, a blanket, gum for altitude changes
Mountains, desert and wind
- Mountains: in a car, use a lower gear on long descents and let the engine share the braking; riding the brakes overheats them. Leave extra room on climbs and in winter conditions.
- Desert: start early, carry extra water, and watch the temperature gauge on long grades. In summer the heat is the danger, for the car and for you.
- Plains: crosswinds can push any vehicle, and a loaded one most of all. Slow down on exposed stretches and keep both hands on the wheel.
- Cities: plan to pass the big ones, such as Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, outside rush hour.
When to hire a driver instead
If the drive is four days you do not have, if nobody in the family wants to drive the rental truck, or if you would rather fly and have the car meet you, you can pay someone to drive your car instead. Hiring a driver starts from $0.75 a mile, with fuel and tolls at actual cost, and the car arrives on a delivery date planned with you: coast to coast takes 3 days or less. New York to California is $1,900 to $2,500 base.
We are honest about when shipping or driving yourself is the better call. For a rental truck, see how a driver handles the truck.