Cross-Country Travel: 5 Tips to Plan and Stay Safe

A Love Letter to Comfort in the Chaos of Moving Day

I am only 2 hours into this cross-country drive- hauling what's left of our life across state lines, powered by caffeine, donuts, podcasts and the occasional existential crisis.

It's strange. One minute I'm blasting music with the windows down, excited about the journey ahead. The next, things slow and quiet down...

We pass a highway exit that reminds me of a place we'll never live in again... OH NO! That was the exit I was supposed to take!?!

Moving isn't just a physical transition. It's an emotional whiplash!

But during this ride I keep coming back to five things I told myself before this journey- five lifelines, really:

1. Plan the Route, but Be Okay with Detours

I plotted every mile like I was prepping for a NASA launch. And yet, here I am, an hour behind schedule because the rest stop had a Burger King known for passing out paper Burger King crowns! Worth it? Debatable. Memorable? Absolutely.

2. Watch the Weather

Driving through the Appalachian Mountains, during a rain storm was... character-building. Thank God I checked the forecast ahead of time & bless those drivers who navigate weather for a living. Lesson learned: Never underestimate Mother Nature, especially at 4,000 feet.

3. Lodging Isn’t Just About Sleep

We stayed at my parents the night before and my mom left snacks for the ride on the way out. It was small kindness, but after a day of driving through nothing but open land, it meant the world. Planning stays ahead gave me little moments of comfort when I needed them most.

4. Stick to the Budget... Mostly

Gas prices are wild, snacks are overpriced, and I probably didn’t need that trucking hat from Pennsylvania. But I’m within budget, and it feels good knowing I planned for spontaneity.

5. Always Be Prepared

Low tire pressure light is blinking, middle of nowhere. But I had a spare, a jack and a friend on speed dial. I’ll never call myself “handy,” but today I felt capable — and that matters.

I’ve got two more states to go, a car full of boxes, a 115lbs Golden Retriever, one of my daughters (other flew the night before with wife), and a future I can’t quite picture yet. But I’m inching toward it, mile by mile, playlist by playlist, memory by memory.

If nothing else, this drive has reminded me that change is hard — but it’s also the only way we grow.

Here’s to finishing the journey.

5 Things To Plan For Cross Country Travel.pdf

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