Driving in US

[tikkam]

hurricanes will depend on when/where you travelling. so just check out weather websites/news for weather updates/warning every day of your travel. whenever there are hurricane warnings...do not go out or drive.

if you're talking about wildlife coming onto the roads...that usually occurs when it's dark so you should plan your roadtrip in such a way to avoid driving in the dark (which might be better too if you are a noob driver and not used to the really dark roads in US - unlike in SG, there aren't streetlights on most roads/highways). there'll be signs whenever there are dangers of animal crossings so you just stay alert at all times. do you mean driving in the dark along the interstate highways? If so, yeah can plan to avoid that. But in surburban areas, there should be street lighting right?

as for drunk drivers...you'd never know would you? (aye, true) drivers in the states aren't very aggressive...in fact, most of them have very good driving etiquettes e.g. giving way, not honking, move to next lane to allow traffic to merge with ease etc. the key is not to hog the overtaking lane if you aren't overtaking or driving fast....and try to keep to the legal speeds and not go too slowly.

which stretch of the east coast you planning for your roadtrip? if you just take the I-95...you'll be bored to death. try to take the coastal route or some of the scenic bypass routes but it'll mean longer distances/time. i've done the coastal route from near boston in massachusetts to key west in florida and back...so i might've some info if you need.

Thanks for the advice! Am planning to go in fall, so trying to avoid the hurricane season around Aug-Sep. Hopefully, Oct-Nov is safer!

I'm planning to visit Maine actually, and I-95 seems to be the main route from Boston. Otherwise we could stop along the way at a coastal town for lunch to make up for the lack of scenery. Do you have any suggestions for this route?

 

[devilish_me]

Thanks for the advice! Am planning to go in fall, so trying to avoid the hurricane season around Aug-Sep. Hopefully, Oct-Nov is safer!

I'm planning to visit Maine actually, and I-95 seems to be the main route from Boston. Otherwise we could stop along the way at a coastal town for lunch to make up for the lack of scenery. Do you have any suggestions for this route?

yes i meant total lack/very limited street lightings on highways as well as smaller towns. you only get more street lightings in big cities

where in maine are you planning to end up at? how much time do you have for your boston-maine (and return?) roadtrip?

I-95 is the most direct route but you are free to exit onto the supposedly more scenic routes at any point. it all depends on how much time you can spare. for example, you can take I-95 up to york and then exit to take route 1 to explore cape neddick area, bald head and northwards - the coastal areas etc. or you could go towards new hampshire on I-93 and then head towards maine across white mountain (on rt 302) to also take in the beautiful fall colors in NH enroute to maine (but it'd be a much longer drive no doubt).

different routes would yield different experiences....so you might've to decide what you are looking for. you didn't mention about shopping along the way....kittery has outlet shopping (but i think the one in wrentham is better) if you are interested so you'd have to plan accordingly

not sure if trees in maine coastal regions might be affected by wind/salt burn from the recent hurricane irene. over my side on southern massachusetts by the coast, the leaves are looking bad so we aren't too hopeful about getting magnificent fall colors. for optimal leaf peeping experience this fall...you might have to move in land rather than at the coastal regions.

i might be heading up to maine again this fall too....maybe we might bump into each other along the way...haha

 

[hermes76]

typically how long does a right-hand driver takes to get used to left-hand driving?

 

[fone]

Took me one 15 min drive. Get your passenger on right hand side to remind you if you are too close to the right side, usually this is the case.

 

[temasekcity]

Have to confirm if you did a typo. From LA or LV? From LA very far leh. I mean really very far!

LA to GC is far? Jump out of your well, frog.

From LA, take highway 15 then 40. You will reach Kingman. FYI, the boss of Holiday Inn in Kingman is a Singaporean.

Strongly advice u to switch to route 66, the old american highway, to visit GC Caverns 21-story underground nuclear-proof cave.

At William, switch to 64 drive north to reach GC. Strongly advice you to book hotel on this route as GC's hotels are 2x more expensive.

 

[devilish_me]

typically how long does a right-hand driver takes to get used to left-hand driving?

you won't really make mistakes when there are cars ahead of you....it's when you are the only car around or the first car in line then you might get confused. many of my friends would get the hang of it quite fast...and then the next minute when you least expect...they would drive straight into on-coming traffic and then

 

[hermes76]

Sorry... its LA to GC

when u going? am driving from SF to Carmel(1 nite), then to San Luis Obispo(1 nite) then to Santa Barbara(1 nite) then to San Diego(2nites) then to LV(5nites) then to LA(2-3nites)

i going end Oct

 

[tikkam]

yes i meant total lack/very limited street lightings on highways as well as smaller towns. you only get more street lightings in big cities

where in maine are you planning to end up at? how much time do you have for your boston-maine (and return?) roadtrip? I'm planning to visit Acadia Nat'l Park, Camden and/or Portland. Roadtrip will prolly be 5-7 days max.

I-95 is the most direct route but you are free to exit onto the supposedly more scenic routes at any point. it all depends on how much time you can spare. for example, you can take I-95 up to york and then exit to take route 1 to explore cape neddick area, bald head and northwards - the coastal areas etc. or you could go towards new hampshire on I-93 and then head towards maine across white mountain (on rt 302) to also take in the beautiful fall colors in NH enroute to maine (but it'd be a much longer drive no doubt). Both I-95 + Route 1 and White Mountain sound great. We'd have to decide between coastal or mountain driving then. Hope there aren't too many bends or wildlife along R302 hehe...

different routes would yield different experiences....so you might've to decide what you are looking for. you didn't mention about shopping along the way....kittery has outlet shopping (but i think the one in wrentham is better) if you are interested so you'd have to plan accordingly. Noted thanks! Kittery and Wrentham added to the list. Btw, any good food places at Boston or Maine? (If this has been asked before, will go search the threads)

not sure if trees in maine coastal regions might be affected by wind/salt burn from the recent hurricane irene. over my side on southern massachusetts by the coast, the leaves are looking bad so we aren't too hopeful about getting magnificent fall colors. for optimal leaf peeping experience this fall...you might have to move in land rather than at the coastal regions. White Mountains seems rather inland...

i might be heading up to maine again this fall too....maybe we might bump into each other along the way...haha

I hope so too but we haven't managed to fix any dates yet. In any case, may I PM you for itinerary?

 

[devilish_me]

if you wanna do some leaf peeping in new hampshire....there are a couple of options (1) take I-93 and exit somewhere in north woodstock onto NH-112W (the kancamangus hwy - which is a really pretty drive in fall) or (2) take I-93 and exit after franconia onto US-302 (US-302 is likely to have lesser traffic as compared to kancamangus hwy which is super popular with leaf peepers) you can check out the franconia notch state park along the way - flume gorge is quite pretty).

but if you wanna do kittery, portland & camden and onwards to acadia national park....then probably the coastal route would make more sense for you.

anyway..to drive from boston to acadia national park you can easily do in a day....so to have 5-7 days to/fro would mean you can do/see more. plan wisely

sure you can PM me.

 

[cormet]

you won't really make mistakes when there are cars ahead of you....it's when you are the only car around or the first car in line then you might get confused. many of my friends would get the hang of it quite fast...and then the next minute when you least expect...they would drive straight into on-coming traffic and then

hahahahahahahahahahahha when you're the only car around, definitely BLUR

 

[derazor]

LA to LV = 4 hours
LV to GC = 4 hours

Wah what speed you drove?

 

[derazor]

Alamak..

If get the GPS in states, which shop to get from? Best buy or airport? My first stop is San Fran.

BTW, I only have 2 big luggage. Which category car should I get? Is standard sufficient.I got a friend who rented a car from SF to Vegas. He said get too big also no use. The speed is also not that fast. He was suggesting Camry.

 

[devilish_me]

Alamak..

If get the GPS in states, which shop to get from? Best buy or airport? My first stop is San Fran.

BTW, I only have 2 big luggage. Which category car should I get? Is standard sufficient.I got a friend who rented a car from SF to Vegas. He said get too big also no use. The speed is also not that fast. He was suggesting Camry.

gps are readily available at best buy, target, walmart, officemax, staples etc. definitely more worth it to buy a unit than rent one esp if you are renting for a couple of weeks at more than $10/day. you can still sell the unit after you've used it if you choose to.

how many people with 2 big luggages? if just 2-3 people....can just get the compact car 'cos even if your 2 big luggages can't both fit into the trunk together...you can at least fit one and put the other at the back seat. the cars in the states are all powerful ones even for the compact size cars so no worries. big cars are always a problem to park esp in cities where parking lots are tight.

 

[patryn33]

BTW, I only have 2 big luggage. Which category car should I get? Is standard sufficient.I got a friend who rented a car from SF to Vegas. He said get too big also no use. The speed is also not that fast. He was suggesting Camry.

U cannot choose the make and model of car. They will give U similar kind.

a Econ will do. something like the Chevrolet Aveo; Honda Fit; Kia Rio; and Toyota Yaris.

 

[fone]

BTW, I only have 2 big luggage. Which category car should I get? Is standard sufficient.I got a friend who rented a car from SF to Vegas. He said get too big also no use. The speed is also not that fast. He was suggesting Camry.

I love to get full sized car. Spacious and powerful. Speed is not the factor, acceleration is, full sized cars come in much larger engines, eats gas faster, but who cares, gas is cheap.

2 big lugggage, how many passengers?
2 Big ones might not even fit into a full sized car, depending on how you define big and what car you get, might end up in the rear seat, so if you have more than 3 people, get a larger car.

 

[derazor]

I love to get full sized car. Spacious and powerful. Speed is not the factor, acceleration is, full sized cars come in much larger engines, eats gas faster, but who cares, gas is cheap.

2 big lugggage, how many passengers?
2 Big ones might not even fit into a full sized car, depending on how you define big and what car you get, might end up in the rear seat, so if you have more than 3 people, get a larger car.

fone,

only me and my wife.

I got some problems when I tried to do a mock booking

1) for i.e I stay in MGM Vegas, first I have to check where is the location to pick up the car and also the timing where it opens and close. Some open like 6am some like 7am some like 8am and closing I think most close at 6pm. So the problem is to know the nearest one ( so that I don't need to walk so far to pick it up ) and it might not be the most bang for back

2) insurance for the car, i tried to book at dollar.co.uk, they didnt state any insurance is it + the amount on the day I appear.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Erwinlow]

I believe you can purchase the insurance on the spot when collecting your car. I booked mine online and purchased the insurance at the Hertz counter when collecting the car.

 

[hermes76]

I believe you can purchase the insurance on the spot when collecting your car. I booked mine online and purchased the insurance at the Hertz counter when collecting the car.

for Hertz, I heard they have the pickup service whereby the staff can drive the car to you when u arrive or like drive you to the airport for free if your destination is within 15mins drive from their office

 

[fone]

fone,

only me and my wife.

I got some problems when I tried to do a mock booking

1) for i.e I stay in MGM Vegas, first I have to check where is the location to pick up the car and also the timing where it opens and close. Some open like 6am some like 7am some like 8am and closing I think most close at 6pm. So the problem is to know the nearest one ( so that I don't need to walk so far to pick it up ) and it might not be the most bang for back

2) insurance for the car, i tried to book at dollar.co.uk, they didnt state any insurance is it + the amount on the day I appear.

Thanks for your help in advance.

1) Airport car rental center, all located there I guess. I'd recommend renting car the moment you touch down.

2) About $10 to $15 per day.

 

[Erwinlow]

for Hertz, I heard they have the pickup service whereby the staff can drive the car to you when u arrive or like drive you to the airport for free if your destination is within 15mins drive from their office

Yep, in LA their facility is a 10minute drive from the airport itself where they have a free shuttle there. When I returned the car, 4 of us had about 6 big luggages so they offered to drive us to the airport. Tipped the driver, of course.