Any advice for living on the road? We are traveling to a job in Alaska, but will be on the road for 3 to 6?

Question

months before we get there. Any roadies have some good advice?

let me elaborate...We will be traveling from jobsite to jobsite on the way there. Staying in hotels, we have reliable transportation, plenty of cash, but haven't traveled on the road for months at a time before.

Answer 1

Given the additional information, my advice is to shop for rates on hotels in advance and book in advance. Give a credit card to hold the room so you don't have to scramble in the middle of the night to make alternate arrangements.

Ask the front desk employees for good local eateries, where they like to eat and what items. Local dining is always an experience.

You say you will be on the road for a long duration. I'd consider Extended stay or courtyard type places -- the ones that have cooking facilities in your room. Grocery shop and make your own meals most the time. You can have a taste of home on the road and wile your time at the stove, instead of just at the TV.

Find coin-op laundries. The hotel laundry service will cost you a lot more.

The front desk employees will have the info where to find these services near the property. If not, see if you can get on the Internet in your room and use yp.yahoo.com to find whatever you need.

Answer 2

Sorry if I get wordy, but I do a lot of road trips and have found some things that work for me.

Budget/plan on a hotel every 2 or 3 nights to rest up, clean-up, rinse out your socks, etc.

If you sleep in the car sometimes, you'll make better time and save money, but it is very hard to do legally and safely near big cities. Do it out on the interstate in a rest area or on a dirt road in a National Forest or in a KOA campground.

You can grab a $5 shower at a KOA campground or at any truckstop. A very few want you to be a trucker (put on a Catepillar hat ). Most just want $5.

Washing my face, hair and neck in a sink in the am does a lot to feel fresher.

Public libraries have internet access terminals. Increasingly, their parking lots let you access free wireless.

Web search on interests in advance, ("aviation museum Dayton Ohio" or "chocolate factory tour california"). Print out maps, hours, etc in advance.

Travel with a small ice chest and grab free ice at hotels. You can keep a quart of milk and sodas cold that way. Lunch meat, bread and some fruit from grocery stores will keep your dining bill down a lot and you will be eating healthier. Keep a box of Cheerios and some apples for breakfast - that's about 1200 calories less than a Denny's Spam-and-Ham Grand Slam! And a roll of paper towels.

Minimal clothes - the people you see each day don't know what you wore yesterday. But bring enough undies and socks to make it between wash days. Consider handing your laundry over to a laundromat that offers wash & fold service. You're on vacation and you can look around town for a few hours.

Just walk up to interesting looking people and ask them what there is to see, where the hikes are, etc. Most people are happy to share what they know.

Try to settle into one motel or campground for a few days in a row every once in a while. Moving on every night gets tiring and having even a temporary home eliminates the uncertainity about where you'll spend the night.

Bring a pillow per person. For rest area sleeping and naps while the other person drives.

Bring a towel per person - to wash up in restrooms, swim in a stream, etc.

Join AAA for the free maps if nothing else.

Driving the Alcan is no problem - it is paved the whole way and unless you take the side roads, there are gas stations every 200-250 miles.

Answer 3

Camp grounds. State and National.
Some are free. Some charge fees.
Take a tent and bedding.
Some have shelters.
Use your browser, "Campgrounds"
You can map them all the way.