What Do You Worry About When Hitting the Road This Summer?

[ALS]

I couldn't post the story because it is an Associated Press article but USA Today has a story Titled, "Some sites charge higher tolls to out-of-towners" by Joan Lowy that tells of how states are whacking motorists from out of state when they use their EZ-Pass in their states.

For example if you're an out of stater and you run the full length of the NJ Turnpike using your EZ-Pass it is an additional $3.45 for you over an NJ resident. In RI if you cross the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge and you are a RI resident it is .83 cents, out of state motorists get nailed for $4.00 on their EZ-Pass.

[EVuser]

The weather and the "markets", one is predictable the other isn't.

Gas is always cheaper away from home and the roads are smoother. Rental cars absorb vacation miles without worry. Have a great trip.

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by ALS

If you ever plan on traveling through Pennsylvania stay off of the Pa. Turnpike I-76.
Take I-80 or I-68 through Maryland.

Exactly the three options I used to have when traveling between northwestern Jersey and northwestern Kentucky.
My opinions:
I-80 = Longest but easiest way;
Pa. Turnpike = Shortest, but $$$ (less then);
I-68 = Best scenery, but toughest hills

[wick1ert]

^^ I-70 is another option, and you can cut north to 376 and catch 76 almost at the PA-OH state line and pay next to nothing on the PA TP. I went to OH one year via I-68 to I-79 to PA TP.

[WriConsult]

My biggest stresses:

• Total cost of driving. Fuel is not necessarily the largest component of this, even at this week's $4.259 West Coast prices. On our older car, maintenance is a far higher cost per mile than fuel (especially since we get 50-55mpg with it). On the newer car the fixed costs are higher than the per-mile costs, and depreciation is probably pretty close to fuel in terms of per-mile cost.
• Lodging. We usually camp while traveling in the summer. Snagging a campsite on a Friday night in the summer can be very tricky, even in the less populated parts of the northwest, and in terms of stress is easily the top of our list. If we know where we're going in advance we'll often pick a reservable campground for the first night and book it in advance -- despite the additional $6-8 fee. Even besides the reservation fees, campground costs have skyrocketed in the last few years. State parks top $20 (especially up in WA, despite generally lower quality) and even USFS campgrounds frequently push $15-20. KOAs and RV parks can be $25-30, despite often having tiny, rock-hard (or gravel) spaces for tents.
• Other drivers -- both their idiotic shenanigans, and the sheer number of them. For both reasons we tend to stay home for the three big summer holiday weekends. Just too many people on the roads, and too many of the people on the roads only drive on those holiday weekends. There are plenty of other nice weekends with lower crowds. And we always look forward to September, which often brings Northwest our nicest weather of the year -- along with minimal crowds.
• Packing, as seftonm mentioned. Dad + mom + kid + big dog = 4 seating positions occupied, so almost EVERYTHING has to fit in the back (or on the hitch-mounted bike rack). For a camping trip more than 3 nights, or if we're doing dispersed camping away from campgrounds (need to bring a folding table and chairs too), we're completely maxed out, even in the Elantra Touring, and need to carefully whittle our gear down to fit. Clothing/outerwear/footwear + food for all + water for all + mess kit + 3 sleeping bags + 3 sleeping pads + tent + hiking and/or biking gear + books/toys/entertainment + any extras = full trunk. Getting everything to fit in the car, and maintaining order and organization on multi-day trips, are significant stresses. Less than lodging, less than driving, but certainly bigger than the cost of transport.