I am driving alone from Va to Colorado and would like some advice...I'm wanting to save money on lodging by camping and am concerned about safety. I'm thinking KOA's are safe but have never camped there. I'm an experienced cross-country driver (my 4th time) but this is my 1st time wanting to camp. any thoughts?

I really don't think it's wise for women to drive such distances alone but if you insist, DRIVE ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS!!!

Sorry, I forgot to suggest that you take a wireless phone w/ you in case of an emergency.

Hi Mere,

Please save a little more money and get a hotel along the way. If you push the driving time to 8 Hours a day, you will only have to stay in a hotel twice and that should not amount to more than $130.00 at the most. IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTREST. Good luck....

Mere, just my opinion here, but if I were driving cross country, I'd heed the good advice given here so far and drive only during the daylight hours and stay in hotels -- the kind that have passcards for the locks, not keys. Fairfield Inns are usually nice and clean and a fairly good bargain.

Saving a few bucks by camping is not worth the risks you'd be taking. Be careful!

If you are concerned about safety and money, check out Hostels. They are very inexpensive, usually about $12-20/night. Most larger cities have hostels and they are usually pretty nice and clean. There is a website www.Hostels.com that has listings throughout the country.

If you must camp, take a BIG dog with you! One that will bark on command. I've done that on short trips. People tend to leave you alone. Good Luck!

Let me a little contrarian here. In view of crime declining significantly nationwide for many years, it's about time to stop acting as if every other human on this planet is a criminal. They exist, of course, in campgrounds -- and in hotels, and in the neighborhood where you live. The key is to place yourself where they are very unlikely to be found. Mashers and drunks exist, of course, and some can be quite scary --- but at family-oriented camp sites? You're in more danger walking outside your house! Drive around the camp site, check the type of clientele staying there (some places have Girl Scouts; others, drunk bikers), choose a site near families, carry a can of pepper spray if you're paranoid. If you see a situation getting out of hand, just drive away and contact the local authorities. But DON'T become a prisoner of your own fears. If you've managed to go cross country four times, you know handle yourself. Now learn how to do so in camping situations.

Haven't camped in a few years, although I would like to hear from Actual Campers on this -- but I suspect you are at greater risk on the road as a single woman than in the camps. My memory of KOAs is that they were pretty wholesome and largely predictable, but I never stayed in Yosemite, either......

The crime rate in cities may be decreasing, largely thanks to organized campaigns by police and govt., but the crime rate on the road is rising -- and I know lately I've noticed much more unwanted attention and threatening driving (pointedly following me, etc.) on my many drives in the area between Florida, Illinois, and Maine. (And I'm not a pretty young thing, either) than even 5 years ago.

So one thing I've learned is to leave as early in the morning as I can stand and stop in mid- to late-afternoon. I NEVER drive at night.

Sorry, I clicked before I added (for the benefit of male skeptics out there) that traveling by my self is markedly different from traveling with my husband or my son.

I was once driving with two friends, a woman (in the passenger seat) and her husband (squatting in the back between the two front seats, because the backseat was full of boxes -- it wasn't too long a drive) in a short trip between NJ and Phila. He was pretty much invisible to other cars and particularly to truck drivers, and when we arrived, he said, "Wow, I never realized what happens to women drivers on the highways," referring to attention from truckers, macho maneuvering around us, cut-offs, etc. We _were_ prettier young things then, but all the more concern if an older woman is finding attention paid to her that's not particularly flattering.

Mere, you've received some good tips here, and while you can certainly appreciate well meaning encouragement about not letting fear control your life, as a woman you know what can and does happen when you are by yourself. I doubt there's a woman alive today who hasn't been harassed with unwanted male attention at some point in her life.

I know many men who express surprise at the thought of being unable to go anywhere they want at any time of the day or night without fear, but you know that this simply isn't the case for women, or you wouldn't have posted your concerns and asked for advice. Be safe.

Hi Mere,

I hate to disagree with everyone, but I travel quite a bit myself from Colorado to Indiana by car, and I have never felt unsafe driving at night. As long as your car is in good working order, I wouldn't worry about traveling by yourself after dark. Of course, use common sense at rest areas and gas stations (usually at night I'll opt for gas stations because they are better lit and more public), and don't acknowledge the truckers when they honk or make gestures at you.

As far as camping goes, I have slept in my car when necessary, but haven't camped by myself while driving. On one long trip from California to Colorado (again by myself) I slept for a few hours in my car at a rest area during the day and drove mostly at night. I had no difficulties, no psychos attacked me, no one harassed me. I understand the need to be cautious these days, but I find it slightly offensive that people assume women are helpless when unaccompanied by a man.

Enjoy your trip! Colorado is a wonderful destination.

Oh please...I don't think anyone here is insinuating that women are helpless without men. What they are discussing is that a woman alone is too often a TARGET, and they are giving advice about that.

If you travel on dark roads by yourself at night and are comfortable, good for you, but you acknowledged that you got some horn honking and other attention. Think that would have happened if you were traveling with a man?

Go see 'The Blair Witch Project'. That''ll get you in the mood for camping...

Decenttropical gave you sound advice. Drive during daylights, get yourself a cell phone, learn the basics of car preventive maintenance (tires air, check fluids, check battery, etc...). Do not stay in Cheepo hotels if not safe...that's foolish.