Hi everyone!

I joined Fodor's.com about...5 minutes ago and decided to share (what's going to be) the best trip of my life with you all.
I'm currently planning a road trip to hit every state in the contiguous US, It's going to take me about a year to complete. (about a week for every state). It won't happen for a number of years, but it's taking me a lifetime to dream it and plan it anyway lol.
Fodor's Essential USA Guidebook has definitely been a huge help in the process of planning this trip, especially as far as building my itinerary of attractions and balancing whatever budget I'll have. I highly recommend the book!
If I don't win the lottery or retire early in order to make financing this trip easier, I will be living quite a "hippie" life camping out most of the time rather than staying in hotels and eating self cooked meals rather than going out to eat often.
All I'm really waiting for is to have all the necessary supplies to live out of my car, and whoever the love of my life that may be to go on the trip with me...I'd hate to go it alone!

Has anyone here ever driven cross country in the US? Please share your experiences, I'd love to hear them!

www.raodtripusa.com good routes info

www.koa.com good lodging/camping

we are a travel site try match.com or eharmony.com

for the love of your life although hospitalityclub.org

might be good to join free eats stays up to 3 days.

stay south in winter... Have fun,

Join Hosteling International. http://www.hihostels.com/web/membership.en.htm
I have stayed at many of them in the US and Canada.
My favorite HI Hostel is in Sacramento California.
Combining my driving and train travels, I've been in about 40 states and 5 Canadian provinces in the last 10 years.
If you don't have your own vehicle in good shape and with good gas mileage, you can use a USA Railpass on Amtrak and Greyhound to get to the places Amtrak doesn't go.

You might get some ideas at www.drivecrosscountry.net of places to see along the way. This is based on 8 cross country road trips, including the 49 continential states -- might interest you.

Make sure you look into any visa issues - the visa waiver program is only good for 90 days (time spent in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean count so no making aquick "visa run" across the border) and normally the B1/B2 is issued for 180 days.

Thanks for the helpful websites everyone! I will definitely check them out! I won't really have to worry about visa issues, I'm a US citizen. if I still have my van (96 chevy lumina apv) that's what I'll be using to drive through the country.
You guys are awesome!

Did the cross country thing twice, but have not hit all states. Make sure you have a real open schedule. My brother and I had no firm reservations and it helped allow us time when we needed it. Also try a book called "Road Trip USA" for a review of different routes and some wacky places to visit along the way.