Road Trip Tips
Where I’ve landed. Bolivar County, Mississippi, home of Jx Farms.
I’ve trekked to my beloved Mississippi Delta for two weeks to hang at Jx Farms, an artist-in-residency program outside of Cleveland, Mississippi. (More on artist-in-residency programs next week).
I heart road trips times infinity. In the summer of ‘98, nineteen-year-old me drove from Mississippi to southwest Virginia. Hopping in a car for a dozen hours has been an impulse ever since.
With road trips on my brain, I tapped my online community to see what sage wisdom they had. Gather round, folks.
If you journey to the Southeastern US, you’ll discover kudzu. Willie Morris called it sinister. James Dickey called it a green, mindless, unkillable ghost. A Japanese ornamental vine, kudzu came to the US by way of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. The southern landscape is in some ways defined by it, but in reality it only covers one-tenth of 1% of southern forests, mostly occurring along roadsides and in ditches.
Some Philosophical Advice to Get Your Head Right before You Bounce:
“Go where your curiosity takes you.”
“I don’t always follow this advice, but If it looks interesting, STOP, as you may never pass this way again. We found the best little brewery in Wisconsin once, and even ended up talking to the town mayor. It made a real impact on me with regard to impromptu community engagement.”
“Don't take your children. Xx”
“At least once in your life take a drive a good portion of the way across the country...or even across a large state by yourself. Solitude in nature is very therapeutic, but I would argue there is also something deeply therapeutic about processing the vastness of the world around you as you pass through it for a full day.”
“Take time to look around...eat at random places along the way and just enjoy it.”
“Don’t use the interstate highways.”
“Always take a back road.”
“Always do something outside everyday.”
“Plan enough time to take your time so you can stop at all the places: roadside attractions, cool restaurants, and shops.”
The fourth member of our crew: ol girl Sylvia.
The Planning Phase:
“I find destinations by searching for green spaces on a map, typically the Air BnB map, and sort by cottage, treehouse, or cabin for something interesting. I always end up near a town with nice people and interesting things to enjoy.”
“Pick one major destination, but don’t pick a ton of things along the way. Give yourself a few days to wander on the way to the big spot.”
“Get the yearly national parks pass. Great access, great cause.”
“Plan for a day off between returning from a road trip and heading back to work. And if you can, plan for a packing day before you leave, too.”
“Make cookies for snacks before leaving town!”
“Use GasBuddy to save on gas and get yourself nice local coffees with the savings.” (I’m not an affiliate! But maybe I should be, lol)
“When pulling a camper, three hours on the road, three hours off!”
My friend and former student Troy Chebuhar and his buddy Austin LeMoine transformed this 35’ bus into Tawanda, a mobile home/art studio that they trekked across the US for 4 years. Learn more about their adventures here.
Tips for the Inside of Your Ride:
“Turn the radio off and just let your mind go where it pleases. People think I'm insane, but when I would travel alone cross country, I would rarely listen to music.”
“I let my mind wander. I would wonder what it was like to live in the area I was passing through. I would think about life...where I'm going, and where I've been. I would think about people I haven't seen in a long time. When I got tired I would randomly call someone I haven't talked to in a long time. Something about it made the journey feel less taxing and more refreshing. I honestly look back on those journeys and in a way, I really miss being able to do that.”
“Podcasts are a must.”
“Keep a journal!!”
“If you have a minivan, fold the rear seats down and throw a mattress in the back so you don’t have to find a hotel or set up a campsite.”
“Bring a cooler with drinks and any food that needs to be kept cold. Otherwise shop for pre-packaged or canned foods from the grocery store. A can of roast beef hash or corned beef hash isn't too bad straight from the can.”
“Be sure to bring some silverware and a can opener.”
“If camping, baby wipes are the easiest way to stay clean!”
“Use a portable fridge to save any leftovers and eat healthy snacks.”
“Listen to audio books related to where you are wandering.”
Tawanda has a woodstove, composting toliet, solar panels, and is almost entirely built of reclaimed materials to keep her as sustainable as possible.
Making the Most of the Actual Drive:
“We just returned from Gatlinburg, The Smoky Mountains and The Blue Ridge Parkway. Don’t be hesitant when you see a sign along the way and take a detour. We got off the road for The Wild Turkey Distillery and a beautiful lake in southern Indiana! Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were a surprise and took an extra day!”
“When interstate travel is necessary to get to where you’re going: you get gas always at less than a quarter of a tank at a gas station you can see from the road, pee while it’s filling, and get your snack and get out and back on the road.”
“State and national parks are a requirement. If you’re close no matter how inconvenient or how little time you may have—you still stop.”
“When you see a guy cooking BBQ out of a truck or trailer, stop!! No matter the time of day or if you are hungry.”
“We intentionally go the more scenic route and depending on where we are the off beaten path. Positive and negative to that. We have an idea before we go but leave wiggle room.”
“Ask the locals about neighborhood spots vs the chain places.”
“15-16 hour max driving in a day.” (That is super hardcore. We try for 6-7 when we’re pulling Sylvia.)
“Drive overnight if you have kids, they fall asleep in the car and wake up at the destination.”
“Stop and participate when you see local festivities.”
“Buy a piece of original art while on your journey!”
“Always use the bathroom when you stop (if it looks reasonably clean); you don’t know when you’ll see one again.”
“When you stop somewhere, ask for recommended local diners.”
Common scenes from our dashboard.