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Road Trip through America: What to Know

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The US is known worldwide for its natural diversity, and this is not surprising, you can find almost all climate zones in America. Endless expanses of grassy plains and dense forests, both hot arid deserts and humid evergreen forests or harsh mountainous landscapes. 

All these wonders can be viewed from your car window, not to mention unique cultures, whose heritages are alive and successfully coexist with the modern world’s environment. We are ready to introduce our tips regarding such a trip on wheels. If you want to rent a 9-seater for your trip, check many available car rental options!

Get acquainted with the states’ laws you are going to attend

First, you need to know that the USA has state and federal laws. The last ones extend to the whole territory. But state laws differ according to the state. An awful lot of traffic laws are established exactly on a state level, which means they depend on the state you visit, for example, age or speed limits.

Some laws operate throughout the country, such as right-hand drive, except only in the US Virgin Islands, as well as speed limits, and driver’s license requirements.

Is a foreign driver’s license valid?

Remember that all foreign licenses are valid. So you can drive in the United States with a UK license or even a South African license. However, if your driving license is not in English or does not contain Roman alphabet letters, you will need an International Driving Permit.

You should be aware that there are two places where you can get an IDP: the American Automobile Association and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. If you apply for an IDP from a source other than those listed above, it will be automatically nullified.

Car rentals

Practically all rental car agencies have minimum age requirements and will charge you more if you are younger than a specific age. Most agencies charge more if you are younger than 25, and the rest won’t rent to you unless you are under 21. If you’re looking for transport to accommodate a big group of people, for instance, a van rental for friends, we recommend considering 9 passenger SUV rental.

Road types

Rules vary according to the type of road. There are a minimum of 4 categories of roads, each of which offers a different level of land access and movement:

  • The Interstate System;

the highest classification of roads in the United States. These highways offer the highest level of mobility and the highest speeds over the longest continuous distance. As a rule, the speed limit is between 55 mph and 75 mph.

  • Collectors;

highways that serve largely as connectors between local roads and arterial roads, but can also give direct access to a plot of land. They usually have a 35-55 mph speed limit.

  • Other Materials;

involve key roads that are connected to the Interstate System, such as freeways, multilane highways, etc. Speed limits range between 50-70mph.

  • Local;

a road in an urban setting that is surrounded by a variety of properties that may be reached from the road or a parking lot near the road, in some places, it may not be paved.

Best Highways to Drive On

  • Historic Route 66

More than 2,000 miles of American rural towns and landscapes! It feels as if the full timeline of the modern country passes by when you drive down this route, as it depicts the beginnings and development of American road transportation.

  • Pacific Coast Highway

This one embraces more than 600 miles of California’s rocky and stunning coasts. It is considered to be among the world’s most breathtakingly beautiful roads, created to be driven leisurely while taking in the views of the mountains, tall trees, wide-open bays, and infinite skies.

  • The Great Northern Route\ Highway 2

Spreading over 3,500 miles this epic cross-country route includes hills, ponds, flatlands, and valleys. You can even enter Canada by taking the longest continuous east-west road in the USA!

  • Southern Pacific Route

It begins in San Diego and travels west through Arizona, California, and Texas before turning south through Louisiana, Alabama, and eventually Georgia as it crosses the Mississippi Delta. Several large cities and thousands of miles of desolate terrain are encountered along the Southern Pacific Route.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading! We hope you managed to take into service the above-mentioned information. For more tips read this article. Have a wonderful trip!

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Emma Drew

Emma has spent over 15 years sharing her expertise in making and saving money, inspiring thousands to take control of their finances. After paying off £15,000 in credit card debt, she turned her side hustles into a full-time career in 2015. Her award-winning blog, recognized as the UK's best money-making blog for three years, has made her a trusted voice, with features on BBC TV, BBC radio, and more.

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