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Driving accross country essentials?

Travel Info
Im driving from Idaho to Florida, what would be some essentials for myself, and my puppy thats going with me?

Travel Tips

make sure to plan your route thoroughly, give yourself plenty of time. schedule your stops. drink water check for construction along your route and look for alternate routes. have someone at both ends that knows your expected route, your arrival and departure expectations that you can check in with regularly. get plenty of rest in the 48 hours prior to the start of your trip. get yourself an atlas. also print or write out directions for your route. budget your money for fuel, food, and if you plan on stopping, lodging. if you are stopping for lodging, decide where you are going to stop and look for a hotel in that area prior to leaving and make a reservation at each stop. take your time. check the forecast along your route so you dont get surprised by inclimate weather. also make sure to have your car checked out and inform them that you are drive cross country. get a road side emergency kit and it would not hurt to get a AAA membership

prior to leaving find out if your puppy gets car sick. if he does you might consider a puppy carrier. do this by driving around in your area for a while if he gets car sick it should show within about half an hour. Source(s): Make multiple trips between Oklahoma and Wisconsin each month
Other Travel Tips

You need an emergency kit with a couple days water, food, blanket, flashlight, extra batteries, matches, spare tire and stuff to change a tire with. You need rags or paper towels in case of a dog mess or sickness. You need jumper cables, clothes, sunglasses, dog accessories (leash, harness, bowl, bed, medicines). Don't forget the AAA card, your visa/atm card and cash.

are you camping? If so, you need camping supplies. You might want to take your bicycle, then make sure you have a front basket for your puppy.

Good luck and have fun!
Just drove from southern cali to Alabama with a dog and a cat, know how you feel. Get your car checked out before you go, let them know you are driving cross country. Get a couple of gallons of wind shield washer fluid to add along the way, you'll hit bugs, lots of bugs. Bring snacks and a cooler with drinks and water for the dog. Make sure you have plenty of food for the dog and any leashes or collars. Some of the rest areas we stopped at had great dog areas.

Being a woman who hates public rest rooms I brought a shoulder bag that had extra toilet paper, seat covers and anti bacterial gel and put it within easy reach for the rest stops. If you have AAA you can have them print up a trip ticket. This will be a detailed driving map with marked areas where the rest stops are along the way, very handy to have.

If you are stopping at hotels along the way, be sure to check http://www.petswelcome.com/ for a list of hotels that take pets. Keep all food, clothes, dog bowls and doggie bags within easy reach so when you do stop you don't have to search for stuff.

Hope this helps!
Tom Tom
Mace
TP
Cell Phone with Car Charger
Emergency Sign for car window
First aid kit
Blanket
Food
Water
Travel Intinery left with friends or family at both ends of trip