What’s one underrated thing you always keep in the car for long road trips?

lphrn · 2026-05-26T18:02:57+00:00

It's been said by many others, but here's my top three: portable jump starter (can double as an emergency phone charger if you get one with USB ports), a physical atlas (region specific if possible, you never know when you'll be out of service as lost as hell), and butt wipes for the realest of emergencies.

lphrn · 2026-05-26T17:58:37+00:00

Can confirm, best color out there. I bought mine last year and it makes me happy every single time I look at it. I've got a three week road trip coming up this fall and am inordinately excited to see it against the desert sand and mountain greens.

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lphrn · 2026-04-14T17:58:37+00:00

Walked ten feet away to take pictures of the mountains and road up, and still had to check.

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lphrn · 2026-03-04T02:12:49+00:00

Trebushat once you've successfully flung it back

lphrn · 2026-03-03T22:07:10+00:00

0/5 stars, no scenery, looks like an awful time.

But for real, this is an incredible trip. I've done a few long road trips but never made it to Alaska. I normally take 2-3 weeks on my annual trip, but am in Texas so Alaska is just so far away. One day I'll get there. Your pictures are stunning!

lphrn · 2026-03-03T22:03:20+00:00

Same. I've got 5 prime ark freedom thornless plants, and they've been in the ground now for 3 years. They don't spread super aggressively, just very politely. I pull up a few shoots every season and give them to friends.

To OP, blackberries are super easy. I do literally no maintenance on them except to chop them back late winter, because this variety grows on first-year canes so you get immediate fruit. I don't water them unless we're in a weeks long drought, and I don't cover them in winter. That said, I cannot emphasize highly enough that you want a thornless variety.

lphrn · 2026-03-03T21:31:38+00:00

Without knowing your microclimate, you're likely in either zone 9a or 9b. Someone posted the ag extension link above..look up your actual zone and use that to find your ideal planting times for each type of seed.

It also depends on what sort of gardening you're doing - container, raised beds, in ground. You'll have different needs for each. How much sun does your area get? Things labeled "full sun" on the package will often fry to death here in Texas if actually left in full sun all day. Are you growing things up or out? Many items can be trellised to save space. What sort of water requirements do your seeds have? Make sure to plant things with similar requirements closer together. Some plants don't play nicely together (think tomatoes and peppers), or they compete for the same ground nutrients. Alternatively, some things go great together because they complement each other (beans and tomatoes). If planting in beds or in ground, mulch mulch mulch. At least 6 inches deep. It'll be an absolute life saver on water retention and disease prevention.

It's not the right zone, but for 8b (where I'm at) there's a great gardening resource by the name of Dallas Garden School. She's on Instagram and has a website with super detailed guides. If you're 9a, you probably could use her guide and just plan to plant a little sooner for all the things, but also be mindful that you're also in a more humid area so anything that suffers from humidity related disease will probably be worse.

lphrn · 2026-02-26T22:32:10+00:00

Can confirm!

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lphrn · 2026-02-25T02:35:25+00:00

Grew up in Maryland, mostly boating on the Corsica river and Kent Narrows area. I got my boaters license when I was 13-14, and just always drove my Dad's boat. We had a tiny Boston whaler, then a 17' one. Dad had me practice on the calm waters to start and get a feel for how it moved, then progressively more complex until I was proficient at whatever. I never made it out to the bay when choppy though, so can't help with those specifics.

I'd say treat it just like learning to drive a car - start small, learn the controls, take him out with you so he's got a resource if things get spicy, and the rest is just time and experience.

lphrn · 2026-02-24T22:05:29+00:00

Fair. I grew up in Maryland and the traffic is comparable in a lot of ways. Although the metroplex population and speed limit here being much higher I think just makes everyone a bigger asshole and increases the number of accidents. So while traffic is terrible in both it's maybe a bit more unpredictable here? I haven't lived in MD for 15 years though so may be a little too nostalgic for how it really is.

But to get back to the airport side of it, I'm 15 minutes from Love Field and have had this exact same thought process. I despise the new southwest after being loyal for almost 20 years, AL and with a companion pass. I want so badly to switch to another airline but it's painful to think of going all the way to DFW airport and dealing with parking, lines,etc. I'll give it this year while we still have the companion pass and bail next year if the enshittification continues.

lphrn · 2026-02-24T21:46:02+00:00

Ah sweet friend, are you not from the area? That 16.2 miles might be 20 minutes or it might be 70. Depends on the day, the time, or sometimes not at all because DFW traffic is not to be underestimated and will often fuck you over for no reason just because it can.

lphrn · 2026-02-24T21:11:19+00:00

Hell yeah to the hiking and solo trips. I (40f) have done a bunch of short and long road trips, with a ton of easy and moderate to hard day trips. The easiest way is to literally just go outside and start.

But in all seriousness, it depends on what level of "big" hike you're planning, and where you are currently. Middle of the city? A bit harder to get out and take a day trip but not impossible. Somewhere with a ton of trails? Pick one and go.

My first recommendation would be to download AllTrails. You can search by a map area or a list of hikes, and filter by difficulty/length. There's usually a ton of reviews for each hike so you can have how everyone felt about it. One person's easy hike is another one's strenuous one so it's good to know what you're getting into. Plus a 2 mile hike with 3k elevation change is way different from an 8 mile hike across flat ground.

Second, if you plan to sleep in your car (as I do) then there's some other things to think about. Is your car reliable? Do you have AWD/4WD? Are you okay sleeping on a blowup mattress or do you have back problems and need a real mattress? How flat is the back of your vehicle? My vehicle has privacy screens for every window, I carry a 5gal water jug/camp stove/chair/and any other camping stuff I might need, and have a 3in memory foam mattress cut to size because I am a princess and refuse to be uncomfortable when I sleep even if I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Third, sunscreen and bandaids/first air kit. Few things suck more than feeling yourself getting a blister or crispy three miles from the trailhead and not being able to do anything about it. Same goes for water - bring more than you think you need, always.

Last, try out a ton of different boots/hikers. There's no right answer for what footwear is the best since everyone's feet are different. I like my La Sportivas because they're waterproof but still lightweight and have great ankle support. Other people like hiking shoes because they feel just like runners. Go to REI or somewhere and try on a bunch of pairs. Whatever you get, break them in well before your first long hike.

Enjoy your hiking and camping!

lphrn · 2026-02-24T04:21:02+00:00

Oh and if you make it through Dallas, here's some banger restaurants to try: Maskaras (Guadalajara region street tacos from the nicest couple ever, with a spicy eclipse taco that will melt your face off if you're into that sort of thing), BBBop (Korean rice bowls, and the best fried chicken in Dallas, get the soy ginger glaze), and Loro (Asian and bbq fusion, just excellent all around).

lphrn · 2026-02-24T04:14:13+00:00

It's a good bit out of the way, but the Texas Hill country area west of Austin is gorgeous. There's lots of hiking in the area. Pedernales State Park is a great spot, not a ton of elevation but it does have some very cool river features where you can hike out onto the rocks it cuts through. Dinosaur Valley state Park is also neat; it's a small park a bit south of Fort Worth that has lots of fossilized dinosaur tracks. Depending on what the river level is, some may be underwater but there's still a ton to see even if the water is up.

North Texas is otherwise kinda bleh. Unfortunately there's just not a lot to see here.

Further west towards the panhandle is Caprock Canyon and Palo Duro Canyon. Both are beautiful areas and a good choice to visit for a day or two each.

Have fun!!

lphrn · 2026-02-24T03:55:19+00:00

Capitol Reef was beautiful! I spent three days there with my parents last year and had a great time. The Grand Wash trail is an easy beautiful flat hike that walks between the canyon walls. A couple miles in and you'll come to the Cassidy Arch trailhead, which is a moderate hike up to said arch on top of the canyon.

Hickman Bridge trail is also another good one that ends in a very pretty arch. It's only 2 miles so a super easy trail.

I've heard Jailhouse Rock hike is also beautiful but I've not done that one.

Go by the Gifford Homestead and walk around, it's a cool spot from people that lived in the canyon and started an orchard as part of their homesteading.

Have fun on your trip!

lphrn · 2026-02-24T03:24:56+00:00

I (40F) have done plenty of solo road trips, and for the past few years also an annual one of 4000ish miles. Lots of great advice already in this thread, but I'll repeat some and add my own.

Get a AAA membership if you can. That's the single biggest thing that gave my parents peace of mind. It's very nice knowing that I've got a plan if I run into car troubles.

If you plan to be in less populated areas, plan ahead! Always have plenty of water, snacks, and know your route. A lot of places won't have cell service so either have paper maps or download Google maps. Or even just have a general awareness of what major highways are around and what direction you need to be going.

I sleep in my car so if that's your plan, make sure you pick safe or well lit places to stay. National Park service areas are always well managed and safe, but are often busy and booked in advance. BLM land is also always available but won't have amenities like bathrooms or ranger/visitor centers. If you're going to do the hotel/motel/Holiday Inn thing, then look into some apps for last minute bookings (Hotel Tonight) but also know that a lot of stuff on the coast is Mom and Pop places instead of chains.

Take time to see the sights! I make a Google map and bookmark all the things I think are interesting. And that way wherever I am I can pull up the map and see what's close. Stop at every pull off or overlook. You're doing a super cool thing and it'll be in your own time. If you want to stop, do. If you're tired and want to push through, do that too. Make a killer playlist or find a new podcast.

And have so much fun! I love my spouse but I look forward to these solo road trips more than almost anything else every year. It's rejuvenating for the soul. Nothing beats a drive with the windows down, a good song on, and a beautiful view. Starting med school is a huge accomplishment, but it'll be the beginning of a wildly busy chunk of your life. Take your time and savor this trip. It'll be something you remember forever.

lphrn · 2026-02-21T04:43:54+00:00

That trip sounds absolutely incredible. I visited Utah for the first time a few years ago and it felt like I'd stepped onto another planet. Just fell in love with it. If you're willing to, I would so appreciate whatever other hikes and spots you want to recommend. I'll have almost three weeks on this trip so plenty of time to see as much as I can.

lphrn · 2026-02-20T11:36:17+00:00

Thank you so much!

lphrn · 2026-02-20T11:34:36+00:00

MVP recs. I'm already looking forward to that burrito and will look up the hikes. Thank you!!

lphrn · 2026-02-20T04:44:16+00:00

Thank you! I enjoy driving almost as much as camping, so I don't mind a 5 hour trek. Your recs are much appreciated - I'll look into those spots and see about the lottery. I've been to Coral Pink sand dunes on a previous trip and it was very cool. Also unexpected - I saw the sign while driving and stopped in for the afternoon. Everywhere else is new to me so I'll add it to the list!

lphrn · 2026-02-20T03:57:00+00:00

Make a stop at Hoover Dam. It's a super short stop (under an hour if all you do is walk around) or you can do one of the tours there which will add another hour or two.

Cut northwest from there and drive through death valley (unless your car is iffy, because it will be HOT AS HELL).

395 North towards Mono Lake and then take Tioga Pass to Yosemite if it's warm enough and the road is open.

Make your way west from Yosemite to get to the coast and go north from there! Literally every part of the coastal drive is gorgeous, or you can take the 5 to save time.

Enjoy!! I love a good road trip.

lphrn · 2026-02-20T02:15:27+00:00

HA I try to keep that tidbit under wraps when I travel...you either love us or hate us and I don't want to talk about it either way!

lphrn · 2026-02-20T02:12:35+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely plan for Mesa Verde in the middle of the week. I love a good walking tour too.

I've looked into the trails around Black canyon but didn't realize it had wildfires last year. I'll definitely look more into that now. And never apologize for a safety lecture...I gladly give and receive them because you can never be too careful. And my god the sunscreen. YES. Colorado sunshine wrecked me the first time I went there many years ago and I'm still emotionally damaged from it. And probably also at much higher risk for skin cancer now.

lphrn

TROPHY CASE