Life has a way of getting busy, but I’ve always believed that exploring the world is the best way to stay grounded.
From spontaneous beach days to mountain retreats, I try to live for the moments that take me away from the daily grind. That urge to explore turned into something bigger. I couldn’t settle on just one destination, so I decided to see them all. Let’s dive into how I drove from Boston to LA, in less than three weeks, for around $2,000 total.
While I didn’t hit the road that very second, once the itch to go set in, there was no turning back. For the first time, I felt a total sense of freedom—this trip was happening, one way or another.
I gave myself exactly one week to get everything ready. It was a whirlwind of logistics, so I sat down and started mapping out every essential to-do.
🌎Traveling from outside the USA? If you’re coming from overseas to tackle a cross-country US road trip, listen up: US healthcare costs are no joke. Most international domestic plans won’t cover you once you land in the States. Between the long hours on the road and the high cost of American walk-in clinics, having a “Visitor Insurance” plan is a must. We recommend a plan that includes medical evacuation and high coverage limits so you can focus on the views, not the “what-ifs.”
my pre-trip checklist:
✨ Get an oil change
✨ Check washer fluid, brake fluid, coolant, etc.
✨ Inspect tire tread & air pressure
✨ Find your spare key — just in case!
✨ Choose destinations (or wing it, if you’d like!)
✨ Let friends & family know your route/stops
✨ Make sure your health insurance is in order
the full packing list:
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✨ Extra coolant, oil & washer fluid
✨ Variety of clothes/shoes
✨ Chapstick
✨ Hand sanitizer
✨ Wet wipes, napkins, toilet paper
✨ Plastic utensils & paper plates
✨ Cooler
✨ Laptop
✨ Kindle, books & coloring books
✨ Chargers for all electronics
✨ Batteries
✨ Mini fan
✨ An atlas
✨ Printed directions (in case you lose service)
✨ Lots of water and ice
✨ Caffeinated beverages
✨ Snacks
✨ Pillows & blanket
✨ Sleeping bag or air mattress
✨ A bag of change — for tolls and parking meters
✨ Camera
✨ Hair ties (I can’t tell you how many I lose…)
✨ Medications, aspirin, antacids, etc.
✨ A positive attitude & an open mind!
With the car loaded and my preparation complete, it was time for the adventure to begin.
For a trip this size—starting in Boston and ending in LA—it’s always a good idea to bring a friend to help tackle the cross-country miles. To maximize the experience, we opted for a scenic loop around the United States, rather than a straight shot across the Midwest.
This was the first leg of the journey: 14 hours of pure driving that easily turns into 15 once you account for fuel and food stops. If you’re starting in New England, be ready for the toll gauntlet. From Massachusetts through New York and New Jersey, you’ll be reaching for your wallet constantly—but once you clear Virginia, you’re finally in the clear.
Driving through New York is the ultimate trial by fire—especially the Cross Bronx Expressway. If you can find a way to navigate around that section, do it; it will save you a massive amount of stress. Beyond that, prepare for the marathon that is North Carolina. It feels like it goes on forever, but the moment you cross into South Carolina and spot that first palm tree, the ‘vacation’ finally feels real.🌴
If you ever take a drive down the east coast, Myrtle Beach, SC is an absolute must! After that grueling 15-hour haul, nothing felt better than finally hitting the sand. We spent our time walking the boardwalk and finally relaxing after a day of nothing but asphalt. Between the endless variety of restaurants and the amusement park right on the beach, it’s the perfect place to officially switch into vacation mode.
🎢 Local Tip: Entry to Family Kingdom Amusement Park is free. However, you can purchase unlimited ride wristbands or individual credits on their website if you want to skip the lines and get straight to the fun!
Resting up for the next leg of the trip was easy after dinner at Art Burger Sushi Bar —highly recommend checking them out if you’re in the area! We stayed at Captain’s Quarters Resort, which I’d suggest to anyone looking for a killer view that won’t break the bank. It was exactly the reset we needed before heading further south.
The drive only took about 4 hours, and it was such a relief! When I added this destination to the map, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I had never been to Georgia, but I had always heard that Savannah is a beautiful, historic place to visit. From the Spanish-moss trees to the old buildings and cobblestone roads, it was everything I had hoped it would be!
🍑 Local Tip: If you think pineapple on pizza is good, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried the peach and prosciutto at Your Pie. It’s that perfect sweet-and-salty balance but leveled up with fresh Georgia peaches. Seriously, it’s a must-try!
Although we didn’t spend the night in Savannah, we had a wonderful time strolling the streets and checking out everything this beautiful city had to offer. On to the next adventure!
Want to read my FULL Savannah, GA travel guide after living here for two years? Check it out here!
The drive to Destin Beach took about 7 hours, made better by a quick visit with a friend in Jacksonville. Since we were spent, we decided to pull over at a rest stop for the night. Lesson learned: Florida humidity is brutal! 🔥 Our little battery-operated fan was the MVP of the night. It wasn’t the most glamorous 4 hours of sleep, but it got us through to the next morning so we could get back to the adventure.
Is Destin better than Key West? I think so! If you want world-class white sand and clear water on a budget, this is the spot. We did hit a toll crossing the bridge, but it was a small price to pay for the views. We spent our day at Henderson Beach State Park, which offers great public access and easy parking. Definitely a highlight of the trip!
Local Tips:
🎣 For the best seafood in the area, you have to check out The Grand Marlin at the marina. There is nothing like eating the fresh catch of the day while watching the fishing boats pull in for the evening!
🛍️ If you need a break from the sand, Pier Park is the spot. It’s a massive outdoor shopping center with great stores, live music, and perfect vibes for a sunset stroll.
😲 Looking to beat the midday heat? Check out Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for some wild exhibits that are just as impressive as the emerald water outside.
"An ocean breeze puts a mind at ease."
After a long day spent under the sun, we booked a room in New Orleans and hit the road – Another 4-hours to go!
If you think New York or Massachusetts holds the #1 spot for reckless drivers — look no further! I was driving a solid 80 mph and people were flying past me like nothing. It was a little scary, not going to lie.
We wanted the authentic Big Easy experience, so we booked a room at the Hotel St. Pierre right in the heart of the French Quarter District.
The hotel was absolutely stunning—it had that perfect mix of historic charm and a slightly “haunted” atmosphere that you can only find in NOLA. Walking into a room with those high ceilings and brick walls, we knew we were in for a memorable stay!
There was so much life and character to this city! From the voodoo shops to the art galleries, the authentic Creole food , and the entertainment.
After dinner, I remember the waitress asking us, “Would you like a drink to go?” I looked at her puzzled — “What do you mean? You can drink in public?” When she said yes… it was all over. We went from bar to bar and shortly after, the night became a blur. The variety of music was insane — one club had hip-hop, the next had a live punk-rock band, and then two steps out the door, turn left, and there’s a jazz band! New Orleans had everything you could possibly think of. That was a night I never wanted to end.
This was the worst hangover of my life. Partying it up in New Orleans… and we had yet another 14-hour drive ahead of us. Damn. I remember being so hungry hangry and I couldn’t wait to get a burrito! Mexican food is my absolute favorite….so we had to make a stop…
🌯 Local Tip: If you’re making the long haul from New Orleans to Marathon, you have to stop in Beaumont, TX for Tacos La Bamba. Hands down some of the best burritos and tacos we EVER HAD—it’s the ultimate roadside fuel-up!
Alright, back at it. Another 9 hours and 17 minutes to go.
*ding ding* Oh — we’re low on gas. Let’s stop for some fuel.
Perfect! Let’s fill it up cheap… Wait… what… the………….
Alrighty then… is anybody gonna claim this pup? (He was so cute and I wanted to take him with us.)
It was time to collect my thoughts, stretch, down a Red Bull, and get back on the road.
All I could think about was that dog though. What was his name? Where was his owner? Was he a good boy? It’s sad when you see a cute dog but never get to pet them…
I was clearly in desperate need of a nap at this point.
We drove for another 2 hours until exhaustion really kicked us in the you-know-what. I mentioned that Florida was humid — but Texas was a lot worse. I had zero tolerance for sleeping in the car again, so we looked up nearby campgrounds.
While browsing the web, I stumbled across Freecampsites.net — all you do is type in your location and a map loads with all your options. We also learned that many National Parks offer camping, which is definitely something you can use to your advantage while traveling.
We decided to stay at Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe, TX for the night. This park wasn’t free, but it was close, had plenty of open sites, and was only $15.
This was absolutely, without a doubt, the worst night of the entire trip. It must have been 95°F and the humidity was at 100%. The mini fan did absolutely nothing. We ended up stripping down and dunking ourselves in the cooler just to get comfortable — and I am not joking. You’re probably wondering why I’m wearing a sweatshirt in that photo… there was an infinite number of bugs. Just AWFUL.
*birds chirping*
So happy that’s over! Back on the road.
Another 7 hours and we arrived in Marathon, TX — a small town located right outside of Big Bend National Park. It is known to be one of the darkest places in the country for stargazing. I’ve always been obsessed with the night sky, so I was incredibly excited.
Of course, when we finally got there, the sky turned pitch black — and the most insane lightning storm I had ever seen in my life started rolling in a few miles out. There was no way in hell we were sleeping in a tent. So, we paid for a room instead.
Marathon Motel was a great place to stay. The owner was extremely nice and welcoming. They also had no issue upgrading our tent site to a room. The room itself was small, but cozy. Overall, a great experience — definitely recommend 10/10.
🍖 Don’t Miss: The small BBQ joint next door — Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue. They have a flavorful selection of beers on tap, and their food is to die for! I went twice in one day. Highly recommend the Mexican street corn, pulled pork, and BBQ ribs. I’m not even a big BBQ fan, but this was the best BBQ I’ve ever had in my life.
Yup. You heard me — a ghost town. An actual ghost town. This experience was amazing. Not only did we get to see the ruins of old buildings, we also got to walk through an ancient cemetery.
⚠️ Heads Up: This town is close to the Mexican border. We had no cellular service and our phones were roaming. Make sure you have your atlas and printed directions before heading here!
After this, we couldn’t WAIT to get out of Texas. I think it took 3 days or so to drive through the state…..
Peace out! 👋
This stretch was 13 hours, including our stop for dinner in New Mexico. Luckily, we had a relative out in Tucson. We didn’t have to get a hotel; we could actually get some laundry done and just relax for a couple of days. It was very peaceful.
🌡️ Arizona Heat Warning:
Do not leave anything in your car that can melt or explode under extreme temperatures — makeup, electronics, anything in a plastic bottle!! This is no joke. Arizona was at 115°F and numerous items in my car melted. Also, keep a close eye on your coolant and temperature gauge. It is not uncommon for your car to overheat while driving in Arizona..especially in August.
Vegas, baby!!!! Here we come! 🎲
As someone who hits Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun back in Connecticut pretty regularly, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I’d heard the rumors that ‘nobody ever wins in Vegas,’ and while I can’t speak for everyone, I can tell you this: Vegas ate my $100 budget in exactly 15 minutes. I’m just glad I stuck to my ‘cash-only’ rule so I had plenty left over for shopping and dining!
Well… that was fun.
After the casino, we were absolutely starving! We walked around looking for somewhere to eat and ended up at Dick’s Last Resort (they do have one back home in Boston, but I’d never gone). This place was pretty cool. The food was decent, and the waiter was a total a$$hole — that’s not a complaint, it’s literally part of the experience! They also come over and place paper hats on your head with awful things written about you. Pretty funny, I must say!
These drinks were only about $8. It took me 40 minutes to drink. I don’t recall them having enough alcohol to do the trick, but they were yummy!
On our way back to the room, we came across a candy store. I’m not a sweets person, but I figured — why not?
YES — that’s exactly what it appears to be. It’s the Statue of Liberty made out of chocolate. My friend wanted to lick it SO badly. You only live once, so honestly I kind of wish he had! I wonder how many people have actually done it? Gross.
This store was super cool though. They had an entire Reese’s section — pillows, shirts, flip flops, huge bags of candy, pretty much anything you could think of!
And there it is — the Excalibur Hotel. Beautiful, right? Looks can be deceiving…
To be honest, our stay was a total nightmare. The staff was incredibly rude, and they shut the pool down two hours early with no explanation at all. When we checked into our room, it looked nothing like the ‘tower view’ I had specifically booked. The worst part? When we went to the desk to complain, the response was literally: “Why don’t you go somewhere else then?” I couldn’t believe it.
On the bright side, even though we didn’t get the view we paid for, we did get a front-row seat to the sunrise over Motel 6 and Hooters. Breathtaking, right? 😂
If you know me personally and you’re reading this right now, you’re probably saying to yourself — “That’s so Holly. Of course she would go there!”
It was an easy, painless, and peaceful 3-hour drive. This is where your atlas and printed directions come into play. There is absolutely NO cellular service out here — and if you see a UFO, you better run!
Our first stop was an odd little diner known as Little A’Le’Inn. They have rooms to spend the night as well (if you’re too chicken to camp out in the desert 😄).
The young guy who worked there was super down-to-earth and welcoming. We sat at the bar for hours and talked about Area 51 over some whiskey. He was very informative and even gave us a map of the area (featured below).
🚨 IMPORTANT: If you go to Area 51, there are signs that say, “No Cameras,” “Do Not Trespass,” and “Use of Deadly Force Authorized.” This is for real. Don’t even mess with it. We didn’t.
Once we had the map and all the information we needed, it was time to explore. We drove to the Alien Research Center in Hiko, NV. It wasn’t an actual research center, but it was a really cool gift shop! Anything alien you could think of — it was there. I ended up buying a bracelet and a few bumper stickers for cheap.
Marilyn Monroe totally looks better as an extraterrestrial! 👽
After the gift shop, we headed back to the bar. On the way, we found some great photo ops!
We also found a little spot in Hiko known as E-T Fresh Jerky. They had the obvious — beef jerky! And it was the BEST jerky I have ever tasted. Selections included beef jerky, turkey jerky, spicy jerky, teriyaki jerky, and more. They also had custom sodas!
It was now time to pitch the tent. I really didn’t want to spend any more money at a motel, and I was obsessed with the idea of sleeping in the desert. If you ever travel the 375 Extraterrestrial Highway and want the real experience — camp out in the desert. When we spoke with the guy at the bar, he assured us that people do it all the time and there’s nothing to worry about. You can literally pull off the side of the highway anywhere you’d like! Just make sure you’re at least 40 feet away from the road.
This was our spot for the night! ✨
Although we didn’t see any UFO’s, the view from our tent was out of this world 🌌
The drive to Palmdale was approximately six hours. The plan was to stay with my cousin for three days and venture out to the LA area.
The drive to Los Angeles from Palmdale was about an hour with traffic, but the ride was totally worth it.
After grabbing lunch, we began our journey down Hollywood Boulevard.
Lots of walking, tons of people, and so many neat things to check out in this area.
📸 Must-Stop:If you happen to walk by LA’s Museum of Illusions on the boulevard, definitely pop in! This place is so cool and it’s a great opportunity to take some truly wild photos.
"The most beautiful things in life are not things. They're people, places, memories, and pictures. They're feelings and moments, and smiles, and laughter.— Anouska Hempel"
Back on the road! With Santa Monica Pier as our next stop — another hour’s drive.
It felt so good to see the ocean again! Growing up in New England, it’s one thing I don’t think I could live without. The Pacific coast is definitely different from the east coast though. If you go swimming, please be cautious of sea urchins, jellyfish, stingrays, and the obvious — sharks!
If swimming isn’t your thing, take a stroll on the pier. There are tons of gift shops, restaurants, and even an amusement park!
Palmdale to Denver was a long drive — 15 hours straight through. Luckily, we had a friend to stay with once we got there.
When driving through the canyons, you will see numerous signs warning about “falling rock“…….
45 minutes from Denver, this happened.
Mmmmhmm. And there’s no advice I can give you on this — it can happen, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to avoid it.
So much driving in such a short amount of time…you may ask, “What the heck do you do to keep yourself busy on the road?”
For me, it was easy. I had never really left New England, so the road itself was a distraction. Going through state after state I’d never been to, gazing at beautiful landscapes, and just breathing in fresh air was a true feeling of happiness.
However, there were times, especially at night, where I got a little restless and bored.
Here’s what kept me going:
✨ Taking selfies (obviously 📸)
✨ Updating photos of the journey
✨ Coloring / drawing
✨ Reading e-books
✨ Watching downloaded movies
✨ Car karaoke
📱 Pro Tip: If you have Google Play, Netflix, etc., download your movies (or shows) before you leave. That way, when you have no service, you still have entertainment. Same goes for music — download songs directly to your phone so you have something to listen to when all the radio stations in the area are terrible (or when you have zero service for Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube).
Finally, here!
Wait…That’s Denver? Kind of looks like Boston… I felt like I was home again! 😄
At this point in the game I was so tired of spending money — but as I had previously mentioned, we had a friend who kindly let us stay with her.
If you have relatives or friends along the way, I strongly suggest staying with them when possible. Booking a hotel every single night would add up really fast. Plus, it’s nice to catch up with your loved ones 💕
Denver is one hell of a time! Want to shop or go out to eat? Go downtown. Want to camp, hike, or swim? Head up to the mountains.
Colorado is the place to be if you really want to explore all the beauty that nature has to offer.
The Rocky Mountains 🏔️
One last drive.
This stretch was a 29-hour marathon, and we drove it straight through—stopping only for the essentials: restrooms and road food.
Honestly, my camera stayed in my bag for most of it because there just isn’t much to document in the middle of the country. I truly don’t know how people do it… it’s just corn fields, followed by more corn fields, and—you guessed it—even more corn! 🌽
Overall, this was the trip of a lifetime. If you ever have the chance to do it — don’t think. Just GO.
The Quick Breakdown
- Time on Road: ~3 weeks (Approx. 114 hours)
- Total Budget: ~$2,400
- Booking Tip: Use TripAdvisor for last-minute hotel deals; Freecampsites.net or National Parks to save on lodging.
- Pro Tip: Pack a physical atlas for the “dead zones” out west!
Want to check out my second cross-country road trip which covers the Pacific Northwest? Head over to Part 2!
Have a question about your next trip? Holly Would Know!
Shoot me a message or check out more travel guides on the main page.
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