Road Trip Safety Tips: How to Stay Safe on Long Drives in the US

The most important road trip safety tips are simple. Check your tires, fluids and brakes before you leave. Never drive drowsy, and take a break every two hours or 100 miles. Keep your phone mounted and hands-free. Carry water, a first aid kit, a flashlight and a phone charger. In remote areas, fill up at half a tank and download offline maps. Turn around at flooded roads, slow down at dusk for wildlife, and if you break down, get the car off the road, turn on hazard lights and stay with it in remote country.

A road trip is one of the best ways to see the United States, and for most people it is perfectly safe. The emergencies that do happen tend to be predictable. A driver pushes on for an extra two hours after dark and drifts across the center line. A worn tire blows out at highway speed in Nevada heat. A family follows a GPS shortcut onto an unpaved forest road in Death Valley with half a tank of gas and no cell signal. A car stalls in a low-water crossing in Texas during a summer storm. None of these require bad luck. They come from small decisions made while tired, rushed or unprepared.

This guide is the checklist we use before every long drive. It covers the car, the driver, the route and the specific hazards of American roads, from desert heat and mountain snow to deer on rural highways. Use it alongside our road trip planning guide and road trip packing list.

• 2 hoursMaximum stretch between breaks
• ½ tankRefuel point in remote areas
• 12 inchesOf moving water can float most cars
• Dawn & duskPeak hours for deer collisions

Before you leave: check the car

A breakdown is the most common road trip problem, and most breakdowns start with something you could have spotted in a driveway. A week before you leave, check or have a mechanic check the following.

• Tires. Check pressure when the tires are cold, using the number on the sticker inside the driver’s door, not the maximum on the sidewall. Look for bulges, cracks and uneven wear. For tread depth, put a penny into the groove with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is below 2/32 of an inch and the tire needs replacing.
• Spare tire and jack. Many newer cars have no spare at all, only an inflation kit. Find out what you have, check that the spare holds air and practice using the jack once at home.
• Oil and fluids. Top up oil, coolant, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid. If you are due for an oil change in the next 2,000 miles, do it before the trip.
• Brakes. Squealing, grinding or a soft pedal all need attention before mountain driving.
• Battery. Batteries older than about four years fail more often in heat and cold. Most auto parts stores test them for free.
• Wipers and lights. Replace streaky wiper blades and check headlights, brake lights and turn signals.
• Air conditioning. In the Southwest in summer, a failed A/C is a safety problem, not just a comfort issue.

If you are renting a car, walk around it before you drive away. Photograph any damage, check the tires and make sure the spare or inflation kit is in the trunk. Ask whether the rental company allows driving on gravel roads, since many contracts forbid it. Our guide to rental car insurance explains what is covered if something goes wrong.

Driver fatigue is the biggest risk

Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of serious crashes on long trips, and it is easy to underestimate. Federal highway safety officials estimate that drowsy driving is involved in tens of thousands of crashes a year, and many experts think it is underreported because there is no test for it after a crash. Being awake for about 18 hours impairs your driving roughly as much as a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent, and after 24 hours it is comparable to 0.10 percent, above the legal limit in every state.

Warning signs include yawning, heavy eyelids, missing an exit, drifting onto the rumble strip and not remembering the last few miles. By the time you notice them, you are already impaired. Coffee and loud music help for a short while, but they do not replace sleep.

• Limit driving to about 6 to 8 hours a day, including stops, and less in mountains or cities.
• Stop every 2 hours or 100 miles to walk around, even for five minutes.
• Share driving and switch before the current driver feels tired.
• Avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the mid-afternoon slump if you can.
• If you feel sleepy, pull into a rest area or a safe, lit parking lot and take a 20-minute nap.
• Don’t start a long day of driving after a red-eye flight or a short night of sleep.

Rest areas on interstates are generally safe for short breaks, but some states limit how long you can stay. Truck stops and well-lit 24-hour gas stations are good alternatives for a quick nap.

Distracted driving and phones

Many US states now ban holding a phone while driving, and texting while driving is illegal for all drivers in almost every state. Rules vary, so the safest approach is the same everywhere: set your navigation before you start, mount the phone where you can see it without holding it and let a passenger handle music and messages. Use voice commands for calls. If you need to look up a restaurant or change the route, pull over.

Navigation apps are a great help but not infallible. They sometimes route drivers onto closed seasonal roads, unpaved backroads or private land, especially in national parks and deserts. If a route turns onto a dirt road you didn’t expect, stop and check a paper map or the official park map before continuing.

Plan for no cell service

Large parts of the American West have no cell coverage at all. This includes much of Nevada, Utah, eastern Oregon, Wyoming, Montana and the national parks, as well as long stretches in the Appalachians and northern woods. Before you leave:

• Download offline maps for your whole route in Google Maps or another app.
• Carry a paper road atlas or state maps as a backup.
• Tell someone your route and when you plan to arrive each night.
• Screenshot hotel confirmations, reservation codes and park passes.
• Consider a satellite messenger or a phone with satellite SOS if you plan to drive remote roads or hike.

Fuel: the half-tank rule

In cities and along interstates in the East, you are rarely more than a few miles from a gas station. In the West, distances between stations can stretch to 80 or 100 miles, and some small-town stations close at night. Fill up whenever your tank drops to half in remote areas, and always before entering a national park, a desert or a mountain pass. Signs that say “No services next 80 miles” are not exaggerating.

Electric vehicles need more planning. Check charger locations along your route, have backup chargers in mind and remember that range drops in cold weather, at high speeds and while climbing. Our EV road trip guide covers charging strategy in detail.

The emergency kit

You don’t need survival gear, but a small kit in the trunk solves most problems while you wait for help.

Roadside assistance is worth having. Many auto insurance policies and credit cards include it, and memberships like AAA cover towing, lockouts, fuel delivery and jump starts. Save the phone number in your phone and write it on a card in the glove box.

Weather hazards by region

Desert heat

Summer temperatures in Death Valley, Phoenix, Las Vegas and southern Utah often exceed 110°F. A breakdown in that heat becomes dangerous within hours. Carry extra water, avoid unpaved roads in summer, keep the gas tank full and don’t leave children or pets in a parked car even for a few minutes. Heat can also cause tire blowouts, so check tire pressure in the morning. If your car overheats, turn off the A/C and turn on the heater to pull heat from the engine, then pull over and let it cool before opening the radiator. Our Death Valley guide covers desert driving rules in detail.

Flash floods

Flash floods kill more people in the US each year than lightning, and many of the victims are in vehicles. The National Weather Service warns that six inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet, about 12 inches can float many cars and two feet can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups. Floodwater also hides washed-out roadbeds. The rule is simple: turn around, don’t drown. In the Southwest, flash floods can arrive from storms many miles away under clear local skies, especially during the summer monsoon from July to September. Never park or camp in a dry wash.

Snow and ice

Mountain passes in the Rockies, Sierra Nevada and Cascades can see snow from October to May, and some, like Tioga Pass in Yosemite and Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier, close entirely for winter. Some states require chains or traction tires on certain roads during storms. Check state 511 road information before crossing passes, slow down, double your following distance and avoid sudden braking. If you get stuck in snow, stay with your car, keep the exhaust pipe clear to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, and run the engine for only about 10 minutes an hour for heat. Our winter vacations guide includes tips for snowy destinations.

Thunderstorms and tornadoes

In the Great Plains and the South, spring and early summer bring severe thunderstorms with hail, high winds and sometimes tornadoes. Keep a weather app with alerts on, and if a tornado warning is issued, seek shelter in a sturdy building. Never shelter under a highway overpass; wind speeds can be higher there.

Hurricanes

Along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, hurricane season runs June through November. Follow evacuation orders immediately; visitors are often asked to leave first, and traffic builds quickly. Our hurricane season guide explains how to plan.

Wildlife on the road

Collisions with deer and other animals cause more than a million insurance claims a year in the US, and they are most common at dawn and dusk and in the fall breeding season, from October through December. In the West, you might also meet elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bison or cattle on open range roads, where livestock may wander freely.

• Slow down at dawn, dusk and night in rural areas and near wildlife crossing signs.
• Use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic.
• Where you see one deer, expect more to follow.
• If a collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane. Swerving often causes worse crashes.
• Never approach injured animals. Call local police or the state highway patrol.

In national parks, wildlife traffic jams are common. Pull fully off the road to watch animals, and stay in your car near bison, bears and moose. Our Yellowstone itinerary has more on wildlife etiquette.

Mountain and back road driving

Steep descents can overheat brakes. Shift into a lower gear, or use your car’s low or manual mode, and let the engine slow the car instead of riding the brakes. On narrow mountain roads, the uphill driver generally has the right of way. Use pullouts to let faster traffic pass. On winding roads, honk lightly before blind curves where signs suggest it.

Unpaved roads in national forests and deserts can be fine in dry weather and impassable after rain. Ask rangers about road conditions before taking them, and don’t trust your GPS to know whether a road is suitable for your car.

If you break down

1. Signal and move as far off the road as possible, ideally onto a wide shoulder or exit ramp.
2. Turn on hazard lights. At night, also turn on interior lights.
3. If you are on a busy highway and can safely do so, get everyone out on the side away from traffic and stand well behind a guardrail.
4. Set reflective triangles behind the car if it is safe to walk there.
5. Call roadside assistance or, if you are in danger, 911. Note the nearest mile marker or exit.
6. In remote country, extreme heat or snow, stay with the car. A vehicle is much easier for rescuers to spot than a person walking.

All 50 states have “move over” laws requiring drivers to slow down or change lanes when passing stopped emergency vehicles, and many extend this to any car with hazard lights on. Return the favor when you see someone stopped on the shoulder.

Personal safety and theft

Car break-ins are common at trailheads, beach parking lots and tourist areas in cities like San Francisco. Never leave bags, electronics or anything that looks valuable visible in the car. Put things in the trunk before you arrive, not after you park, since thieves sometimes watch lots. Use hotel parking with security cameras if you can.

At night, fill up and stop at busy, well-lit gas stations. Keep doors locked while driving in cities. If another driver behaves aggressively, don’t engage; slow down, let them pass and, if they follow you, drive to a police station or busy public place. Solo travelers can read our solo travel guide for more tips.

Traveling with kids and pets

Children must ride in age- and size-appropriate car seats, and laws vary by state. In general, kids under 13 are safest in the back seat. Plan more frequent stops, about every 90 minutes with young children. Never leave children or pets alone in a car; temperatures inside can rise more than 20 degrees in 10 minutes. Pets should travel in a secured crate or with a crash-tested harness. Our family road trip tips and dog travel guide go deeper.

Common mistakes

Driving too far in one day. Ambitious itineraries push drivers past the point of fatigue.

Trusting GPS on unfamiliar back roads. Apps don’t know about snow closures, washouts or rough roads.

Letting the gas run low in the West. Stations can be 100 miles apart.

Driving into flooded roads. Water depth and current are almost impossible to judge.

Leaving valuables in sight. Trailhead break-ins can ruin a trip in seconds.

Frequently asked questions

Before your next drive

1. Check tires, fluids, brakes, battery and the spare a week before you leave.
2. Build an itinerary with no more than 6 to 8 hours of driving a day.
3. Pack the emergency kit, extra water and a phone charger.
4. Download offline maps and share your route with someone at home.
5. Check weather and road conditions each morning before you set out.