Cross country trip tips

Hey guys my girlfriend, our dog and I are about to embark on a 3 week cross country trip from Long Island NY to Austin Texas and back. Leaving 3 days before Christmas and will be taking the most southern route possible to try and stay somewhat warm. 2016 double cab shortbed TRD OR with the following supplies so far for the trip:
CBI 3rd gen overland bars
Tepui ayer rooftop tent
YETI 45 cooler
24 gallon action packer
Contingo storage box
Custom dog bench for the pooch
wide range of camping supplies campstove,overhead awning,foldable chairs,eno hammock etc

Looking for any insight, hints, tips and tricks ranging anywhere from what other supplies we should bring, any places to stop (that are dog friendly) camping sites! whatever you guys got would be much appreciated

 

AAA
Credit cards
Camera
Food dry

 

Toilet paper.
http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

 

$19 TravelJohn-Disposable Urinal (6 Pack)

https://www.amazon.com/Travel-John-66911-TravelJohn-Disposable-Urinal/dp/B000NV878S

 

What type of custom dog bench did you make?

 

So apart from the funny stuff, travelling from LI to Austin should put you going near enough to Lynchburg TN that you ought to make time for http://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-us

 

I'd bring a portable air compressor.

 

Your dog looks less then thrilled to be in your truck. One too many vet visits?

 

Dog wants to be in bed. Not cooped up inside cab I imagine

 

Sit back and enjoy the ride! There are a couple different routes to take and all of them never put you that far from services. I drove from New Hampshire to Pensacola, FL with no issues and grabbed what I needed and wanted along the way. Check your tire pressures and you should be in the 20-23 mpg raange the entire trip. Enjoy!

 

Lol he actually just had a torn ACL surgery and out commission for almost 3 months so most visits have been to the vet recently

 

doesn't matter to him he's a daddy's boy, he was just mad we weren't going anywhere. Dreaming of the summer

 

Good toilet paper. I usually keep 1-2 rolls in a gallon resealable bag behind the rear seat.
A few small trash bags in case you roadside poo.
A map (in case GPS goes out due to weather).
Cash
Flashlights
Travel pillow & blankets

Do you have your camping spots picked out already? Do you have portable heat? There's a burn ban in effect across the Southeast as we've been ravaged by drought and forest fires for the past two months. Temps look to be in the 20s to 50s for the rest of this month. Will get windier the farther west you go.

Route: Are you coming down through Virginia or West Virginia?

Try not to pass through Atlanta between 4:15pm and 7pm. 285 is a snail race.
If you take I-85 South to its terminus in Montgomery, head South on 65. If it is morning, be wary of the South Alabama fog that collects around 65 north of Mobile. Stop and breathe in that Gulf air.
I-10 is the Southernmost direct route to Austin. I've taken that route each time and have done it in November & December a couple times. 10 through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana features a motocross track in the slow lane. Get used to the idea of 8 hours of humps. Hold your nose west of Lake Charles. THe air is 100% cancer. West of New Orleans is the swamp. Enjoy the crazies doing 90+ on an hour long bridge. Stop and buy a gator head at a truck stop.

You'll get off I-10 in Houston, and then it's pretty wide open from Houston to Austin. Just look out for the late-night double-decker Megabus doing 90mph.

 

Reliance Products Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet and Reliance Products Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags (6-Pack) Bundle

https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Pro...&qid=1481917201&sr=8-6&keywords=double+doodie

Air compressor
Tire plug kit
proper clothes and sleeping bag
emergency food
water filter

I'm an over packer so I could make a huge list. I even pack extra upper control arms, full set of tools, 5 gallon gas can, and satellite text messaging device.

 

PS: If you need a pull-off nightspot and can afford the time, my yard is available 20mins east of I-85 South, about an hour north of Atlanta. We have a campsite down by our creek. We live on the edge of Athens, Ga and the yard is full of deer, hawks, coyotes, groundhogs and armadillos. We have electricity to the creek, hot shower and hot coffee.

 

But being from NY, I doubt you're allowed to own in that state - smh

 

And baby wipes. Nothing like having a fresh and clean bum. I'm sure the GF will appreciate them too.

 

Thinking more about what I pack for Alabama camping trips:
Toiler paper, trash bags, LED lantern, head lamp, LED flashlight, shotgun & shells (if dropping by my family's farm), camping knife, multi-tool, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, extra blankets, pillows, plenty of jug water, protein snacks, rain gear (looks like it'll be pretty wet), first aid kit, fire stuff, hiking sticks, mud boots.

But, like someone mentioned above, if you're on the interstates, most anything you need will be readily available.

Points of interest via I-85, I-65, I-10:

Kings Mtn in North Carolina
The Gaffney Peach in Gaffney, SC (featured on House of Cards)
Stone Mountain, outside Atlanta, GA ($15 parking)
Pine Mtn and Callaway Gardens, FDR Little White House south of LaGrange, GA
Hank Williams memorial in downtown Montgomery, AL
I *think* there's an old battleship moored in Mobile, AL?
NOLA of course, just be mindful where you park
There's some decent roadside BBQ once you hit the Texas state line. Here's my rule of thumb: The dirtier the place, the better the BBQ.

 

Broooo.......it's 2016......you can have a very reasonable expectation to be able to drive from NY to TX with zero preparation or planning. Just saying...you'll be fine.