Wanna Be A Hitchhiker? Hitchhiking for Beginners

Spring and summer are the best seasons for traveling. Travel is expensive. Another way to save money might be…hitchhiking. But even the word itself makes me kinda cringe. Is hitchhiking safe? Let’s look at what it takes to be a hitchhiker. 

Tips for Beginners in Hitchhiking

Alright, so let’s look at hitchhiking a little closer.  Disclaimer: I’ve never personally hitchhiked. Have you? Please share your experience in the comments! I’m just sharing what I’ve learned from others. In fact, I found an excellent article on Nomadic Matt about this topic. Apparently, hitchhiking is a very common thing in other countries. 

1. Don’t Do It Alone

Hitchhiking alone can be dangerous, so it is very important to find a company to travel with you. It is possible to go hiking with your friend or find someone in social networks to hitchhike together. All in all, it is easier and funnier to travel together, so do not miss the chance of sharing this experience with someone.  

2. Make a route

It is impossible to start hitchhiking without keeping a final destination in mind. You will probably have no opportunity to get online on the road, so create your route in advance and stick to it so that your friends and family will know where you are. 

3. Don’t forget a good map

It is also necessary to buy a good paper map because it may be really useful for you during your trip, especially in places with no Internet connection. Unfortunately, you may not have any Wi-Fi points on the road, or your battery may run out faster than you expected.  

4. Travel light-handed

As for necessary things for everyday use, we recommend you to take only the most essential things because a heavy backpack to carry may spoil the journey. 

5. Dress accordingly

Another useful recommendation is to learn the weather forecast and dress accordingly. At the same time, try to take warm clothes for evenings and nights because you never know how the weather may change during the journey.  

6. Make a sign

It is also necessary to make a sign showing the place of your destination. Simply take a piece of cardboard and write down your destination to inform the drivers. In this case, it will be much easier for you to find a car. Keep the message short but interesting to attract people’s attention. 

7. Take enough money

Although hitchhiking is considered the cheapest way of traveling, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need money for hitchhiking at all. Money is necessary to buy food and water during the journey. In addition, you may offer some money for gasoline if you cannot find someone who agrees to give you a free ride.

8. Pay attention to the laws

You certainly do not want any troubles with the police; therefore, try to find and learn laws regarding hitchhiking and follow them during the journey. For example, in the USA, hitchhiking is legal in all 50 states, but all of them have different laws. 

Hopefully, these simple tips will help you to plan your first hitchhiking travel. Although hitchhiking is more difficult compared to a usual trip, it needs less money and allows you to have a more thrilling and meaningful experience.