how long does it take?

[Nomad101]

Im gonna be hitching from chicago to the west coast this summer, how much time should I expect it to take? like do rides come easy?

nomad101

[dave69]

When I am planning a hitchhiking trip, I figure out how long it should take by first finding out how long it takes to drive to my destination. Then I reference hitchwiki maps to see where to hitchhike, and the website usually has time estimates for how long you should be waiting in different hitchhiking spots and cities. Just compile the two mentioned times, factoring in where you are going to stay for the night or for sightseeing and such, and you should have an accurate time estimate!

[brakos]

Also depends on how much you want to sightsee, take smaller highways, etc. or if you're going to be in a hurry. Hard part is going to be getting out of Chicago!

[Lightfoot]

It depends on your route, whether you get stuck in big cities, how many hours a day you plan to hitch, and luck.

[brotherjohn]

maybe take a couple short trips to get your feet wet someplace familiar

[djikajin]

maybe take a couple short trips to get your feet wet someplace familiar

Can't agree more. The best advice I can give to you is to make smaller trips to cities close-by (in a range of 150 to 300 miles for a start), each time extending the distance. That doesn't only give you a better feeling of how long it will take you to get somewhere, it will also (in case you want to sleep outside) help you estimate which equipment will come in handy (or would have), and which you should leave behind.

I don't know how experienced you are, but in case you're new to all this, this is my advice. If of course you have some experience: calculate how long you can hike per day, account that with the distance and you have the time it will maximum take you - unless you get stuck somewhere. Now use your experience on how good the chances for a lift usually are and take that in account as well. Should give you a good hint. And as long as you know the maximum time you'll need, everything else is not really that neccesary to estimate.

[Lightfoot]

I've hitched out west from Chicago about ten times. I-80 is a long slab of concrete that can have you in Denver or Cheyenne in less than 24 hours, and less than 48 hours if you spend the night crashed out in a Nebraska cornfield. Before you know it, you're in Salt Lake City and then Reno.

[WildWill]

I just double the driving time, that usually works out pretty accurately. Use Google Maps, double it and add on sleeping time. Often it's only 1.5 times the driving time or less. This is an average for long distance, and of course it will vary on how trustworthy you look to drivers...

[TheWindAndRain]

Wildwill that is a good rule of thumb for average time that I have found to be true. It varies of course based on location and region, but when averaging over thousands of miles that time ends up to be pretty accurate.

[WildWill]

Also don't be intimidated to just go for it, regardless of your experience. My first trip was very similar to yours, it was awesome and I made mistakes that I learnt from. Still made it there before the Greyhound. If you're asking for a ride, someone will always stop, eventually. So, always be asking for a ride Even if you're walking to a better spot, may as well throw out a thumb and a smile - "If you don't ask, the answer is always no"... which isn't always the case but it's a good mantra!