How much of America do you get to actually enjoy?

Not even worth the hassle most of the time but you can build up a heck of a tour itinerary for the motohome when you retire.

 

In my 7+ years on the road, I've occasionally had a layover here and there or hometime,which sometimes was over a weekend. This gave me 1 to 6 days to do what I wanted to do. For instance:

I went to submarine training school in Groton, Connecticut in the 1970's. I had time to bobtail to the Submarine Museum. Took a tour of the USS Nautilus.

Another time, I was laid over for a weekend north of Boston. Took a cab ride to downtown Boston. Stayed in a hotel room on my own dime over the weekend. Went to Boston's IMAX Theater and saw some shows. Took a harbor cruise. Took a narrated trolley tour of Boston. Had a great seafood dinner.

Another time, I was actually on hometime in DeLand, Florida for a few days. Took a cab to Orlando and stayed in a hotel for a few days and took in a couple of the Disneyland Parks.

I did the same thing in Los Angeles. Had a few days and rented a car, stayed at Knotts Berry Farm Hotel. Rode roller coasters at Knotts and Disneyland util I was very quesy and light headed.

With the tractor/trailer parked at the TA in Ontario, California, I had a few days and took the AmTrack up to San Francisco. Stayed in a youth hostel this time. Took a tour of the old prison on Alcatraz Island.

Well gotta go. My beer load is delivered and have to leave consignee.

Happy travels everyone.

 

Saw a tv commercial for a truck driver training institute in Salt Lake City. They showed a bobtail parked on the beach and a couple walking hand in hand. I wanna know where that place is!

 

If you have enough time to sight see, you are not making enough money! I cant even begin to count the number of times I've wanted to stop and see something, but didnt have the time. Or worse I have too much down time and there is absolutely nothing to do!
here is what you will get to see doing this crappy profession: big roads, little roads, and loading docks! oh my!

 

Like others have said, it all depends on the parking and your time. I had one run had to deliver in the D.C. area on monday morning, busted tail to get there sunday morning at 9. Then I took a cab to the capital and spent the afternoon there. Another one I did was delivered to buffalo ny sunday morning at about 9 couldnt pick up next load 20 miles away till monday at noon. Little place I delivered to was the only truck there so guy said I could stay parked there overnight after I delivered. So I rented a car and went up to Niagara Falls(pretty neat). Also got laid over about 45 miles from San Fran left trailer in door parked out in there parking lot rented a car and checked out san francisco and alcatraz island. If you ever have the chance and are laid over in san fran area go check it out, its really a neat city. Also got to walk around chicago and go up to sears tower once. But that was the only things ive had time to check out in the two an a half years ive been doing otr.

 

I like to wander from the beaten path myself. Alot of the post here give you the normal answer but you can make time and find ways to see places if you really plan them. It is much easier if you are single or have spouse that rides with you. Bobtailing is an asnwer to the no room for a trailer but you have to make it practical. As i stated I like to wander from the beaten path and see things you won't find from the interstate but you have to be careful of running out of route miles ect... Not saying you will see everything you want but you can find ways to see some of them depending on circumstances.

 

tell you what, what i do a lot of times on the road if i know im gonna be somewhere for a spell. i ask the locals at the truck stop what there is to get into, strip club, bar, live venue, park,etc. whatever blows your dress up, as my gma used to say,lol. you can find all sorts of things to do with your time and you will have some, believe me. yes, trucking is a job, but what other job can you drive and look out the window and get paid. looking at a beautiful sunset on I80 while going into california through the woods and admiring the majestic redwoods and all the scenery is a check you can't cash. a lot of people take some stuff like that for granted, get caught up in the company bs and lose touch. it's easy to do, i've done it. but being unemployed and not being able to see that stuff and realizing, i've been places that only some people dream of going, is really sucky. but, i digress, im not going to give up. just because i got laid off aint the end of the world. gotta keep plugging along. this job has to be the most interesting and fulfilling job as i've ever had. never thought i'd have the balls to uproot from my hometown and leave the factory dead end i was at and see the country. i love every minute of it and i will not fall back into that old way of thinking that the job outweighs the perks, au contraire, it does not. truckin, if you can hack it, i believe, whole-heartedly is the most rewarding career one can have if you like the traveling. if you're a homebody then it aint for you,lol.

 

I see a lot places most drivers don't see....
I drive mainly on the little two-laners.....Highways that DOT doesn't close during the winter for example.....

One of favorite runs was going in to Greybull, WY on the WY 14 at night...
NWS said it was going to be a clear cool night all the way from Sheridan to Greybull....
Heh...I hadn't been in a blizzard like that in years.....no place to chain up or turn around.....
Once I got out of the storm, the moon was shinning down and it was a sight.... and seeing the deer run up the ridge lines...definite proof that there is a God.....

 

Sounds to me if you want to see what you can't see from the road you need to plan it out in advance.

 

At least where you're going to park the truck. If you have internet and GPS it's fairly easy though. Wherever you are if you Google "(city) hotels truck parking" you can usually find a motel or hotel with truck parking. But always call first to get the details of what they actually mean by truck parking. And use Google Street View to check it out if you can.

Then enter your zip code on the Enterprise rent-a-car website and pull up the closest location. Have them come pick you up and off you go.

Of course, this can be costly if you do it that often.