The USA is an easy and unforgettable place to take a road trip. The roads are wide and smooth, there are a huge variety of things to see and do, the views are spectacular and ever-changing, things are well signposted and places are safe and accessible. For many people, driving across the USA is a bucket list item and it really can be the trip of a lifetime.

Having spent the last two months driving from Miami to Los Angeles, here are some of the things I learned that made my life that little bit easier:

1. Starbucks Awake tea is the closest you’re going to get to the real thing.

As Brits on the road, we can kid ourselves that we won’t miss tea but when the cravings hit, Awake tea is the closest you’ll get to a good old fashioned British cuppa. Just remember to ask them to leave room for milk or you’ll end up with your cup full to the brim.

2. Buy a good road atlas, a marker pen and a highlighter.

Whether you arrived in the country with a master plan or only a vague notion of your route, you will certainly need these three items. On the first day, sit down with your marker pen and circle all the places you want to visit – this will make it easier to plan a route and to see which ones just aren’t going to work. As you travel, highlight the route you took. It helps you keep track of your progress and makes the atlas a great road trip souvenir.

3. Book your accommodation at least one night in advance.

For those planning to travel ‘on the fly’, remember that many motel offices close early(ish) in the USA, leaving the bigger, more expensive, chain hotels as your only option for finding accommodation at night. At the very least, sit down each evening with your map and make an outline plan for the next day, including finding and booking your accommodation for the night. That way, even if you get distracted and don’t turn up until midnight, at least you’ll know you have somewhere to sleep.

4. You will need to pre-pay for gas when you fill your car at a gas station.

Almost all gas stations in the USA utilise Pay at the Pump technology. However, if you are using a credit card that does not have a US billing address, you won’t be able to use it. Pull up to the pump, go inside to the cashier and pay them for the gas you think you’ll need. They’ll authorise the pump for that amount, allowing you to fill your car. If you overestimated, you can always go back in and ask for the extra to be refunded but you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll get good at estimating the exact cost of filling your tank!

5. Make your first stop WalMart to buy wipes, zip lock bags and hand sanitiser.

Even if you’re planning on staying in decent hotels, spending more than a few weeks on the road means that you will inevitably accumulate things. Having bin bags, zip lock bags, antibacterial wipes or sanitiser to hand makes storage, disposal and clean ups easier.

6. Starbucks, MacDonalds and lots of shopping malls have free Wi-Fi.

We are used to being connected 24/7 but achieving that in a foreign country can be very expensive. If you want to upload pictures to Facebook or check your e-mails, remember that plenty of places now offer free Wi-Fi. Sometimes you have to engage with an advert to access it but Starbucks and MacDonalds are not the only places offering a free connection: also try other coffee houses and fast food restaurants as well as larger tourist attractions and anywhere where truckers stop.

7. There are a lot of restrooms available.

The Interstate system is pretty well served by a network of Rest Areas and these are generally clearly marked in road atlases, allowing you to plan your stops. Be aware that the frequency and quality of these Rest Areas varies from state to state so check when crossing borders. Supermarkets and gas stations generally have decent restroom facilities as well as coffee shops and shopping centres.

8. Bring your iPod and load it with a wide variety.

The quality of the radio reception can vary dramatically, especially outside of towns and cities. Most rental cars now have an auxiliary jack where you can plug in a music player so make sure that you fill your iPod with your guilty pleasures as well as your hottest new find. Podcasts and audiobooks are also great when you have long distances to cover. Make sure you bring a variety, as you’ll soon get tired of that Road Trip playlist you made before you came no matter how much you thought you’d love it!

9. Talk to people and ask them what they think.

Talk to the cashier in gas stations, the wait staff in the coffee house and the people sitting beside you at the diner. Ask them if there’s anything local that is worth a visit – you’ll be amazed at the things that are suggested that often turn out to be the highlight of your trip!

10. Remember that almost every journey takes significantly longer than Google Maps says it will.

Yes, time spent walking around National Parks and visiting landmarks is relatively easy to take into account but the things that will eat into your time unexpectedly are searching for somewhere to stop for a drink because you really need to go the toilet, sitting on a bench in a shopping mall while you check Facebook, Twitter and e-mails, pottering around WalMart marvelling at the variety of items on offer when all you came in for was shampoo, chatting to an elderly couple you met at a Scenic Lookout who want to give you advice about where to visit in the next town etc. Always add a couple of hours into a day for these ‘lost hours’.