29 Things I Appreciate About Road Trips in the United States

Going on a road trip can’t be compared to escaping to a paradise island with sparkling white sand, clear water, gourmet meals and all you can drink cocktail, if you are one who likes the ocean and luxury. But if you have been on a 46-days overland tour with dirty toilets or if your only toilets were the bushes- a road trip in the United States is pure indulgence.

I had such an appreciation for the convenience we experienced on our road trip from Florida to New York. And began to make a list while traveling. Here are 29 things I appreciate about road trips in the United States:

1.    Clean toilets.
2.    Free drinkable water in restaurants.
3.    Clear signs with warning signs, restaurants, gas, hotels and rest stop signs.
4.    Paper towels in restrooms.
5.    Usage of toilets are free (no charge).
6.    Rest stops with proper clean area.
7.    Toilets that flush.
8.    Great roads.
9.    Lots of hotels located along the highway.
10.   Many convenient gas stations.
11.    Food everywhere.
12.    Napkins in restaurants.
13.    Free toilet paper.
14.    Weather advisory.
15.    Highways with two or more lanes.
16.    Automatic flushing toilets.
17.    Lots of tourist information centers.
18.    Warning signs about possible delays ahead.
19.    Water in restrooms for washing hands.
20.    Soap in soap dispensers in restrooms.
21.    Scenic routes with proper stop areas for vehicles.
22.    Rest area with security.
23.    Hot water for hand washing in restrooms.
24.    Baby changing stations.
25.    Family restrooms.
26.    Highway patrol.
27.    Traffic law enforced.
28.    Ample rest stops with toilets.
29.    Hot shower in hotels.

I remembered smiling while washing my hands with soap from a soap dispenser, hands under warm running water. And pulling out at least two pieces of paper towels to dry my hands and throwing the papers into proper garbage bins for free. That feeling of gratitude for all the modern conveniences we have in America. My last toilet stop in Quito airport gave me a reminder:

"Throw toilet paper in the toilet"-I had to retrain and change my the habit I had adopted for eight months. I had been throwing toilet paper in waste baskets.

What a contrast from some of the stinky toilets we had to pay to use without water, soap or paper towels while on a 6,000 mile overland tour from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil through Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Lima Peru? Some of these toilets were not in working condition.

If this article makes you think and appreciate all the modern conveniences we have here in America, please share, tweet or like it.