So this might get a bit long. I just completed a trip from Southeastern VA to Central TX and wanted to share my experience for anyone interested. Everything from airbnbs to driving to food is included. Also, I'm on mobile so I might have to fix the formatting.So, I was getting bored and mad at the life I had in VA and needed a change, so I decided to pack the essentials and move. I did some research about places and determined I wanted to go Southwest, so I scoped out Austin (I knew someone here and stayed with him for a week) and decided it was a good fit for me. A couple months go by, my driving buddy couldn't do it anymore, and my lease was ending, so I decided to go it alone. I bought a new car that could fit more than my old one, packed it with clothes, toiletries, a couple knick knacks, a small amount of furniture, and my plants and set off.I booked all of my airbnbs in advance of me leaving my house. I highly recommend this, because one of my stops had a festival going on (unbeknownst to me) and the cheapest motels were charging more than 100 bucks, I only know that because I almost backed out of that room... More on that later.I started out with caffeine and a full stomach, also very important, and made my way to southwestern NC. My first Airbnb experience. It was lovely, absolutely perfect and much more comfortable than staying in a hotel. Perfect start to a perfect trip, right? Not so much. So that was 6 hours of driving which is honestly the best amount in one go. I didn't go to any local restaurants here because it was midnight when I checked in, and I got an early start the next morning.On to New Orleans! The town that I really wanted to see on the way to my destination. I won't be going back for a while. The drive down wasn't bad, Atlanta drivers are absolutely insane though. It was 11 hours, way too much time without a break except to use the restroom and get food. So I get to NOLA after dark, and it was honestly pretty terrifying. People drive like they're playing Mario kart here, and I got ambushed by midges on the long bridge into the city (seriously I thought it was raining first, after 5 seconds my windshield was COVERED in these things). I get to the neighborhood, which I think is considered the garden district, and was honestly scared to leave my car out there. I've lived in cities before, but NOLA people are a different breed, especially when you have festival people mixed in with them.I was about to leave and find a nice quiet parking lot to rest my head (and I should've) but decided to stay anyway. After all a bed is better than a seat in a car right? It was a shared hostel style room with one other person, but the house was "shotgun style" so you had to go through almost all the rooms to get to the bathroom. My roommate comes in around 2 loudly talking on the phone, which is cool, she didn't know I was sleeping. Then she proceeds to talk on the phone eventually turning into phone sex and more in the same room as me. Not so cool man. I haven't left this host a review, but she was fine. Wasn't there, and I was so tired after that drive I couldn't even find the words to say to the girl in the room. I finally get to sleep around 430, but miss unashamed was back on the phone around 7. I wanted to go to a few restaurants there and grab coffee but I left so mad I was shaking. I even brushed my teeth in my car. Should I have been more assertive? Hell yes. Could I have been after the day I had and being as emotional as I was? Hell no. Exhaustion is no joke. So I drove around for a bit, looking for a parking space for a cafe I REALLY wanted to visit, but no luck. So I left and went to baton rouge for brunch. I'd recommend this over fighting the New Orleans crowd any day.So I continued on my journey, 8 hours from NOLA to Central TX. A little bit too much to drive straight through, so I'm glad the alligator bites in baton rouge broke up the trip a bit. I started having an anxiety attack an hour away from my destination due to too much caffeine and a lack of sleep, but that's my issue.Now I'm getting ready to sleep at my last Airbnb of the trip before getting into my apartment tomorrow, I'm still not entirely sure how these things work or if the host is on site, but I'm glad to be left alone. In a private room.So that's my story so far. Maybe it'll help someone thinking of doing the same thing, even just to know how to break up their trip, and I'll answer any questions! If I made it safe and sound, anyone can! via /r/solotravel https://ift.tt/30hLeYX