Comments on: 14 Ways to Safely Hitchhike Across the United States

By: Ben Eppard

Ben Eppard — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 20:35:54 +0000

I use a small white board for a sign. It saves me a ton of time searching for cardboard, and as soon as you hop out of a car you can make a new one. You can also change your sign on the fly if need be. Works great!

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 07:48:46 +0000

Nice article. I grew up in the 1970’s and hitchhiked all through the southern US as a teenager. I then joined the Air Force and was stationed in Europe, where I continued hitching. As a long distance backpacker I still continue hitching to towns and trail heads in various parts of the country without any reservations.
I just keep my street smarts and common sense about me and have never run into any problems. I stop for hitchers using the same criteria and always enjoy the interaction.

By: Adrienne Morton

Adrienne Morton — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 06:30:14 +0000

Love this, Matt! I have been hitchhiking since I was sixteen years old and have found it to be a rhythmic, welcome, reliable experience. All over the world. It’s actually provided me with a lot of material for my writing. Bonus!
I have been in a couple dangerous situations situations but they are the rarity- some in Martha’s Vineyard when I was still a teenager, and some abroad, most particularly in St. John, USVI, but I was unsurprised when both happened considering my young age and the motivations of the males driving. I jumped out of cars. I am proud of that and yet so grateful that I was safe in the end. It’s a mixed bag depending on how you look and act and simply are in respect to sex versus the driver in a lot of countries. You can handle it if you are prepared.
My few dangerous episodes have not deterred me from hitchhiking. I still do it and still love it and still meet amazing people while doing it who I often keep in touch with forever. The negative has been squashed by the positive. I encourage all travelers to have the faith in people to hitch. It can lead to the most beautiful opportunities. It has for me.
Stay strong,
Adrienne Morton

By: Rashad Pharaon

Rashad Pharaon — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 16:17:58 +0000

When I quit my banking job, I hitchhiked a few places in Asia. It was so weird at first, yet so much fun at the end. The list above is a great way to stay safe–I think our inner alarm really matters, and we should listen to our inner voice.

I started hitchhiking with a friend–so I definitely agree that hhiking with a friend is a great way to get started. But I didn’t know you could hitchhike on freight trains! Need to try that 😀

By: Matthew Karsten

Matthew Karsten — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:00:13 +0000

Hi Adam! While the average was about an hour, it can also be 3 or more. I found people stopped pretty quickly in the North West though. I’d love to hitchhike in New Zealand one day.

By: Mandie

Mandie — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 06:57:56 +0000

Really interesting read. As a solo female traveler I don’t know if I would ever be comfortable hitchhiking alone. I recently met a girl who did a lot of solo hitching, and she admitted that she often slept with the driver who picked her up just to stay safe (this was through Africa). Yikes. She was fine with it (to each their own) but I definitely wouldn’t put myself in that situation. If I had a travel buddy at some point, though, I would definitely try it!

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:29:59 +0000

I hitchhiked in Canada a few times with my boyfriend and we had no trouble, it was in fact a great experience. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable hitching by myself but I think if you are travelling with a partner or friend it would be safer than by yourself, especially as a female.

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 01:43:36 +0000

Great story! Being from the US, I was a bit surprised when I met two women from France who were hitchhiking through Malaysia together. In many places in the world it’s much more common.

I think many the tips listed above are helpful for anyone traveling, especially solo travelers.

By: Alise

Alise — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 23:12:49 +0000

While I’ve done solo international travel and Couch Surfing, as a female I think that hitchhiking by myself would go against all safety measures that I’ve been taught on how to avoid getting kidnapped or raped.

It’s unfortunate that I have to take that responsibility upon myself, but it’s also good to use common sense. It’s tough being a girl in a boy’s world.