If you happen to be reading this article, you should know that I just got out of the car (literally) from a 20-hour road trip from Key West, Florida all the way to Morgantown, West Virginia. And I did the exact same drive from Morgantown to Key West about a week ago to kick off spring break. (I figured that my exhaustion and very recent experience would add a nice touch to the article). Aside from what seemed to be a never-ending drive, I'm here to tell you that if you ever get the opportunity to take a road trip with your closest friends, do it.
I'm not entirely sure how or why the decision to drive 20 hours to Key West was made, but I'm glad it was. We left Morgantown on a Friday afternoon, eager to get down to the warm and sunny Florida weather, and on the drive down, I realized how not-so-bad the drive was going to be. I was in a car with my boyfriend, his roommate and one of my closest friends. Directly behind us, a car filled with the rest of our friends followed as we talked back and forth between the walkie talkies we bought for the trip in order to stay in touch. (We're children, I know).
The music was turned up and we pretty much jammed out until we were too tired to stay awake as the first set of drivers cruised down the winding roads of West Virginia and into the other states we passed through. Each taking three-hour shifts, the passengers in the back slept as much as possible to muster up any form of energy possible for their shift of driving, while the driver and front seat passenger stayed awake, wishing for their three-hour shift to end as quickly as possible. Total of six hours finished? Stop. Get gas. Switch. And the shifts of three hours each continued.
The ride continued to get quieter as the darkness rolled in, a hell of a lot of caffeine was consumed and a lot of great stories were shared between driver and passenger, and the two extra passengers when they decided to stay awake. We all ate more fast food than we probably should have, drank energy drinks and coffee more than we should have but had a damn good time doing what we did.
During the 20 hour trip from one state to the next, we shared both hilarious and even personal stories, learned a lot about each other and learned how to deal with each other for an extended period of time in very, VERY tight quarters. We laughed between cars while talking through the walkie talkies, cursed a lot at people who didn't know how to drive and probably even wanted to cry a bit because of how long the trip seemed.
While the trip seemed to be never-ending, it was worth it. I got to take a road trip and spend time with my closest friends just a month before I graduate from college, which is a memory I will always remember. And while we did make the executive decision to fly wherever we went to next, it was an experience I think everyone was happy to take.
I know this story seems a little sappy and personal, but take a road trip with your closest friends if you ever get the chance. You'll probably get a little angry at how long the trip is, but the memories you make will be worth it, and so will the experience you have wherever you're taking the road trip to.
P.S. Key West is a hell of a good time, so go if you get the chance! #SpringBreak2016Forever
