Trip across the US this summer - should I pre-book motels/hotels????

Your sister is spot on. Absolutely do book the first night though, or US immigration will give you a very hard time indeed.

Absolutely no need to pre-book anything else, except at attractions with limited accommodation, eg. National parks. The interstate highways are liberally peppered with budget motels, and you will have no trouble at all getting a room at a good price. Bear in mind, though, that the very cheapest motels, understandably, are strung out along the (not always very attractive) highway approach roads to towns/cities, along with the dreary chain restaurants, tyre warehouses etc. You often have to drive into the downtown area for your fun night - so you will need to weigh up the cheapness of the room with the convenience of where you want to be for the evening. It's possible to get good, cheap rooms in the downtown touristy areas, especially during the week, but you need to look a bit harder.

Motel 6 is a completely reliable, extremely cheap chain, always in the ugliest part of town, and never lets you down when all else fails. I have NEVER not got into a motel 6 that I drove up to on spec - even in Las Vegas... If you're not staying in a chain you know, ALWAYS look at the room before taking it. If they're reluctant, just get in the car and drive on, it'll be a dump. Most motels are more than happy for you to look.

I've made 3 biggish tours of the US - in Michigan and Wisconsin, all over Texas, and a 3-monther in which I travelled from San Francisco through Oregon up to Seattle, then all the way down to Dallas, then through Arizona and Nevada and back up the Cal. coast, and only ever pre-booked one stay (in Yosemite )- everywhere else, we just stopped when we felt tired or liked the look of a town.

I'll add my 2 cents. Pre-booking everything will limit your mobility to the booked itinerary. Your sister has the right idea, but many hotel chains offer "web rates" if you book online and pay in advance. As someone said, you should not really have problems with a roadside motel for a night here and there while traveling from one place to another. I will recommend however that if you plan on staying IN large cities (NYC, Chicago, SF, SD, LA) book in advance unless you don't mind changing hotels every few days. Also pre book and very popular places you intend to stay (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, etc) in fact, check those out ASAP as they fill well in advance. In Vegas there are too many hotel rooms to count BUT if there is a convention or NASCAR or some other thing going on the less expensive rooms fill up early too.

Finally, I'll recommend checking the websites of as many places you're going to visit as you can. Major cities will have their own tourism sites as will most attractions.

I can't claim to have planned a 3 month holiday but I would think that you'll need to take a good chunk of time making and revising plans depending on availibilities, holidays, costs etc.

Have an AWESOME trip!!

If cost is a HUGE factor, then yes. You should prebook as many as you can.

With that said, most hotels have a cancellation policy so just be sure to check what each one is so that if you run late on your agenda, you don't get hosed on the cost. Also, you may want to do a little research before you go, meaning plan out where you would need to stop and check surrounding towns. The difference of a 20 mile drive could mean $100 in savings.

Have FUN!

Been there and carried out that. you will lose loads of pliability on your trip in case you pre-e book and you will experience such as you're working to a schedule. e book your first and final night lodges after which make something up as you circulate alongside. Dont pre plan your direction too lots the two, take some wild diversions north and south on direction and the place plausible keep away from the interstate so as which you will discover the real u . s . of america. resorts are everywhere and while you at the instant are not over fussy approximately its area (i.e out of city is maximum inexpensive) you could %. up some super deals. funds around £30 consistent with room consistent with night. i bought a tent and sleeping bag mutually as i became doing my trip and stayed a number of nights at campgrounds i got here upon alongside the line. it is the place you meet the human beings and truthfully get into the yank Dream. Have a brilliant trip.

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Having traveled across the US 2x's only book hotels if u know for a fact your going to hit each stop.. i did that on my 1st trip and found it really hard because i spaced them to far apart and had to much fun at the stops during the day, the way back i had a motel 6 and another hotel chains book and called prior to getting in that area, never had a problem getting a room.

on a average week night at a highway exit type motel no you really don't need to make reservations. If you visit a major tourist area like NYC or a big national park then advanced reservations are a must.

Wow ironic me and my friend are planning a 50 state trip around the states b4 college starts we are going to start in June and we have no idea how to do it either so when you find out help me lol.

I recommend that you book your hotels beforehand -

www.alpharooms.com is by far the cheapest site I have found