Update: My Yellowstone trip got derailed by a busted rental car

I planned this big trip to Yellowstone for some alone time... had it all mapped out with campsites and everything. But the rental car started making this awful noise just outside Billings, and I had to pull over. Called the rental place, and they said the nearest replacement was three hours away. So I sat in a diner for half the day, watching my plans fall apart. Ended up missing my first night's camping spot and just drove back the next morning. Learned that no matter how much you plan, things can go wrong in ways you never expect. Now I pack a basic tool kit and always have a phone charger handy... and maybe don't book everything so tight. Sometimes the journey is about adapting, not just the destination.

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_foster201mo ago

I had a rental car break down on a road trip last year, and it threw everything off. Ngl, what saved me was having a backup charger and downloading offline maps before I left. Calling my own insurance for towing was faster than waiting on the rental company. Keeping a blanket and some cash in my bag made the wait less awful. Your point about adapting is so true, because you can't control every little thing. Now I always leave extra time between plans just in case.

hayes.jenny1mo ago

A friend in Phoenix told me her rental car overheated last summer on a desert highway. She had a similar setup with offline maps and a blanket, which saved her from a total meltdown. Rental companies seem to give out the cars that are one trip away from the scrap yard. I read a travel tip once that said always check the oil and tire pressure before leaving the lot, but who actually does that. Your idea of leaving extra time is smart, though, I've started doing that too after one too many close calls.

eric_martinez29d ago

I keep a gallon of water in my trunk after my own rental blew a hose in Tucson, @hayes.jenny.