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|language = English (de facto), Spanish widely spoken in southwest and Florida
|capital = [[Washington D.C.|Washington DC]]
|pop = 303317,893791,000
|currency = American Dollar ($)
|BW = US
|map= <map lat='39.44525647027036' lng='-98.6623687744132' zoom='3' view='0' />
|hitch = <rating country='us' />
}}
[[File:Kasper-hitch-nh.jpg|thumb|250px|[[User:guaka|guaka]]<small><sup>[http://guaka.org/ site], [[User talk:guaka|wikitalk]]</sup></small> hitching in New England, taken by [[User:Amylin|amylin]], September 2007]]
'''The United States of America''' as , commonly called '''The U.S.A.''', or simply '''America''' is a country is divided up into consisting of 50 states; for . For the convenience of the common hitchhiker , these states are discussed in detail along with their capitals at the following in their individual pages (see below). The US is bordered by [[Canada]] to the North north and [[Mexico]] to the Southsouth.
Hitching, like everything else in America, varies greatly depending on what type of area and what part of the country you are passing through. In general you can get rides fairly easily if you hitchhike the right way; in fact, often you can find more than just rides, such as offers for free meals, invitations to homes and parties, etc.
== Police= Cars ===''Driving in the United States is similar to driving in Canada, but very different from driving in Europe. It is not uncommon for Americans to drive more than an hour each way to work, and 77 percent of Americans drive alone to their jobs... Most states allow people to drive unaccompanied once they have reached the age of 16.'' -[https://en.wikipedia.org/Laws wiki/Driving_in_the_United_States Wikipedia: Driving in the United States] There are more than 250 million registered vehicles in the USA, the most of any country. Everyone has a car, and gas is so cheap that people drive everywhere. As a result there are a lot of roads and highways. Sometimes you may need to change your technique to accommodate unfamiliar infrastructure. Sometimes it can be hard to find a place with slow traffic! Although traffic is heavy, hitchhiking is also hard because nobody trusts somebody with no car. (Why don't you have a car? There must be something wrong with you.) It would help to look like a foreigner, but don't go so far as to wave a foreign flag around. Hitchhiking is not as common as in Europe and Latin America, so expect to have to explain yourself, possibly to the police. (See the section on police below). == Transportation system == === Interstates ===[[File:USHHlaws2006-interstate-map.jpgpng|thumb|350pxright|A map of the interstate system in 2006. ]]An 'interstate', also known as an '''expressway''', '''freeway''', or (confusingly) '''highway'''Overview over hitchhiking laws by state, is a large, multilane road that covers vast distances, and passes through major cities. If you aren't planning on going to the countryside, you probably won't need to stray far from the interstate system. Interstates are designated on maps by "I-..." and have road signs [http://hitchwiki.<br> Whiteorg/en/File: Hitchhiking InterstateSign.svg#file like this]. Even-numbered routes run from west to east and are numbered from south to north. For example, [[I-10]] runs across the south from [[L.A.]] to [[Jacksonville, FL]], and I-90 across the North from [[Seattle]] to [[Boston]]. Likewise, odd-numbered expressways start with [[I-5]] along the west coast (Seattle to L.A.) and I-95 along the east coast ([[Maine]] to [[Miami]]). The main interstates have two or three numbers, as in I-8 or I-76. Offshoots or ring roads will have a preceeding digit, for example, I-295, which runs along I-95. == Methods for catching rides ==If you're going for speed over a long distance (3+ hours), then the best bet is legal to stay on the interstates. Highways are better for shorter or more senic trips. === Interstates ==='''Thumbing it on on -ramps''' is sometimes the best way to hitchhike the interstates. Standing along the shoulder of with a thumb or sign can take a few hours so bring something to read. Try to stick to exits that large towns, truck stops, [[rest area|rest stops]] or any road including freewaysother reason for drivers to stop there (restaurants, [[petrol station hitchhiking|gas stations]], hotels, etc.).<br> Blue: Hitchhiking legal Ask a driver to drop you off at on on -ramp with plenty of traffic. For this same reason, be prepared to turn down a ride with someone who's "just going to the shoulder of any road except freewaysnext exit".<br> Green: Hitchhiking legal while Getting dropped off on a low-traffic exit is the paved surface gravest danger when hitching on interstates. It can easily lead to long, long delays of a car every ten minutes and none of any road except freewaysthem stopping. Eventually you may give up and stand on the highway or walk a few miles to the next exit.<br> Yellow: Particular laws Since pedestrians are not allowed along interstates in most states, read you are likely to be picked up by a state trooper. In the best case, your ID will be check and you may will be given a lift to the next exit. See the section on police. When making '''signs''' in the respective states, it best to use the two-letter state articleabbreviations, which are universally understood, notable exceptions being OK, HI, and LA. The first two could be confused for words, the last ([[Louisiana]]) could be confused with ([[Los Angeles]]).<br> Red Additionally: Hitchhiking is technically illegal; more information in the respective state article *"Philly" = [[Philadelphia]]*"D.C." = [[Washington, D.C.]]*"N.Y.C." = [[New York City]]*"S.F" = [[San Francisco]]*"L.A." = [[Los Angeles]]*"NOLA" = [[New Orleans]](not universally understood, but in the South at least)
=== US/State Highways ===If you are only going a hundred miles or less, you can often make better time on US highways, state highways, or even local roads. Even if you are going long distances, if you aren't concerned about making good time, getting off the interstates can be a very rewarding experience. Local highways will grant you a better picture of what local life is like in states where hitchhiking that area, and typically offer a greater variety of drivers and scenery. To hitchhike on these highways, it is illegalbest to stand at the edge of town right before the speed limit picks up, even walking on the highways also helps as shoulders most of the law is rarely enforcedway are pretty wide. Wyoming Highway Patrol reports that in 2010 (most recent year with available statistics) they approached 524 hitchhikers but only cited eight Standing at stop lights outside of themtowns along these highways is also a great way to catch a ride, even if the speed limit is quite high.
=== Urban and Suburban Short Distance ===If the police pass you walking or sitting by the side are hitchhiking within a large metropolitan area and trying to get to another part of the road without soliciting in any waycity, they may still stop it is best to check IDs but stay on the interstate on-ramps unless you are not required want to identify yourself except if there is any way that you could do a lot of walking. Most larger cities have interstates passing through them and often have done something unlawfulone or more spur or circumferential interstates surrounding them. As These spur and circumferential interstates are designated by a result, the best method is to not use a sign or thumb whenever an oncoming car looks three-digit highway number with signs that look just like a police cruisernormal blue interstate signs.OftenWhen hitchhiking on these roads, particularly close it is best to major citiesaccept every ride, the [[police]] will ask you for photo IDeven if they are only going a mile, but as long as each exit you have one with you (such as a passport) there shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time they will be polite when you come up clean, get to is closer to your destination and not too rarely they'll give you a lift out are unlikely to get stranded on any of their area these ramps due to get rid the amount of youtraffic.
== Food Police/Laws ==[[File:Unitedstateslaws.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Overview of hitchhiking laws by state.<br> Green: Hitchhiking legal while on the shoulder of the road <br> Yellow: Hitchhiking legal while off the traveled portion of the road, stay in the grass to be safe. <br> Red: Hitchhiking is completely illegal.<br> Gray: Specific laws, check the respective state article(s).]]
The legal status of hitchhiking in the United States is a bit of a difficult topic; laws and their enforcement differ greatly from state to state as does the information available online and in general knowledge. Many people (including police officers) mistakenly believe hitchhiking is illegal anywhere in the US; sometimes you''' Eat: '''ll get away with holding a cardboard sign but not with holding out your thumb, and sometimes nobody will hassle you even if you stand or walk right on the interstate. The specific articles on states will give you more information on this topic.
=== State and local laws ===Look to the map pictured above which indicates each state''' Drink: '''It is s laws. Most often possible to retrieve used cups from , the laws state that the trash at fast food restaurants with hitchhiker may not "free refillsolicit a ride" "on a roadway" policies and refill them. Otherwise, American water The word roadway is just usually defined in state statute books as free and healthy as any other country "exclusive of a shoulder" or "the traveled portion of the worldhighway", making these statutes easy to circumvent.
== Personal Experiences ==
[[File:Unitedstateshitchhiking.jpg|thumb|400px|''Relative Ease of Hitchhiking Each State of America (based on a survey of hitchhikers with 114,000 miles cumulative experience.)''.<br> Green: Easy <br> Yellow: Average <br> Red: Difficult]]
''Haven't hitched extensively there, but where I have, the experiences have been unique. I've hitched Oregon to Mexico along the famous highway 101. I also hitched from Oregon to Chicago on i90 in the dead of winter. Lots of clothes for that one, and a warm place to retreat to at every stop. The most remarkable thing about hitching in the States is that you get picked up by REALLY interesting people. Not all the time. But our beloved weirdos are more common in the US than anywhere else I've hitched. Regardless of what you think about the States, it's easily one of the most interesting places to hitchhike, especially if you LIKE adventure.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]
''Have hitchhiked moderately in US, about 9,000 miles(including ferries and train hopping). Its a diverse country so generalizing a state or even a county(as I have been picked up in the most conservative counties) would not be right. I have been picked up by really awesome people(some of them are now my friends), Friendly cops(who offered me water and money) to discriminatory cops(who just wanted to get rid of me), people who turned out to be gay(asked sexual favors), bored people looking for a good conversation(what you have to do is just listen and and ask question to acknowledge that you are listening), people who saw me as a curious and tired foreigner etc. It was a great experience and helped me learn a lot about the culture here. One thing I learned is that if you are having fun then you get picked up easily as compared to when you are not. My personal favorite states are [[Alaska]] and [[Missouri]].'' - [[User:Keep_trying|Tarun]] ''I hitchhiked over 30200,000 miles in 50 states of the United StatesUS, 19 states of Mexico, and while I have nothing to compare it to other than 8 provinces of Canada, I would say in general that hitchhiking it is easy to hitchhike in all those countries but some of the United States is easy and funmost difficult places are in America. Each state varies greatly in geography and ease of hitchhiking. In the south, for example it is easier to hop freight trains since the hitching is so difficult. My personal favorite states for travelers are [[Colorado]], [[California]], [[New Mexico]], [[Oregon]], and [[West VirginiaArkansas]]. I have hitched alone, and with numbers of other people. Hitchhiking with two people or large equipment like a bicycle or kayak seems to give shortest waits. I would rank hitchhiking as a slightly more risky activity than cycle touring on windy highways with no shoulder. These days I prefer to ride freight trains and motorized bicycles, and I recommend you do the same.'' - [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ''I hitchhiked from Panama to the US, intending to go through the whole of the US by hitchhiking with my little brother. I cannot recommend to hitchhike in pairs. It takes _days_ to find rides. We looked like regular guys, did 20k+ miles in more than 10 countries. If you do it, do it alone.'' - Summer '14 ''I crossed the US from Boston to San Francisco the southern way. The north east is tough, prepare for some waits and looks as if you were not worth anyone's attention. Luckily it gets better soon! Texas was the best state for me, lots of rides even from women, and basically no waites. Also California is pretty good to hitchhike, though more tourists. To all girls - it's definitely safe enough in my opinion, though I was asked for sex a few times by people not understanding hitchhiking much. And in general - for me waites for longer than in Europe (when alone I have to hardly wait longer than 10 minutes ever), but still the longest wait during the whole trip were ~2 hours at a bad spot.'' - [[User talkuser:ThewindandrainNora|talkNora]] ''These experiences are from a voyage undertaken during Autumn of 2023. Approximately 6 weeks in length, 41 rides, 3000 miles. Los Angeles to New Orleans with lots of detours. For context, I am young, male, Asian, clean shaven and have short hair. I travelled with only a backpack. It was difficult to get rides, whether I was standing on an onramp, walking on the interstate, asking at gas stations, waiting after traffic lights, standing on the shoulder etc. I tried pretty much every method of hitching, and would like to say none of them have good chances of getting a ride quickly. For me, it was an even split between getting rides easily (matter of minutes) and waiting HOURS for rides. There is no State that was particularly easy, not even California along the 1 and 101 was easy, in fact some of my longest waits were in California. But of course, no one goes to the US and expects hitching to be smooth sailing. Public opinion towards hitchhikers is terrible, the vast majority don't give a damn who you are, where you're from and where you're trying to get to. Expect to be given ugly looks and get used to being ignored, since people see you as just another homeless person, which you are. Asking at gas stations is arduous, people are often scared and a lot simply won't take you no matter how nicely you ask. Mexicans will save you time and time again, they are often the only people who will pick you up on the side of the interstate or will actually hear you out at a gas station. Asking Mexicans or other Latinos in Spanish works beautifully, even a couple phrases will get you a vastly more positive response than using English. I often freedom camped in towns and rural areas, never in cities though. No bad experiences from that, but it does get cold. I preferred hitching at on ramps over gas stations just because I didn't want to run the goddamn gauntlet everytime I approached someone. Walking along the Interstate is an act of desperation, I don't recommend it (but have done it many times) 04because it is FUCKING DANGEROUS, and loud. Now the good parts:42The people who do give you rides will be fucking AMAZING. Food, weed, beer, work, money, parties, couches to surf, fishing invites, intriguing conversations, crazy people, funny people, random people. WOW. The US has got it all, a kaleidescope of humanity in overflowing abundance. When that ride finally comes, it will be awesome so HANG IN THERE. Cops didn't care if they were driving past and I was on an onramp but State troopers will give you a hard time if you're on an interstate, I got two rides from cops to their county border and also had the police called on me thanks to some Karen in Texas. Racism is to be expected in the South if you're a person of colour, but the blacks will be so much more friendlier if you aren't white. I was never threatened or harmed, but most of my drivers were terrible at driving, some drank, some were high. Be wary of that. In conclusion, this country is NOT a walk in the park to hitch. It's hard. You'll need determination, the patience of a saint and a little courage, but it'll pay off. Trust me.''-The Falling Leaf. Hitchhikernick - I have hitched around the US many times, only 3 short of doing every state 3 times 😁. WOW what can I say, definitely the most generous nation. I have been given money and bought food so many times without asking, 28 October 2012 several times being 100$ bills😁. I'm actually there now on a skiing trip (CETFeb 2024)and same thing has happened on this trip. Waiting times have been from instant pickups where I haven't had time to put my bag down to waiting 2 days consecutively (highway 6 Nevada in Feb 2014). Never spend my own money and always leave with some money left over 😁. Average waiting time about 3.5hrs, though a lot less around ski areas. Definitely the only nation where I get checked by the cops, though many times they have proven to be helpful. Some times I have had to walk up the onramp but never got into trouble for doing so, if cops arrived they would generally give me a ride to a better spot, never been given a ticket. Definitely some of the greatest experiences too...drinking and partying with the natives in Monument valley, hitching and winging a ticket into Burning Man, crusing on a boat around Kachemak Bay and hiking to the magic bus in Alaska, camping and hiking around the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Yosemite, skiing all big ski resorts, experiencing city life and experiencing life with the homeless to name a few...!!! You could spend a lifetime experiencing, travelling and tasting the USA 😉
== Links ==
{{IsIn|North America}}
[[Category:United States| ]]