When you go to school across the country and you take a car to school with you, you automatically sign up for a cross country road trip. After you've made the trip once or twice with parents, it begins to get old and you realize it is a great adventure to take with friends. I have three years of experience in this category and I have embarked on the trip with several of my friends. After three years, here are the 36 lessons we've learned while driving 36 hours together every trip!

1. Always dress comfortable.

2. Merge sooner vs. later or you may find yourself caught between a semi and a concrete barrier.

3. Don't forget about your turn signal.

4. Never say next exit.

5. Always pay attention to your gas gauge or you might find yourself in the middle of Montana without gas or cell phone reception.

6. Stay away from construction zones or you'll be stuck at a standstill for hours.

7. Make sure you save up you data for the month (90 percent data in a car for three days won't last).

8. Start planning for your trip prior to the day you leave.

9. There is always traffic on Sundays.

10. Have money ready at the tolls, so you don't take time out of people's already long road trips.

11. Don't try to eat healthy — get the burger, fries and milkshake.

12. If there is a bug in the car, the passenger must dispose.

13. Always be prepared for a torrential downpour.

14. GPS is the reason I have trust issues.

15. Never order seafood at a Mexican restaurant in South Dakota...the outcome is way too questionable.

16. Starbucks can only give you so much energy.

17. With that being said, there are NOT enough Starbucks immediately off the interstate.

18. Don't plan on eating in Nebraska, because the food options are scarce.

19. The smallest town in the nation is in Wyoming (population of one).

20. When you stop for breaks, definitely dance party.

21. When in doubt, shoot the gap.

22. Keep your wallet in one place, so you always know where it is.

23. Don't travel with a cat...just don't do it.

24. If you do travel with a cat, turn the music all the way up so the meowing doesn't pierce your ear drums.

25. Do NOT let the cat out of the travel cage while driving.

26. Follow obvious ostrich on Twitter because you will become so delirious that anything is funny.

27. When you pass by universities, turn on your Tinder.

28. When you're talking crap (which will happen) make sure Siri is OFF.

29. Road trips make you highly irritable...warn everyone.

30. Make sure you choose to road trip with someone you can handle for more than a day.

31. Mt. Rushmore does not change, even after the third time visiting it.

32. Prepare a full road trip music playlist prior to the trip.

33. Driving in two hour intervals makes the trip go faster than two, five hour intervals.

34. Cruise control!

35. Always surprise your family when you come home, because the reaction is so gratifying even after a 21 hour day!

36. Make the most of it, and HAVE FUN!