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If you're going for speed over a long distance (3+ hours), then the best bet is to stay on the interstates (designated on maps by "i-#": road signs appearing [http://hitchwiki.org/en/File:InterstateSign.svg#file like this]) instead of local highways. Try to stick to on-ramps that have truck stops, [[rest area|rest stops]] or any other reason for drivers to stop there (restaurants, [[petrol station hitchhiking|gas stations]], hotels, etc.)
Often times the best way to hitchhike is just to stay on high traffic ramps with large shoulders for people to pull over on. Getting dropped off on a low-traffic exit is the gravest danger when hitching on interstates, especially where the police are unfriendly. It can easily lead to long, long delays. Identify the last truck stop, major intersection (with a non-freeway), or rest area before your driver's destination, and get off there rather than risking getting stuck. If you do get stuck on a low traffic ramp, you can try hitchhiking on the highway itself even if pedestrians are prohibited. There is a good chance you will get picked up before police see you, and if they do they are just going to give you a warning and ask you to go back to the ramp.
Asking for rides at rest areas, particularly on toll roads such as I-90 between [[Boston]] and [[Chicago]] is one of the quickest ways to get a very long distance ride, but soliciting and loitering is prohibited there and sometimes you will be kicked out before finding a ride. A good way to avoid being kicked out is to greet everyone entering the building with a friendly smile, then ask them for a ride as they leave the building. This gives them time to become comfortable with your presence and prevents them from having the opportunity to complain about your solicitation to the employees.
You can also look for rides at the truck stops or gas stations themselves, but be discreet about it as with rest areas, some customers will complain and staff will make you leave the property. As a rule Love's and TA truck stops will be the quickest to kick you out. Pilot/Flying J truck stops and smaller locally owned truck stops are generally a lot more lenient.
=== Short Distance ===
