# Road Trip, need a phone. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-need-a-phone/620466 "2012-05-01T00:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-need-a-phone/620466/1 "2012-05-01T00:44:49Z")
I’m driving from St Paul to LA this week. I’m just looking for a phone that will work. I dont want to get into a contract, and I know I dont want to have anything to do with ATT. I have no experience with cell phones. What do you guys think would be my best option? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-need-a-phone/620466/2 "2012-05-01T01:21:47Z")
Go to Walmart, buy a disposable cell phone with national calling minutes. I looked one up for my sister when she was on a trip in the US and they tend to be in the 10-15$ range for 100 minutes. They may or may not have texting; obviously you can pay more and top up with the number of minutes/texts that you want. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-trip-need-a-phone/620466/3 "2012-05-01T06:18:13Z")
[http://www.walmart.com/browse/Cell-Phones/Prepaid-Cell-Phones/\_/N-7tpbZaq90Zaqce/Ne-2p4j?tab\_value=All&ic=32\_0&ref=&search\_sort=4&selected\_items=+&depts=E](http://www.walmart.com/browse/Cell-Phones/Prepaid-Cell-Phones/_/N-7tpbZaq90Zaqce/Ne-2p4j?tab_value=All&ic=32_0&ref=&search_sort=4&selected_items=+&depts=E) 10 bucks gets you a working cell phone. 18 bucks gets you one on a major carrier.