I have a few questions about traveling the USA

Hey everyone! I am planning on taking a road trip with a friend of mine across the United States. We have a pretty general idea of where we want to go, but I do have a few questions about traveling here. <br><br>We are both from Canada, and have traveled across our country, but have not traveled across the states. <br><br>I am planning on driving my car, and I have an all-wheel drive SUV. I take good care of my car, and she has never failed me. <br><br>Here are my questions:<br><br>1. What gas stations do Americans usually stop at? In Canada, Shell is pretty much the go-to gas station chain, is there one in the states that everyone stops at? <br><br>2. How safe are rest stops, especially at night? I have heard horror stories in the past, but I’m sure it’s better now right? <br><br>3. Is it safe to keep gear in your car? I have never had a problem where I am, but I know that the states is different. <br><br>4. Are there a lot of police checks? I know in Ontario, we have a lot of RIDE checks, but I have heard the states have many more checks. Is this true? <br><br>5. Are national parks truly spectacular? Every time I see pictures of national parks, they are beautiful. But is it worth visiting while driving through? <br><br>6. Are there decent rest stops along the highway, or are they mostly shacks? In Ontario, you can almost always find a Tim Hortons at a rest stop, is this the same in the states? <br><br>7. How easy is it to find hotels? I have heard in some places, hotels are hard to find because they are so populous. Do you need to book ahead of time, or is it easy to find one on the fly?<br><br>8. Do almost all restaurants have outdoor seating? In Canada, almost every restaurant has outdoor seating where you can have your dog with you. Is this the same in the states?<br><br>Thanks!