Hitchhiker

It really depends on where you wanna go. If you wanna go to Frankfurt, this is a great spot and you will find a ride in no time. If you want to go west on the 45 you just landed yourself in an impossible position. It's an unnatural stop when going that way, I only landed myself there because I wanted to get out of a car asap. If you need to go west I advice you to immediately accept that that is not gonna work from here. Although, I wouldn't be able to rule out that things are different in the summer. It's busy with a lot of nice people, telling you they would have taken you had they gone that way. I waited too long to accept my fate. It was snowing and getting dark, but in that sense it was a perfect spot, because I could hitchhike inside in "the glass hallway" and catch everyone there. I eventually had someone take me back to Frankfurt. After making some good conversation, that he enjoyed because his grandparents are Dutch and he could practice his Dutch, he was kind enough to go out of his way to "turn me around" in Frankfurt, such that I was on the right side of the highway again. From there on I quickly got back to Amsterdam. It eventually turned out that I had actully been lucky and made all the right calls, because I missed an appointment because of the delay, and that turned out to really work in my favor ;). I think you would also be fine going east, but I can't remember. It's too long ago and that wasn't where I needed to go.

I think the second person I asked, took me into Berlin (I didn't wanna take public transport). First person was a man not going the right direction, that explained to me that there is much better spot close. And that I actually most definitely should just walk to the train station. I suppose that were the first 8 minutes ;). Forgot my exact end destination.

Took me (woman alone) extremely long to find a ride. I walked around the gasstation and stood at different places on the (cross)road. Also had a scary experience with a guy that had purposely stopped on the onramp so I had to decide quickly. Luckily I said no and 30 min later I was taken by a really nice Israeli woman. Maybe part of it being so hard was due to the fact that gas prices were not good there and there weren't many people at the gas station.

Didn't wait long because there are enough men to ask. I don't like to ask men. But wanted to get out of there. For women I would not advice going here, especially if you're like me, and you are cautious. It was sketcy, most of the time there were 0-2 cars, and I was afraid to end up there with only a sketcy man and noone else. I Would always avoid going there again. For men it's likely a great spot and I think you will easily find a ride, they come and go every few minutes.

I waited long. I also didn't really think about the ikea being closed early in the morning, so I just waited till it opened, I did have a nice ikea breakfast, though. Noone needed to go to the autobahn. Also, everyones cars were packed with furniture. It felt like everyone in ikea new I was there and everyone felt bad for me still being there after they did their shopping. Extra info for women/flintas: Out of pity, a couple said they would take me to the autobahn, but not a gas station, but the first raststätte. I shouldn't have accepted, because there weren't many people at the raststätte, and there were only men, and it was a bit sketcy and I was afraid I would end up being there with just one man and noone else. Therefore it felt safest to fairly quickly ask a guy to bring me to the next gas station, even though I am normally very picky whom I ride with. Was not prepared to end up in that situation, so I learned a lesson.

Not sure how long I waited, it was pretty long but reasonable, but because there is no gas station/raststätte in between ilmenau and Erfurt, I didn't find a ride that could bring me to the highway directly. Had them drop me of at an ikea, where noone needed to go to the highway, and they also had their cars packed full of closets.

I may have waited 30min, if I have to guess. It's a small town, not necessarily a busy road, but I feel like it's a good spot to be taken into Odense. Also, I think a car is more likely to stop if it's not a busy road. You can ask for cardboard and a sharpie at the nearby gas station. Don't go to Odense though, there's nothing to see there.

I am not sure how long I waited, but I remember it not being easy, so it could have been 40. I still rated 5 stars, because I don't really think there is a better place that's close.