A Dusty Trip is a desert survival driving game where you build a car, manage resources, and survive storms and mutants. Start on Plains map, stock fuel/food/oil/water, and release the handbrake before driving.
I’ve put 200+ hours in and died to every possible mistake. This guide covers car building, resource management, and the stuff that kills most new players.
Building Your Car
Your car spawns in pieces. Assembly takes 2 minutes once you know what you’re doing.
Attach all 4 wheels first. Two on each side, under the van. Then the 4 doors. One on back, others on sides. Drop in the engine, connect the radiator, fill the fuel tank with gas, add oil to the engine, pour water into the radiator.
And release the handbrake. It’s the lever between the front seats. I spent 10 minutes wondering why my car wouldn’t move on my first run. Press R to start the engine after everything’s connected.
The r/adustytrip subreddit has a pinned post with assembly diagrams if you’re stuck.
Resources That Keep You Alive
Four things matter: Fuel, Food, Oil, Water.
| Resource | What It Does | Without It |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Powers car | You stop |
| Food | Keeps you alive | You starve |
| Oil | Lubricates engine | Engine dies |
| Water | Cools radiator | Engine dies |
Fuel and Food are obvious. Oil and Water kill most new players. Your engine overheats without them. I lost 3 runs before I figured out why my car kept dying.
Check levels constantly. Fuel gauge is on the dashboard. Oil dipstick near the engine. Water at the radiator cap. Hunger bar on screen.
Looting the Desert
Stop at everything. Gas stations, abandoned buildings, random structures. All of them.
Grab fuel cans first. Always. Then food, oil containers, water bottles, weapons, spare parts. Gas stations are the best spots. They usually have fuel pumps, food, and sometimes weapons.
Buildings along the road have random loot. Some empty, some stacked. Check them all. I’ve found full fuel cans in buildings that looked completely abandoned.
If you need more coins to buy supplies, grab the A Dusty Trip codes first. Free 3,400 Dusty Coins.
Surviving Dust Storms
Dust storms will kill you. When the sky turns orange and visibility drops, you have two options.
Find shelter. Pull into a building or under an overhang. Wait it out. Safest approach.
Or drive through it. Headlights on, drive slow, stay on the road. Risky. One wrong turn and you’re lost. I’ve lost 3 cars trying to push through storms I should have waited out.
If you’re new, just stop. The storm passes. Your pride isn’t worth the run.
Mutants and Combat
Mutants spawn at certain locations and during events. They attack you and your car.
Melee weapons work but put you in danger. Ranged is safer. You can run them over with your car. Satisfying.
The New Year Firework Shops are guarded by mutants. Bring a weapon if you’re doing the Ventor quest. Check the codes page for quest details.
Desert vs Plains
Two maps. Different difficulty.
Desert is the original. Harder terrain, more mutants, harsher weather. Plains came later. Easier terrain, fewer threats, better for learning.
Start with Plains. Get comfortable with mechanics before tackling Desert. I wish someone told me this when I started. Would’ve saved me 20+ deaths.
Engine Upgrades
The starter engine is slow. 80 mph max. Upgrade it.
| Engine | Top Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I4 (Starter) | 80 mph | Free, comes with car |
| Carbureted | 140 mph | Best gas engine |
| Electric | Varies | Uses battery, no fuel |
The Carbureted Engine is a massive jump. 140 vs 80 mph matters when you’re outrunning a storm or racing to shelter before dark. Worth the investment before buying a new vehicle.
Check the A Dusty Trip vehicles tier list for which cars pair best with each engine.
Multiplayer Tips
Teams of 2-4 make everything easier. Share resources, one person drives while others loot, someone watches for mutants, revive each other.
Communication matters. Call out loot, warn about storms, coordinate stops. I’ve had runs fail because nobody watched the fuel gauge.
Solo is brutal for beginners. Find a team on the game’s Discord or just join random lobbies.
Mistakes I Made So You Don’t
Forgetting the handbrake. Release it before driving.
Ignoring oil and water. Engine dies. Check them.
Driving through storms unprepared. Find shelter if you’re not confident.
Skipping gas stations. They have the best loot density. Stop at every single one.
Going solo as a beginner. Teams make everything easier.
Buying expensive cars too early. Starter vehicles work fine while you learn. Spend coins on engine upgrades first.
The Tunnel
The Tunnel is a checkpoint between map sections. Safe zone. No enemies. Lots of loot.
When you reach it: fully repair your car, top off all fluids, stock up on supplies, count your resources. Don’t rush through. It’s your reset point before the next section.
Related A Dusty Trip Content
- A Dusty Trip Codes for free Dusty Coins and the Ventor quest
- A Dusty Trip Vehicles Tier List for which cars are worth buying
Similar Survival Games
- Dead Rails Guide for another survival experience
- Plague Guide for apocalyptic survival
- Hunty Zombie Guide for zombie survival mechanics
