He's suggested meeting but I'm not comfortable with Suggestion

I've been communicating with a guy I met through EH but we are communicating outside of EH in exchanging e-mails. He seems like a nice guy and he lives about 15 miles north of me and wants to go to an amusement park about 40 miles SOUTH of me. It is one of those amusement parks that is an all day thing and I'm not so sure of this being good for a first date because we have never met, I'd have to drive the harrowing highway down there because there's no way I'd go in a stranger's car no matter how nice he seems. He refers to himself as a gentleman, etc. but the idea of spending an entire day with someone I just met and 40 miles out of my comfort zone just doesn't sit well.

He says he likes amusement parks and rides and realize he'd shell out alot of money for it but I am still really nervous. I don't want to hurt his feelings but I also want to feel safe also. Furthermore, I don't really know him that well... for every paragraph I write, he writes a sentence. A reserve is fine, especially when deeply hurt in the past, but when I asked in general about his relationship with his family (in order to get an idea of how he might treat me), he said it was too personal a question. I just need to go slower and it has been awhile since I've been on a date and my intuition tells me that amusement parks are his standard first date place so I think he's been out on dates before which is fine but I feel at a disadvantage. And, frankly, my car is a clunker and not likely to make a happily hassle-free 80 mile round trip as I am trying to keep it as long as I can in good repair because I cannot afford another one.

What do you all think? I appreciate many of your advice and perceptions. I posted the long hair/short hair thing and figured no one bothered to reply except when I logged on I was surprised to see 40+ postings in only a day!

Thanking you in advance!

brneyedangel, will you marry me? You are so awesome. Both yours and Michelle's responses are solid. I suspect that he is wanting to go somewhere where you don't have to sit and face each other and talk but do something together, which I know from experience is the best way to get the awkwardness out of a GROUP of people but not necessarily one person. I do like the rollercoaster in amusement parks even though I haven't been to this particular one in like 30 years because it is just too darn expensive and unless you go with little kids or are starting out in a relationship like brneyedangel suggested which makes more sense on an intuitive level. I wouldn't mind the county fair but it is next weekend and there are rides and things are just friendly and casual but I have commitments for both weekends. Thank you, ladies!