So, you wanna take a road trip, do ya? All of the cliche Instagram posts have convinced you that there’s nothing better than being out on the open road, heading out towards that beautiful setting sun, riding in the back of a vintage convertible with your giant floppy hat immovable in the rushing wind. You want to load up your ride, crank up some bangin tunes, and maybe try a little chip-surfing. Nothing but the wind in your hair and an open road in front of you. Sound appealing?
Good!
Fun road trips offer memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Don’t believe me? Check out this post I recently wrote about some of my favorite road trip routes and memories. There is nothing better than embarking on an epic road trip.
Whether you’re heading on a cross country road trip, to your neighbor-state, or even just a few towns over, let me help you plan your road trip. Don’t worry – there are a plethora of things to do on a road trip, so if you’re thinking that you’ll be stuck in a car for hours and hours on end…I gotchu. With my guidance, the future ‘you’ will be able to plan a road trip with multiple stops, taking full advantage of those classic road trip attractions along the way. It’s not just about getting from Point A to Point B anymore.
Before we get started on the actual outline to map out a road trip, I’m curious to know what you think.
What is a road trip?
How do you define what a road trip is? For me, a road trip is determined by time spent in the car. If I’m heading anywhere that takes longer than 15 minutes to get to, I call it a road trip. There’s no set-in-stone definition for what a road trip is, which is awesome. It gives travelers the flexibility to create their own path. An IRL (“in real life” for anyone older than 18) “choose your adventure” book, complete with the option to have a craaaaazy ending that you had no way to see coming.
As the title of this post suggests, I’m going to lead you through planning a road trip across America. I have spent most of my life in the United States and that’s where most of my driving has been done. So although a few points later on will pertain mainly to the USA, you can use this guide to plan a road trip almost anywhere else in the world.
Alright, enough of this. Let’s get down and dirty. As your official road trip planner fairy, I’ve outlined my tried and tested method for not only actually figuring out what in the world you’re doing, but how to equip yourself with the right tools to have the time of your life! And although there’s no one true, cookie-cutter formula to follow to ensure an epic road trip, I urge you to follow my direction. Most of these talking points can be interchanged in their order, but the first 2 will really set your pace. Get them taken care of first and you’re golden.
Grab yourself a Dr. Pepper…this is going to be a long one!
#1 Timing Your Road Trip
One of the first things that will determine the route you take will be your timing. Obviously the longer you’re out on the open road, the more adventures you can have, the more things can go wrong, and the more necessities you’ll need to pack. But honestly, if I had my way, my road trips would be a whole lot longer than they have been. Consider the following:
Time of Year
When are you planning on embarking on your road trip? What season is it? What will the weather be like? Growing up in the American Southwest, I rarely had to worry about which season I took a road trip in. I prepped for hot hot heat (like the band), and would often only need a light jacket for night. My first road trip through Idaho during the winter had me changing up what I packed. Be sensitive to the weather and seasons.
Length of Your Road Trip
How long do you want to be out on the road? Keep in mind that a road trip doesn’t need to be weeks long in order to be epic. Some of my favorite road trips were quick weekend getaways with a friend. To quote the Harrison Ford version of Sabrina, “More isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more.” Quality over quantity rings true when you consider your wallet, time commitment, and desire.
If this is your first foray into the world of road trips, might I suggest starting small with a weekend trip. See how you well you handle being in the car for hours on end.
#2 Destination
Do you have an ending destination in mind, or are you just wanting to go out and see what you can see, only to return to your point of origin? There’s no right answer to this question, but knowing where you want to eventually end up will help make this planning that much easier.
In my experience, having a set destination in mind to essentially “book-end” the trip is beneficial and naturally brings structure to your road trip. You know which direction you eventually need to be heading, which removes a lot of the questions you might otherwise have to answer.
Let’s break it down a little further and explore the pros and cons of both options.
Destination: Pros
Like in life, having a goal in mind for your road trip can help provide structure and guide your decisions. If you have an ending destination, you can backtrack your schedule so you know how quickly/slowly you need to pace yourself during your journey.
For example, if you leave on a Monday and have to travel 200 miles by Friday, you can break up your drive and determine how much time you can spend at any attractions you might stop at.
Destination: Cons
You are set to a timetable and lose a lot of that sense of freedom people search for on the open road. If you happen upon a roadside attraction that you want to take the time to discover and fully appreciate, you might not have enough time to stop. You might even begin to feel pressure to press forward and “get there quickly,” rather than enjoying the journey.
Open-ended: Pros
Freedom. Nothing but you, the open road, and a wide horizon, beckoning you forward. Embarking on an open-ended road trip, the sky isn’t the limit, it’s the view. You can explore every nook and cranny you can find, follow every intriguing sign, and fly by the seat of your pants. You have the ability to continue driving for as long as you want, without any real restrictions.
Open-ended: Cons
Unless you’re a great decision-maker, there’s a chance you’ll feel overwhelmed with an open-ended road trip. Trip-fatigue is a real condition and you might find yourself struggling throughout the trip. “There are so many routes to take, too many stops to make, and where am I even going?” Be ready to be overwhelmed if this is your first time embarking on a road trip.
I know this step is a lot to think about, but it is key to shaping your road trip! Power through and really give it some thought.
#3 Stops Along the Way
Now that the nitty-gritty logistics are out of the way, it’s time to get started on the fun aspect of your road trip. Are you wanting to plan a road trip with multiple stops? Do you only want to make minimal, necessary stops? Unsure of what you want to do?
One of the beauties of being able to think ahead is to actually plan a road trip map. Before I embark on a road trip, I consult a few different websites:
Atlas Obscura
This is my favorite point of reference. I’m all about checking out those weird, off-the-wall places while I’m on the road, or even at home. I’ve found so many “gems” while perusing this site! If you’re looking for travel inspiration, there’s an option to browse the atlas and search for a random point of interest. It’s always fun to see what will pop up, and you can also check what cool things there are to see around the world!
Only in Your State
Sometimes your road trip will only take you from one side of your current state to the other. There’s nothing wrong with that! Your home state is worth exploring. This website is a great way to discover what you didn’t know…about the place you claim to know everything about and think that it’s boring. Believe me, whenever I start to think that I’ve discovered all that Utah has to offer, I consult this website and am humbled. Or, if you’re the destination of a friend’s road trip, you can use this website as a fun guide to showing them around!
Roadside America
Your guide to the unusual, weird, strange, unique, all the superlatives off-beat travel has to offer. Definitely give this site some dedicated time to peruse!
Roadtrippers
Pretty awesome website where you can enter in your starting and ending destinations, dates, and let the search engine find some fun stops for you to enjoy. Keep in mind that the website doesn’t know your personal preferences. This is a great and user-friendly website if you’re new to planning a road trip or are nervous and don’t want to veer too far from your course.
*Also note that this site will only pull stops that fall directly along the most direct path between your destinations. For example, if you’re heading from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Los Angeles, California, the website will only show stops and points of interest along the I-15 freeway (the main road connecting the cities).
The perfect road trip is a completely personalized experience.
Some of the best decisions I’ve made on road trips have been to follow signs I’ve come across on the side of the road. Did you know that all signs along the freeways, highways, and streets are color-coded, depending on the message they portray? I know this is a huge shocker and promote me to Captain Obvious, but hear me out.
Have you ever seen those ugly brown signs intermixed with the blue and green? Those particular signs are my favorites; they denote recreational sites, historical markers, and points of interest. I’ve followed a few of them and have been enriched. How else would I have found out about the Seven Magic Mountains before they exploded all over social media?
#4 Interstate vs. Every Other Road
Everyone travels differently: first-class/coach, organized tour group/self-designed tour, solo/girl’s trip. The same theory rings true with a cross country road trip. Some dreamers envision driving on dirt roads, through corn fields and dodging cows as they ramble along through open ranges. Others picture navigating the expansive interstates of big cities, horns honking, lights blaring.
Me? I’m a city girl at heart and love driving on the interstates. I grew up close to the freeway on-ramps in Southern California and would often leave my windows open at night, falling asleep to the steady stream of traffic, horns, sirens, and the occasional crash. Don’t judge.
Let’s break it down (again) a little further and explore the pros and cons of both options, all opinions aside.
Interstate: Pros
Driving at faster speed limits with rarely a signal in sight usually leads to the quickest route to your destination. Often times the interstate will have the best paved road as well. There’s nothing cool about potholes!
Interstate: Cons
There are more fast and aggressive drivers on the interstate, which can be extremely intimidating if you’re more of a passive driver. The roads aren’t as scenic, as you’re either staring at other drivers or cement barricades along the way.
Other Roads: Pros
When you drive along the backroads of a city, you’re able to feel more of a connection with the location. You can go at your own speed and stop as often as you’d like. There also tends to be less traffic, which is never a bad thing!
Other Roads: Cons
Taking the back roads or surface streets takes longer. There are signals, stop signs, varying speed limits, and they are often a more round-about way of getting to a destination. Conditions of the roads can range from pothole-marked surface streets to dirt roads, and are often full of road blocks and obstructions. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stopped by cows crossing the road (NOT chickens, LOL).
Or you know what? Mix it up and do a bit of both. Especially if this is your first attempt at planning an American road trip, how do you really know which style is your cup of tea? Go with your instincts.
#5 Road Trip Travel Buddies
Are you a lone wolf? Do you want a co-pilot? Mark Twain once said, “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”
We all have our individual preferences on how we like to travel and who we like to travel with. Personally, I like to have a mix of solo and group travel, but with the majority of my travels solo. I am able to recharge when I travel solo, but enjoy spending time with a select group of people and sharing adventures with them.
Let’s break it down for the last time and explore those pros and cons!
Solo: Pros
You get to go where you want, when you want. You can choose to stay inside and watch Netflix all day or bust it out from sunrise to sunset, criss-crossing a city and taking all the selfies your heart desires. Nobody can tell you what to do or how you should be. It’s so liberating to go at your own pace!
Solo: Cons
If you aren’t comfortable making all of the travel decisions, you’ll be in for a rude awakening. You don’t have someone double-checking to make sure that your flights are on-time and scheduled, your lodging is secure, or verifying that you have all of your belongings. It can get lonely if you don’t know how to be with yourself. You have to carry all of your own travel costs and that can get pricey, depending on where you are and your particular style of travel.
Buddies: Pros
You have a constant partner in crime. A wingman/woman. Someone to encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Someone to bounce ideas off of. Someone to talk to on long road trips. Someone to split the costs of an expensive dinner with. Creating inside jokes and shared experiences with a close friend can help cement a friendship and establish a bond for life!
Buddies: Cons
You always have someone with you (unless you figure out that spending an hour or a day apart is actually healthy for you). Tempers can rise if you don’t pick the right type of travel companion. Just because you are best friends, doesn’t mean that you can tolerate each other for long periods of time and in close quarters.
When you have a wingman/woman, you’re almost stunted when you try to make new friends. You’re constantly having to double-check to see if your travel companion wants to go on that epic adventure, and then come up with a backup plan when they don’t want to.
Like I mentioned above, I like to have a mix of travel companions, whether a close friend or just myself. There’s no magic equation to figure out if someone is going to be a compatible travel companion for you.
One thing you can do is experiment pre-travels: spend a lot of time together and see how long it takes before they get on your nerves. Are you able to cope and get over the small things? Or does every. single. thing. they do drive you bonkers? It’s okay if it does, but hopefully you’re able to figure it out before you embark!
#6 Pick Your Vehicle
Let’s face it – not all vehicles are created equal. Sure, your old VW Bus looks great and would provide the perfect backdrop/focus for your next Instagram feature, but how’s that engine purring? It’s not, huh? If you’re planning on using your everyday car for your road trip, make sure it’s in perfect working condition. Take it to the mechanic. Make sure your oil is changed out, fluids topped off, wiper blades fresh, and all lights functioning.
If you have the dream to take a California road trip down Pacific Coast Highway in a red convertible, go for it! If you’re interested in renting one of those camper vans and heading to the Grand Canyon, go for it!
Insider tip: avoid renting your vehicle through a 3rd party. You can check for deals online, take a screenshot, and then when you call the rental company, see if they’ll price-match. I’ve had friends and family members try renting through a 3rd party and had so many issues!
No matter which car you pick, make sure you have enough room and don’t feel cramped. There’s nothing fun about driving long distances with someone’s fishing pole constantly dancing atop your head, while having to snuggle your door because a duffle bag has taken up the center armrest area.
Another insider tip: if you’re going to be flying into a major airport to start a road trip, it might be worth looking into renting a vehicle from another location aside from the airport. You can often take public transportation into town once you land and locate another car rental spot that is a lot cheaper!
#7 Packing for Your Road Trip
Are you an over-packer? Are you like my brother and just need a shirt and deodorant in your backpack for the next week? Or are you one of those people who have mastered the art of packing? If so, tell me your secrets!
But seriously, what to pack for a road trip should be high on your priority list. There’s nothing funny about taking off and finding yourself away from civilization and realizing that you forgot tampons. Or water. Or your sunglasses. Granted, if you’re road-tripping through the USA, you’ll be able to find most items in even the smallest towns…but it’s still best to be prepared and fully-stocked!
Food
Don’t be one of those people who forget to bring snacks on the road trip. Driving out in the middle of nowhere with only gum and random packets of Saltine crackers that you found in your glove compartment is horrible. Yes, I’m talking from experience. And when you finally reach a gas station, you’ll find it hard to stomach both the $2.50 candy bar and the fact that it’s so old, there’s a thin white film enveloping the whole, stale bar. Blech.
My go-to snacks include things like cashews, snap peas, cheese (usually a specialty cheddar that I’ve already diced), strawberries/grapes/apples, Pringles (because they can fit in my cupholder!), Skittles/Reese’s Pieces, and lunch meat. Prep your snacks ahead of time and bring a variety. Snacks should help enhance your road trip, not hinder it or be the cause for any trouble. Check out this post for more details.
This goes without saying, but don’t drink and drive. Having open containers in the car is also illegal in the US, even if it’s in the back seat. Water is your friend. Stay hydrated by always having water with you. Sure, you’ll have to pee more frequently, but isn’t that what’s supposed to happen? Bodies, am I right?
Clothing
Consider where you’re going and how long you’ll be on the road. Are you going to be camping or staying at a location with laundry facilities? No matter where you go, it’s always a great idea to pack layers. Driving in the middle of the desert can get your vehicle quite hot, even with the air conditioning blasting. If you have a full day ahead of driving, with little-to-no sight-seeing, consider wearing your most comfortable pieces of clothing. You can always change into a cuter/functional outfit when you stop.
Supplies/Miscellaneous
This last section totally depends on how high-maintenance you and your vehicle are. Whenever you travel anywhere, it’s always a good idea to have a few items handy:
Toiletries – especially deodorant and toothpaste! Spending a significant amount of time in the car will stank up the close quarters!
Travel documents – AAA membership, list of emergency contacts, insurance cards, license, passport, rental agreement (obviously if you’re driving a rental)
Blankets/pillows for snuggling during the trip; or if you’re like me and choose to sleep in the car. I always keep a blanket in the car 24/7 for emergencies.
Car supplies – tire-changing kit, extra wiper fluid (nothing worse than hanging out of the car window and dumping your water bottle contents out onto the windshield to clear away the bugs), jumper cables
Emergency supplies – first aid kit, flashlight, baseball bat (if you’re in a remote area with wild animals and need to defend yourself), baby wipes (hand sanitizer is good, but not if you have dirt or oil on your hands), toilet paper and baggies (for those emergency potty runs in the middle of nowhere), extra water bottles
Travel-sized games/frisbee/toys – my friend and I were trapped in a canyon after a rock slide blocked the road. We played catch with the other cars who were also blocked…we provided the football and music, they provided the snacks!
Garbage bags (grocery/trash bags work)
Weather-appropriate items, such as ice scrapers, sun visors, chains, etc.
#8 Music
After hitting the road on your cross country road trip, the stoked feeling of being on the open road will eventually wear off and monotony will sink in. You can combat this by having some epic tunes to keep you company. I’ve created a guide with tips on how to create the most epic playlist for your road trip.
I personally use the app Spotify, but I know there are other options like Soundcloud, iTunes, and Groove Shark. Just remember that sometimes your cross country road trip might take you to the “land of no signal” and your radio might not work.
As a general tip, it’s always a good idea to have your music ready to go and easily accessible. If you opt for CDs, make sure they’re labeled and reachable. If you create a playlist with a music app, make sure you have the option to download the playlist before you take off. There’s nothing worse than singing your guts out to “Sweet Home Alabama” as you drive through the desert…only to lose signal and the song drops. Such a buzz-kill!
Related: 3 Tips to Create an Epic Road Trip Playlist
#9 Schedule a Buffer
Believe it or not, about an hour or so into your drive, you’ll start to feel the magic wean a little bit. Every breathtaking view you come across will slowly lose its luster. Even your favorite songs will start to grind your gears. If you’re traveling with other people in the car, you’ll inevitably need a break. Never fear! You don’t have to continue driving yourself into a frenzy…unless that’s your goal. Schedule a buffer! Give yourself a few extra days or even hours at a particular stop. If you find yourself becoming a little stir-crazy and the idea of climbing back into the car after only an hour’s reprieve curls the ends of your hair, give yourself a break.
My friend Nikki and I were recently road-tripping through Transylvania (post to come). The roads in Romania are essentially highways that climb through mountains and crawl through small villages. It takes forever to get anywhere, and by the end of a few days, we needed a break. Instead of trying to reach yet another destination, we remained in Sighisoara for an extra half-day. Not only were we reenergized to continue on our journey, but we were able to more fully explore the quaint little medieval town.
#10 Call Your Bank/Credit Card Companies
Depending on what kind of credit and debit cards you use, it’s always advisable to contact the respective banks/companies. Even if it’s last-minute, you’ll be thanking me later. There’s nothing worse than being on a road trip and unable to access funds that you know you have. Don’t be afraid to keep a little cash handy as well, but be warned: if you choose to keep large sums of cash on-hand, make sure to store it in at least 2 different places. If you leave your wallet at a rest stop, wouldn’t it be wonderful to remember that you stocked a $20 in your center console?
#11 Start Your Road Trip!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
Dr. Seuss said it right. You’re ready. You’ve taken the steps to ensure an epic road trip. Although we can’t plan for everything, you’ve done all you can to ensure an adventure and eye-opening road trip! We’ve all heard the quote about how the hardest part is choosing to go. Don’t stress. Just go!
Did you find this article helpful? What tips would you include for someone planning a road trip in the USA?
Please remember that in order for me to continue giving free travel tips and itineraries I need your help in sharing these posts! Please show some love by sharing on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Thank you!
PIN ME
