So for those who aren’t ready to fly just yet there are other alternatives. Road trip!!!! We tend to overlook our own backyards when thinking of travel. I’ve heard so many people say…oh you’re going to *insert US city*…that’s not a real trip. I’ve definitely said that myself. But new experiences don’t always have to happen overseas. There’s so much beauty around us to explore. What better time than now to do it! Here’s some things to consider if you’re thinking about taking a road trip.
Choose your travel companions wisely.
This is one of the most important decision you can make when planning a road trip. Who are you willing to be trapped in a car with for hours at a time?? If it’s someone that you’re not used to spending a lot of time with….this may not be the time to to start.
Planning out the logistics is key.
Are you driving your own car, a friend or family member’s, or renting? Make sure you have that conversation early so everyone is on the same page (ie. don’t just assume your friend is going to drive). If you need to shop for deals on a rental car, the earlier you do it the better for lower rates. If the choice is to drive a personal vehicle be sure to give it a good checkup and top off any fluids that haven’t been checked in a while. The last thing you want to happen is to have a breakdown on the road in the middle of nowhere.
Also, figure out lodging plans ahead of time. Are you going to stay in hotels or Airbnbs along the way? Or are you thinking about camping? You’ve got plenty of options but you need to make sure you book in advance and are aware of where your lodging is in proximity to the sites you’re interested in seeing. After hours on the road you want to be able to get to your resting place to re-energize and not spend that precious time searching for a place to stay.
Know what sights you want to see.
This means you should have a tentative itinerary in place so you make it to your destinations in plenty of time to enjoy the highlights, I-10 by 10. You want to give yourself a buffer to get to those first attractions fresh off the road as sometimes it can be unpredictable and let’s face it…delays can happen. If at all possible make reservations for times well after your planned arrival. That way you’re not speeding on the highway risking a ticket and/or missing an event due to delays. Give yourself some wiggle room! Also by planning out ahead of time you can do some research on the route you’re taking and if time allows there may be some interesting stops to explore between travel destinations. That is the beauty of driving! There are plenty of apps that can assist you with planning out your road trips. Roadtrippers is a popular one that helps you plan your itinerary and navigate!
We’re still in a pandemic so act accordingly.
In our last post about traveling during COVID-19, one of our tips was researching your destination. This is still true for road trips. If you’re in the US, some states are considered hot spots so depending on where you’re traveling from, you may be forced to self-quarantine for 14 days upon your arrival. Forbes wrote an article that makes it easy for us to identify those states with travel restrictions and quarantine mandates. Currently 17 states in the US have travel restrictions. Operating hours may vary due to Covid-19 so check the websites of the stops or attractions you plan on visiting as some may be temporarily closed. As always, bring your mask as there may be businesses/attractions that mandate wearing one.
Take the scenic route.
Road trips are unique because you get to discover places while in route. Sometimes if you research in advance, you’ll see smaller highways or back roads that are a lot more scenic than just taking major freeways. Whatever route you take, it’s always a good idea to download offline maps or even buy an old school paper map! If you’re renting a car, you can just ask for a GPS for a small additional fee. A lot of these routes are outside of major cities and you won’t have good cell phone service or Wi-Fi. Remember to enjoy the journey just as much as the destination. Sometimes it’s good to go off the beaten path.
Make a good playlist.
That speaks for itself. You can’t have a good road trip without good music!
As always, buckle up and drive safely. No texting and driving. On the road again, I can’t wait to get on the road again…
Are you planning a road trip or have you been on one recently??? Tell us about it! Where are you going or planning to go?
I’m in the midst of road trip planning. Heading to the mountains to Isolate in a couple weeks. I hope, anyways. Your post has perfect timing as I need to keep all of these things in mind.
That actually sounds amazing. Hope you have a great time!
Great advice and good to keep in mind the next time I go on a road trip.
Definitely! Thanks for reading!
I love road trips !! We are planning on taking pacific coastal road trip this week. Thanks for sharing very helpful checklist to consider before traveling.
That’s awesome! We’re actually planning a PCH road trip in a couple of weeks. Hope you have a great time!
Great information for planning and taking a road trip! I love the idea of always taking the scenic route! It adds excitement to the trip.
Totally agree! I’ve been on road trips where you’re looking at nothing the entire time so I will always opt to take the scenic route! Makes the trip more enjoyable!
I’ve always wanted to take a road trip but it felt like a lot to have to keep in mind. Flying is easier BUT it doesn’t seem as adventurous. We drive from Texas to Florida every few years and have since I was a child, so the planning has been done. My goal is to drive to the grand canyon!
I agree! Flying has always been my preferred option as I try to maximize the time I have off but being in a pandemic has made me realize that you can see so much more driving and hit more places! That’s a great goal! There’s probably so much to see on that route!
great ideas. I’m planning a road trip for my birthday so will see how this goes. I haven’t decided where to go yet but I’m excited
Hope you have a great birthday! I’m sure wherever you go it will be wonderful!
We’ve got so many ideas for road trips here in the U.K.! Playlists and good snacks are a must have!
Agree! You gotta have your snacks!
Great advice! I’m not typically a road trip person but I’m going to become one with coronavirus. I’ll keep your tips handy!
Same thing for me! I’ve done a few road trips in the past but are likely going to do a lot more as we don’t know how long this pandemic will last. Planning another one right now!
I always tend to take road trips with people who don’t like to plan so a lot of the time we end up rushing from point to point and don’t get a chance to relax. Or after we’ve rushed to get somewhere, we find out that we had plenty of time but by then, we’ve already left destinations and there is no backtracking. That’s why I like solo road trips. I know the value of my own time and just like you mentioned pick points I want to see and then if I have extra time, I take the scenic route or the road less traveled. It’s a great way to balance the whole trip. My normal road trip partners are starting to get used to the way I travel now and are starting to see even a little planning goes a long way.
That’s a great point! Honestly I’ve done a lot of solo traveling for that reason. At least your road trip partners are coming around! Maybe in the near future you’ll be able to try another road trip with them. The way the pandemic is looking…we may be here for a while lol.
Great post! I have been looking at different road trip options for us. It is amazing what I have found in our home state that I didn’t even know was there! Planning ahead is the key!!
Yes! If you just google a route you’d be surprised how many sights pop up! You really just have to do some advanced planning to find out what’s around you!
I truly believe that this is going to be the year of road trips and I love it! Thanks for sharing your tips, can’t wait to plan my next one 🙂
Yes the year of the road trips! Hope you get to go on one soon! I’m planning one now 🙂
Great points! I love road trips and spent 2-3 weeks driving around the western US in 2018 and 2019. This year feels like those spots are going to be overrun so I might stick closer to home. I’ll keep these tips in mind 🙂
I love road trips but haven’t been on one in ages!! You are right, we tend to forget there are driveable destinations that can be just as appealing as those overseas! Now I want to plan one for 2020!
I had a lot of similar thoughts as I planned our family road trip to Colorado. It is possible to do it safely, with planning 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this article. You really had a lot of fun. I wish I had the time to go on a road trip.
Helpful advice! We are on a road trip in Western Australia right now and loving it! I have such fond memories of family road trips growing up on the east coast of the US. So happy to (cautiously) be sharing those experiences with our kids! 🙌🏼
I’ve been all about road trips lately! That’s about all the travel we can do right now. Hopefully I can go to some national parks soon!
I have a good friend that just drove from CA to NC with his wife on military orders! I have a young child so I couldn’t imagine my husband and I doing it haha
Thanks for the info! Road trips are our favorite! We haven’t been overseas..we like traveling the US.. Thanks!
Yes! Love taking the scenic route while roadtrippen. Great article