Planning For a Road Trip

A long road trip with a set destination in mind can be an invigorating and exciting vacation or a way to spend a long weekend. With no stopping point in mind, you’re freer to see what’s out there and go where your interests and attention take you. Just pick a general location or direction and start driving.

Road trips are also fun because of the degree of control you have over your trip. You can pick any direction, eat when and where you please and don’t have to worry about missing a flight. However, just because road trips are open-ended doesn’t mean that they don’t require some planning. The following road trip tips will make your trip all the better and ensure you get the most out of your road trip.

Four Tips To Planning A Road Trip

  1. Have a General Plan: While one of the best parts of a road trip is being spontaneous some degree of planning is required. You should have a general direction in mind, cities you want to visit, and locations you plan to see.
  2. Have Maps Handy: Before heading out you should have maps both digital and in print. Map apps are very useful tools for giving you directions, pointing out traffic occurrences, finding food and lodging, and helping you find points of interest. However, not everywhere has good cell coverage. Old-fashioned paper maps can keep you headed in the right direction if your apps become disconnected from the cellular network.
  3. Have a Good Playlist: When driving you want to stay alert and focused. Silence can make even a fun trip boring and cause you to lose focus. A good playlist of your favorite songs, audiobooks, and podcasts makes the trip more enjoyable and keeps you focused on the road ahead.
  4. Avoid Busy Seasons: While you may want to see popular locations such as large national parks, depending on when you’re traveling you may run into large crowds. If you want to avoid the crowd, state parks are a nice alternative, as are some state and national monuments.

Final Thoughts

When you think of vacation, the first thing that often comes to mind is an extravagant (and complex) trip to an exotic location. But you don’t need to spend a lot of money or get on a plane to have a good time and make memories. With some planning and some time, all you need is a map and your car to see interesting sights and have a vacation you won’t soon forget.