Did you know that there are over 4.18 million miles of road in the US? Despite being a daily commuter, you might’ve only driven on a couple of hundred miles in total.
If you’re curious about what the other 4 million miles have to offer, then a fantastic way to explore is to go on a cross-country road trip. And what better time to do it than now, when you have the time and money to make such a journey?
Keep reading to see what you need to do to take a road trip that you’ll never forget!
Table of Contents
Decide on the Final Destination First
If you have the luxury to wander around and go wherever your heart desires on a whim, then great! Otherwise, you’ll need to do some planning first. That way, you can avoid disappointment and have more peace of mind on the road.
If there’s a place you’ve always wanted to go (whether that’s a city, state, or even general area), then consider that as your final destination. You can then plan everything else around this, knowing you’ll finally end here.
Pick Your Road Trip Destinations
You won’t make it from one end of the country to the next in one day, so you’ll have to stop and rest overnight in several places. So between points A and B, look at the map and circle interesting places you want to stop at. If you’re having trouble, then take a look at travel blogs and see what cities and landmarks they recommend stopping at.
Remember that these stops aren’t set in stone. These are just potential places to visit, and they may change, especially after you complete the next step.
Plan Your Route
Some people simply want a straightforward drive that’ll take them from start to finish as quickly as possible. They punch the information into Google Maps, then drive as directed.
However, this doesn’t always give you the best views or stops, so you may have to ignore Google. This is where an old-fashioned paper map comes in handy.
What makes road trips so fun is you can make it your own adventure. You can get off the freeways and opt for back roads that’ll take you to hidden gems!
More importantly, you can plan different legs to take you from stop to stop. At the end, you can see if this is feasible for your budget and time. If not, then you can make adjustments accordingly.
Figure Out Your Accommodations
We know it’s not very fun to book accommodations on what’s supposed to be a fun and carefree trip. After all, it can ruin the mood if you need to make a mad dash to drive 100 miles in an hour to make it for your hotel check-in time.
However, it can be a huge mistake to forego reservations completely. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll have to sleep in your car, and you may get fined for doing so.
To avoid mad dashes and to also have wiggle room to explore as you see fit, break your road trip down into smaller pieces. You can then make reservations at hotels or campgrounds ahead of time, and not have to worry about not having a roof over your head on any night. But you’ll also have the freedom to spend a little extra time in some areas since you have mini-trips along the way.
Get a Good Vehicle
We’re not saying that you have to buy a new car to go on a road trip. But if you’ve got a 20-year-old hatchback with a mediocre engine, it’s not a good idea to use it. This is especially true if you’re bringing your friends and family.
The main things to consider are room, reliability, and fuel efficiency. In general, small crossover SUVs and minivans are excellent choices, so go with those if they’re accessible.
Otherwise, you can consider getting an RV or camper van if you want to get serious about road-tripping. In this case, you can find out where to purchase camper vans, then go tour your favorites, and take them for a test drive.
Tune Up Your Vehicle
If you’re not purchasing a brand-new car for the road trip, then take your current vehicle in for a tune-up. Hopefully, they won’t find anything wrong, and your car will get a “clean bill of health” so you can rest easy on your journey.
On the other hand, if they find anything wrong, that’s ok too. You can get them fixed ASAP and reduce the chances of a breakdown while driving around.
When you get your vehicle back, load it up with a safety kit. This will make practicing road safety a lot easier!
Pack Some Road Trip Essentials
Some people find it soothing to take a road trip for hours, while others get bored out of their minds. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, it’s important to pack some essentials!
You can always stop off to have a delicious meal, and we encourage you to do so to get a taste of local cuisines! However, to save some money and time, pack a hamper full of tasty snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated. Bring plenty of water too.
Download your favorite songs, podcasts, and audiobooks so you can plug your phone into the AUX cable and get instant entertainment. Encourage your companions to do the same so you get a nice mix!
Have a Wonderful Cross-Country Road Trip
A cross-country road trip can be life-changing; that is, if you plan it right. If you don’t do some planning beforehand, then you’ll run into many road bumps that’ll sour your vacation.
So make sure you follow all the advice we’ve given you. It’ll pay off when you can take a road trip that’s stress-free and fun!
If you liked learning about road trip planning, then keep reading our blog page for more fun articles.
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