I don’t know about you, but I’m going stir crazy during this coronavirus quarantine. I can’t wait for it to be safe to travel again, so that I can cross some spots off of my bucket list. Some of you are probably feeling the same way, so I wanted to share my process for planning a road trip. Trying to figure out where to go, where to sleep and what to eat isn’t always easy, so I tried to make it a little bit easier for you in these 6 simple steps.
Make a list of where you want to go
Think about all of the cool pictures you’ve seen on instagram, and those yummy restaurants you’ve watched on Food Network. If you are traveling with others, try to make a list together, so that you’re all on the same page.
Check out this list of 6 Must See Cities on Your New England Road Trip for ideas!
Also try to think about how long you’d like to spend at each spot. This will make it easier when you’re mapping out your route. Keep this list for your future travel plans, because after you go on one road trip, you will definitely want to go on another. I have an ongoing list of places I want to visit, so whenever I get that feeling of “must go now” I can pull that out to help me decide where I should go.
Pull out your handy dandy map
Once I’ve made my list and circled some definites (you at least want to have your start and end points), I use Apple Maps for my preliminary route search. As I am pretty map-challenged (tourism major who?), I need to look at a a physical map so that I can determine what states I’m traveling through. This helps me to decide on where exactly I’ll be stopping.
Once you have your basic route, bring back your list of must go destinations, and see what matches up with your route. A great app and website to use is Roadtrippers. It not only maps out your routes, but it also gives suggestions for popular stops and calculates your total gas budget. If you don’t know where to stop in one of the states you’re driving through, Roadtrippers gives great ideas.
Create a budget and (try to) stick to it
You’ll want to factor in the major costs, like accommodations, gas, activities, and food (usually my biggest section).
For tips on how to save up for your road trip, check out these 6 Apps I Use to Easily Save Money.
- Accommodations: Typically you can save some money if you go with an Airbnb, if that’s something you’re comfortable with. Campgrounds, of course, have great rates, so those are great options in an RV or sleeping in a tent.
- Gas: There are plenty of online tools that can help you calculate gas prices for road trips, so I definitely recommend checking that out.
- Activities: While researching your stops, make sure to check out the websites for any museums or stops you want to make. Buying ahead of time can save you some money!
- Food: Usually I have a pretty big food budget, because I love trying local restaurants and cafes. You can try to keep that budget down by avoiding fast food options on the road and buying your own groceries.
Time to pick where you’re going to sleep
This is obviously fully dependent on your travel style. Some of you may taking on the world from your RV or campervan (and, of that, I am extremely jealous). If you don’t have one of those glorious live-in vehicles, then hotels and Airbnbs are the way to go. You can also go old-school and tent camp, which was the preferred way of traveling in my family for a long time.
Whatever style you choose, you definitely want to find a spot that is central to all of the activities you’re interested in. Google is obviously your friend for this, but I will once again recommend Roadtrippers.
Get your car a tune up
I’ll be honest, I know nothing about cars, but my mom always said that I must have a trustworthy mechanic if I’m going to drive. So follow my mom’s advice. Bring your car to your favorite mechanic, tell them your plans, and they can check over your car. I would also definitely recommend getting a roadside assistance plan in case of emergencies. Some insurance companies provide this or you can get an outside national plan, like AAA, so that you’re covered no matter where you go. If your car isn’t the most reliable, you can always rent a car. Keep in mind that there can be a very steep fee if you’re picking up and dropping off the car in different locations.
Get excited!
I don’t love to drive, but I love to see new places, so you just have to make the ride more fun! Make a good road trip playlist. It should be as long as your longest leg of the drive, so you don’t have to repeat songs too many times. Not a big music fan? Find an attention grabbing podcast to binge, or an audiobook to keep you entertained. Bring books or a journal for when you’re not driving.
Another vital part of a road trip—snacks! Pack a cooler full of your favorite drinks and snacks, with a good combination of healthy versus junky. This will help you stay on budget, and keep your stops down to just bathroom breaks, meaning you get to your destination even faster.
As the owner of an extremely small car, I know the importance of packing your car efficiently. Keep your cooler in close proximity so that you can easily reach for a drink or snack. Bring plastic grocery bags for any trash you might accumulate. I’m a textbook overpacker, but try to keep your bags to a minimum. Remember, you will be sitting in a car for long periods of time, so you don’t want to feel too cramped.
I hope you found this list helpful for planning your first road trip. Please leave a comment below and share with your friends. Pin this for later!
