Roads were made for journeys, not destinatons.
Confucius
Some claim the road trip has returned but did it ever really leave?
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Seasoned travelers have long known the road trip offers a unique travel experience that remains unmatched by a quick flight from a crowded airport. There is a reason so many quotes exist about the journey rather than the destination and the road trip is about the journey. Road trips give you the chance to wander and get lost while discovering the unplanned aspects of a place and yourself at the same time.
Planning a road trip is the dream of many people, to go across the USA, see the country and meet new people! Road trips are an amazing way to see the country. But planning a road trip can be a chore. There’s the research phase, the trip planning itself, and then the travel logistics.
I take the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me.
Walt Whitman
Planning your Road Trip Route
You probably have an inspiration folder/screenshots somewhere and have a general idea of where you are headed. Grab a map and start planning. Whether you choose old school paper Rand McNalley, RV-friendly Trip Wizard, or a streamlined Google Maps version in your pocket mapping out your overnight stops is the first step!
RV communities call it the 2/2/2 Rule. It equates to traveling no more than 200 miles a day, arriving two hours before sunset, and staying at least two days. Traveling in an RV is like slipping into a time warp…everything takes longer. While a simple car road trip may be able to push the envelope more on these guidelines. You will want to determine what your own mileage comfort level is before reaching exhaustion on the road. (Tip: Arriving two hours before sunset makes finding your hotel/campsite and dinner a lot simpler though.)
No road is long with good company.
Turkish proverb
Finding Fun (& Necessary) Stops along your Road Trip
- Search Instagram hashtags and Pinterest for information from the locals of frequent travelers to the area.
- Atlas Obscura: This website has a vast listing of obscure (and fun) stops. The site allows you to search by location and type of attraction. Atlas Obscura has led us to some great street art and historic locations across the United States.
- RoadTrippers: The free version of this app allows you to search interesting stops like amusement parks, adventure sports, and historical markers. You can only add five stops to your “Bucket List” on the free version (and you will find more than five), but for just $29.99 per year you can add up to 150 waypoints, be ad free and view offline.
- Roadside America: While the site is similar to the two listed above and a bit…well clunky, it is worth checking for more roadside attractions.
- Recreation.gov is the ultimate source for US National Parks. The site/app allows you to book camping and activities in the parks across the country. Keep in mind many parks can be reserved no more than six months out and book quickly.
- FreeCampsitews.net is a great dispersed camping guide. The site is crowd-sourced and offers all the details and reviews from campers.
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you.
Anthony Bourdain
Navigation Planning
- iExit: This app allows you to check upcoming exits for amenities before getting off the road. (Please have a passenger use the app)
- GasBuddy: This app will report via crowdsourcing the gas prices at nearby stations.
- Google My Maps: This site allows you to create a custom Google Map while plotting all your stops and points of interest in one map.
- RVTrip Wizard: This is paid app is a favorite of RVers since it routes around low clearances.
If you’re not lost, you’re not much of an explorer.
John Perry Barlow
With your list of must-see locations made, you will want to check the days of your arrival and the hours for the attraction. You don’t want to arrive to a closed Wally World!
Beware of overplanning too. Leave some extra time to relax and enjoy the moment.
Don’t forget much of the fun in a road trip is in the journey itself! Enjoy the scenery!
Plenty of people dream about taking that big road trip across the US. Road trips are a great way to see some of the most iconic aspects of America. You get to experience the thrill of hitting the open road, challenging yourself to visit new places, and trying foods you’ve never heard of before.
Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.
Ernest Hemingway
Road Trips to Add to your Bucket List
- Pacific Coast Highway: A classic road trip along Coastal California. The route begins among the towering redwood forests of Northern California and stretches to the beaches of Southern California.
- Route 66: Wandering through eight states from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California for 2,300 miles the Mother Road is the ultimate 1950s nostalgia road trip.
- US Highway 395: Running along the eastern Sierra Nevada, US Highway 395 wanders through the highest, lowest, hottest, and oldest areas in the west. You can check out one of our favorite pockets along the highway, Carson Valley Nevada here.
- High Road to Taos: This 56-miles road winds and climbs through the Sanger de Christopher Mountains between Santa Fe and Taos. (Be sure to check your RV guidance if you are towing and watch your brakes. Many travelers wear through their brakes on this road.)
- Olympic Peninsula Loop: Stretching 445-miles through Washington State. This loop allows you to experience the Olympic Peninsula and its dramatic coastline. Be on the lookout for eagles and whales!
- North Shore Scenic Drive: Tracing the shoreline of Lake Superiror this drive provides access to eight state parks and the Superior National Forest.
- Florida Keys: One of the shorter road trips on this list, but the 110-mile stretch along US 1 from Key Largo to Key West will have you in awe! Known as the “Road to Paradise” and dotted with coastal roadside diners and attractions. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and Gold Coast meeting with turquoise waters is the perfect start to a tropical vacation. You can check out more about driving the Keys here.
- Scenic Byway 12: Driving through the rugged terrain of the heart of the American West with aspens, pine groves, meadowlands and desert landscapes throughout the 123 miles.
- Silverado Trail: Winding through the rolling hills of the Napa Valley wine region linking the 30(ish) miles between Napa and Calistoga. The route was originally built in the 1850s during the silver rush.
- PanAmerican Highway: Stretching from the tip of Alaska to the tip of South America this is the longest route, but definitely a “bucket list” trip!
- Blue Ridge Parkway: Spanning 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina the road weaves together America’s heritages while spanning the southern and central Appalachian Mountains. (Be sure to leave time for waterfall viewing)
Travel far enough, you meet yourself.
David Mitchell
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