Tips For Your Next Road Trip

My husband and I take at least one major road trip each year and concentrate on a geographic section of the United States. Our grand plan is to visit every state in America. (We are about halfway there.)

Three years ago, before the pandemic, we drove through the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas). Last spring, we toured the Wild West and Big Sky (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana). Soon, we will tackle the Southeast (Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida).

Here are some road trip tips we’ve learned from our driving adventures so far:

Limit time on the road to 2-3 weeks.

This is just the right amount of time to see several places but not too much time that we are sick of each other and longing for home.

Try not to drive more than six hours a day.

Unless we are trying to get to a specific destination or it doesn’t make sense to stop and hour or two shy of our destination, we plan for chunks of driving between four and six hours each day. This timing isn’t too strenuous, stressful or tiring. It allows for an early start to get to your next destination by mid-day or to break up your day with the first half of driving in the morning and the second half in the afternoon, with a stop or two along the way (usually to incorporate lunch). If planned right, you will also be at your next destination and check into your hotel before dark. Keeping the driving to six hours a day also allows for flexibility, which is the next tip.

Allow for flexibility in your day.

Sometimes there is traffic. Other times you might encounter road closures or detours. Weather can also slow you down. We’ve driven through thunderstorms and lightening, sleet and snow, and sun glaring so badly we couldn’t see the road. And touristy destinations, often, will take longer than planned because of crowds.

Alternate drivers if you are traveling with a companion.

This allows the non-driver to either rest, enjoy the sights without having to concentrate on the road or provide additional navigation help.

Whenever possible, stay more than one night in each place.

If you don’t mind spending each night in a different bed or the process of unpacking/packing and unloading/loading every day, then feel free to ignore this tip. You can also ignore it if you want to jam in as many places as possible (although when we’ve tried to do this, the trip becomes a blur). Of course, by expanding time in each place you won’t see as much on each trip. You’ll have to decide what works best for you. Our itineraries usually include one night when the stop is merely to break up the trip or there is not much to see or do there. Two nights allows us one full day in the city or surrounding area (since you drive in on the first day and out on the third day). When the destination has a lot of sights to visit or you just want to relax for a bit, stay three or four nights.

Try to take your own car when you can and bring creature comforts

from home.

Yes, this puts miles on your car (and can break the bank with current gas prices), but it also allows you to drive the car you are familiar with and most comfortable in. You could rent a car, but that adds expenses to your trip that can be spent in other ways during your vacation. Whether you take your own vehicle or rent one, the benefit of beginning your road trip from home is packing and taking items that will make your trip more enjoyable.

Whether it is your own pillow, extra shoes or certain household items that will come in handy along the way, these things can add extra comfort that flying with limited baggage doesn’t allow. For example, we have a small travel Keurig coffee maker and our own coffee pods we bring on the road with us, along with travel mugs. This is a nice way to start the day, especially when staying in a lower-end hotel with inadequate coffee makers in the room that make stale coffee or when there isn’t a Starbucks in the lobby or nearby. Thankfully, many hotels now actually have Keurig-type coffee makers in the room or, better yet, Nespresso machines.

Other items to consider if taking your own car:

• Wardrobe bar for hanging clothes. This is especially handy when you will be visiting different climates and need a variety of clothing. You can keep things from getting wrinkled and easily grab a dress or shirt when you are checking in. You can also rotate items from your suitcase, so you still have them available, but they aren’t taking up room in your suitcase.

• A cooler to transport items that need to be refrigerated. We usually bring a small hard-sided cooler, as well as a portable cooler bag to take on picnics or have on tours.

• Laundry supplies – I have a small plastic box where I store a baggie of quarters, dryer sheets and laundry soap (pods are super convenient). While most laundromats take credit cards and have soap available for purchase, you can’t always count on that. It’s nice to have the supplies if needed, without having to buy something bulky along the way. I am very particular about having fragrance-free options, so this ensures I have the product I need.

• First Aid kit, Water, Blanket(s), Towels and Cleaning Rags

Bring maps.

I know in today’s world we have satellite access to digital maps and navigation tools, but you may not always be in a spot where you access to these. More than once while on the road, we have lost our satellite reception or were out of range. These areas – especially if they are in the middle of nowhere – are where you will need a map the most. I order inexpensive printed maps ahead of time for each state we will be visiting. I plot out our route and have then handy in the car “just in case.” They also serve as a good visual aid to make sure you are on the right route and to track your progress. Having said that, by all means, first and foremost, use the navigation in your car or on your phone, but also have back-up map in case these systems fail, or you want to look at alternative scenic routes.

Take scenic routes.

When it makes sense, look for a scenic or alternative route, for a portion of your drive. Many times, the best sights are not located along the highway (especially if you are on a freeway or other higher speed road). Look at the printed maps to see if there is a scenic route off the main road and take it for a leg of your journey. Or watch for signs on the main highway indicating an exit for a scenic road. Look for points of interests along your route for the day and take time to drive through a quaint town or a road that winds through forests or by a river.

Keep an eye on your fuel level.

Know how many miles your car can travel on a tank of gas. Don’t wait until you get to a quarter-of-a-tank or below to look for a gas station, especially if you are in a rural area. Sometimes signs will tell you when it is the last “service” for several miles, but you can’t always count on that. (We found this out the hard way on a desolate stretch of highway in Utah.) Know where the major cities and services are and don’t hesitate to top off your tank when you stop for bathroom breaks and/or food stops. Running out of gas is never fun. It can also be dangerous if you are stranded with no cell phone service.

Be patient.

Driving takes time. Traffic, accidents, road conditions and other drivers can make us stressed, anxious, angry or distracted. Spending a lot of time with someone in the car can also lead to irritation and disagreements. Try hard to extend extra grace and understanding to your traveling companion and other tourists along the way.

Have fun!

This should be automatic, but I know it can be easy to focus on the destination and not the ride. Or, you can have so many items on your list to check-off, you miss the surprises along the way. Find a good balance of sight-seeing and relaxing. Some of our best adventures have happened when we stopped to just soak up the local culture and didn’t have a specific agenda for the day.