According to one survey, about 1 in 3 Americans said that they were planning a cross-country road trip for the summer of 2020.
If you’re going to be one of those three and plan a road trip either alone or with friends, there are some things you should consider.
Thankfully, we have all of the best tips and tricks for you here, so make sure you keep reading!
1. Decide What Style of Road Trip You Want to Go On
First, you’ll need to decide what type of road trip you want to take. Everyone has their own travel style, and if you’re going to go with other people, you should make sure your styles are the same.
Some people prefer planning everything out in advance, and some people just want to be spontaneous.
If you really want to go with someone who is spontaneous while you’re more of a planner, make sure you talk about it beforehand and ensure that you negotiate something that you’re both happy with so you don’t have fights on the trip.
2. Pick a Vehicle
Next, you’ll have to decide what vehicle you want to use for your trip. You may want to travel by car, which you can get access to pretty easily. It’ll also be easier to find parking spots when you travel.
If you’re driving a car you’re used to, it could make the driving a little bit less stressful as well. However, space is usually limited, and you’ll have to book accommodations unless you want to sleep in your car.
Or, you can look into buying used trailers or an RV to use for your road trip. This will ensure that you travel with a lot of space, and you won’t have to be cramped in a car.
You’ll also be able to save a lot more money on food because you can store food in your RV and cook it with you. You’ll also save money on lodging.
3. Choose Your Destination
After you decide how you’ll get there, you need to decide where to go.
The journey is part of the fun of a cross-country road trip, but you’ll also want to enjoy your time at the destination. If you aren’t sure where to go, you can do some research online to see where all the hot spots are.
You can also ask your friends or family members where to go; you may find something that you’ve never thought of before!
4. Reserve Accommodations
If you’re not driving an RV on your trip, you’ll need to reserve a hotel or Airbnb.
While you could sleep in a car, you’ll be surprised at how tired you get from driving all day. You’ll get a night of better sleep in an actual bed, so make sure you research the best hotels along the way.
It’s better to have accommodations already reserved so that you don’t have to stress about it when you’re driving. However, this will mean that you have to stick to somewhat of a schedule.
Before you leave on your trip, call the hotel or Airbnb just to confirm your reservations and make sure that you don’t run into any problems where you are out of a hotel or motel room when you get there.
5. Choose the Time of the Year
Next, make sure you think about when you want to drive.
While a lot of people drive in the summer, you might have to deal with more crowds and higher gas prices.
However, traveling during the winter can pose its own challenges. You might have to deal with snow on the road, and it might be too cold to sleep in the car as well.
The time of the year that you leave will really depend on where you want to go.
6. Do Some Research
Next, you’ll have to do some research on everything. There’s no detail that is too small, so you’ll have to ensure your route is planned out.
However, things happen, so plan some buffer time in, in case you break down on the side of the road or experience some unexpected traffic.
You should search for what landmarks and attractions you want to see while you’re traveling to your destination.
A good place to start doing research for your trips is on Instagram. You’ll be able to see photos of popular places and see what other people are saying!
7. Choose Some Partners
Lastly, if you don’t want to go on a road trip alone, make sure that you choose your road trip partners carefully.
Not all people are going to be matched perfectly with you. Going on a long road trip can end up being stressful, and you can easily get into arguments when even the littlest thing goes wrong.
It’s like choosing a roommate but spending every minute with them in a tiny space. So make sure you have the same music taste, want the same amount of conversation or silence as you, and even want to eat the same kinds of foods as you.
Discover More About Planning a Cross-Country Road Trip
These are only a few things to keep in mind when planning a cross-country road trip, but there are many more things you should keep in mind when trying to plan this trip.
We know that planning any kind of trip can be stressful and overwhelming, but that’s why we’re here to help you!
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