What's more American than taking a road trip across the U.S. with friends? An unforgettable adventure awaits as you hop from city to city, visiting national landmarks and savoring delicious food along the way. Here are 8 tips to make your journey even more awesome!
1. Choose your road trip crew wisely![]()
Even the most spacious vehicles can feel cramped after x amount of hours on the road and make people a little crazy. Select friends that you won't want to kill after sharing a confined space with and friends who are low maintenance (road trips are not the most glamorous outings in the world, but so worth it!). The ideal crew will be up for anything, down to play travel games to ease the time and not afraid to have a dance party in the parking lot at 2am.
2. Pack in advance
A lot of people hate the process of packing and therefore leave it to the night before or even the morning of departure. This procrastination creates unnecessary stress and often causes the traveler to either overpack or forget important things such as toiletries (there's nothing worst than forgetting a toothbrush).
To combat this: Pack at least two days in advance by first laying things out on your bed or another flat surface –– this gives you a birds eye view of everything you have and allows you to weed out nonessential items. Research the weather for where you're headed beforehand and give yourself several clothing options, but pack light overall. You'll appreciate a lighter suitcase when you have to lug it out of the car and through hotels - trust me.
3. Look into a roadside assistance program
Not only can you be safer with a roadside assistance program, but you can save a lot of money too! Companies like AAA are subscription-based and provide emergency roadside assistance. If your car breaks down, towing fees can be crazy as you're desperate for help and have few options in certain areas. AAA provides towing, emergency starting, flat tire service, and much more if you're a member.
The company will also print out a nice pamphlet with route directions; they'll even print out multiple route options in case inclement weather forces you from following your original plan. Your AAA membership card also allots you room discounts at many hotels around the country, just present your card upon check-in. These programs can save you tons of money during your trek.
4. Design a bomb playlist
5. A flexible plan is key
Map out a route based on all of the places you want to hit along the way. Allow yourself sufficient time to explore each place. If you have hard dates, times and locations you have to meet for a concert or festival, give yourself enough wiggle-room and time to get there in case unexpected occurrences come up.
If you're feeling super ambitious, the optimal road trip across the U.S. was calculated last year using an algorithm. The route passes through the major landmarks and involves about 224 hours of driving!
6. Any season, but winter!![]()
OK, maybe not any season because the weather at any time during the year can be unpredictable, but definitely try to drive during the warmer months. You don't want to be stuck in sleet or a snow storm. You also don't want to risk your car battery not starting because of subzero temperatures. Plus, fall provides beautiful lush foliage and spring/summer makes everything more vivid. Winter can wash out landscapes sometimes, so you're in for better sights during the other seasons.
7. Relay your whereabouts to family and friends
8. Ask the locals for suggestions
Who knows an area's hidden gems like a local? Strike up a conversation with someone that lives there to discover all of the great restaurants, activities and spots that tourism blogs don't tell you about. Experience the the best things the location has to offer, explore its many secrets, and hey –– maybe you'll make a new friend while you're at it.
I hope these tips help make your future road trips unforgettable. Cheers to self-discovery and having one hell of a time with close friends! Please comment below with road trip stories of your own!
