Few things are more All-American than the classic road trip. With thousands of miles of road available, it’s possible to make a trip last nearly as long as you’d like. Before you get going, though, you should keep a bit of necessary information in mind.
Have a Plan
One of the essential road trip tips you’ll ever get is to have a plan before you get on the road. Does this mean that you need to map out every moment of your trip? Of course not. However, it does mean that you should have a general idea of where you are going to stop and when so that you can make decisions about how you’ll sleep and eat.
Know the Route
Knowing your route is always a great idea, especially if you’re going through unfamiliar territory. Though the GPS’s advent makes it much easier to go exploring, you’re still going to need to make some decisions for yourself. Make sure that you’re planning on alternate routes just in case you hit a city during rush hour and that you know how to get back to the highway quickly in case one of your side trips turns out to be a little too adventurous.
Set Your Priorities
Finally, try to prioritize what you’re going to do on your trip. Is your goal just to see as much as possible? If so, you’re going to want to spend less on lodging and food so you can see more sites. Is comfort the goal? Be prepared to skip some roadside attractions to keep your wallet healthy. You can do an awful lot on a road trip, but no one can do it all, so make sure that you have a plan that will allow you to do the most important things.
Try to remember that your first road trip probably isn’t going to go exactly as you’ve pictured it. Fortunately, that’s part of the appeal so give yourself room to deviate a bit. With a good plan, a good route, and a good set of priorities, you can guarantee that your very first road trip will end up being memorable.