6 Steps For Planning The Perfect Road Trip

6 Steps For Planning The Perfect Road Trip

By Kathryn Frazer

Since hitting the road full time in our Sprinter van in 2019, we’ve learned a lot about how to plan an epic road trip. We’ve driven all over the West, through the Rocky Mountains, across the Midwest, around New England, and even all the way up to Alaska. You could say we are basically professional road trippers at this point!

We’ve learned that there are two kinds of travelers—those who prefer to wing it and those who thoroughly plan their trips. We are the latter. We love to meticulously plan and learn about our destinations before we hit the road so we don’t miss any popular stops or hidden gems. Here, we share our step-bystep process to plan an epic road trip so you can do the same!

1 - PICK YOUR DESTINATION

This might be the most exciting step! Figuring out where to go can be daunting, but asking yourself these questions can help you decide:

What type of scenery are you looking for?

What type of activities do you want to do?

Do you want nature, a big city, or both?

How much time do you have?

One major consideration is the weather, which can make or break a trip! Some destinations, like Arizona, may be 100-plus degrees in August, but perfect in January, while Montana is snow-covered in January and much more comfortable in August.

It’s also good to know what the crowd levels are like at specific times of the year. For example, we attempted to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, the busiest national park in the United States, during peak fall foliage, and it was a huge mistake. Instead of a peaceful experience, we discovered major crowds. Had we gone before fall foliage, or even just during the weekdays, our experience probably would have been better!

2 - CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE

You may choose to take the interstate if you want to reach certain destinations as quickly as possible, but if you have time, you can take the scenic route and experience more attractions off the beaten path.

Some things to consider when choosing your route:

■ Seasonal road closures. Some roads close in the winter and don’t reopen until mid-summer, like the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.

■ Construction. Keep an eye out for construction delays and be sure to plan for extra time if needed.

■ Tolls. Out east, there are lots of toll roads. If you want to skip them, be sure to turn on the “avoid tolls” option in Google Maps!

Once you know your route, we suggest downloading offline maps for your journey to ensure you can navigate without cell service.

3 - SET A BUDGET

Road tripping can be a more affordable way to travel, but costs can also add up! Some major expenses we come across are:

■ Fuel: Fuel prices vary all over the country, and we love using the GasBuddy app to help us find the cheapest prices. Joining reward programs for specific brands will also help you save a bit at the pump. Want to save even more on fuel costs? Sticking to one general area instead of driving to many locations can help cut down on the miles.

■ Campgrounds: Boondocking for free is the most affordable lodging choice, of course, and campground prices can vary greatly depending on your needs and the location.

■ Food: Food is one of the best parts of traveling, in our opinion. We love trying local spots, but restaurant expenses can add up! Depending on your budget, you may want to plan for a mix of eating out and cooking.

■ Activities: Whether you want to hike (usually free!), visit museums, or go on tours, figuring out what activities you want to prioritize and budget for ahead of time is always a good idea, especially because some attractions have discounted rates if you buy tickets in advance!

4 - PLAN YOUR ITINERARY

You can design your itinerary to see exactly what you want and travel on your own schedule. But prioritizing can be tough, especially if you have limited time, so we always try to plan our itinerary beforehand. That way, we aren’t wasting time during the trip figuring out what to do or where to eat.

Research tools

So how do we find things to do and places to eat? Some of our favorite resources are:

■ Google: Searching “unique things to do in ____” and “best local restaurants in ____” always helps us find fun and delicious stops!

■ Google Maps: We use Google Maps to look for cool things along our route, read reviews, and save spots for future reference.

■ Blogs, YouTube, and Instagram: These are good resources for recommendations from other travelers. AllTrails: This is our go-to app to find hiking trails when traveling.

■ Roadtrippers app: This app helps you find cool stops along your route.

■ Reddit: We like going to the subreddits of cities we’re visiting to get suggestions from locals.

Once we have a list of things we want to do, we organize the stops into an itinerary. We group things that are close together for each day and prioritize the busiest spots for early morning or late in the day, when crowds are lower.

To keep track of everything, we create a Google Sheet with our schedule, which is especially helpful if traveling with others, so you can collaborate.

Don’t overbook!

Be sure to leave time for spontaneity. While we love having an itinerary, we try to not cram our schedule too much, because you never know what you’ll find along the way or if you’ll have any unexpected mishaps.

5 - BOOK CAMPGROUNDS

Once you have your itinerary figured out, it’s time to plan where you’ll stay! Some of the tools we use to find both free and paid camping are:

■ Campendium

■ The Dyrt

■ Freecampsites.net

■ iOverlander

■ RV Parky

■ Harvest Hosts

We choose campsites based on cost, privacy, amenities, proximity of grocery stores, laundry, fuel, and cell service.

We free camp as much as we can, but if you do want to pay for a campground, be sure to check in advance to see if you need a reservation. Many campgrounds in popular destinations fill up months in advance.

6 - GET READY TO HIT THE ROAD!

Create a packing list

While there are general items you need for any road trip, like snacks and a car charger, some destinations may require items you don’t always pack, like your National Parks Pass or bear spray.

■ Check the weather forecast

■ One thing we have learned on the road is that weather can surprise you. We’ve gotten stuck in heat waves in Washington, many days of rain in Alaska, and unexpected snow in Colorado. Be sure to check the weather right before you leave for the most accurate forecast! We also suggest bringing layers, as most road trips will take you through varying climates and weather conditions.

■ Make sure your vehicle is road ready

■ Before leaving, make sure your vehicle can handle the demands of the road. Does it need service? Did you check and top up any fluids? How old are your tires?

■ Be prepared for emergencies

■ Emergencies on the road are inconvenient, and can even be scary! With the right preparation, you can minimize your downtime and get back on the road quickly. If you don’t have one already, we suggest buying a roadside emergency kit, tool kit, and first aid kit. It’s also a good idea to tell someone your plans, just in case something happens.

Whether you’re planning your first big road trip or are a frequent roadtripper, we hope these tips help you plan an unforgettable time on the road! ■