A Beginner’s Guide To Road Tripping Around The US

At some point or another, we’ve all dreamed about road tripping across the US. There’s just something inherently exciting about driving from place to place exploring. The great thing about planning a road trip across the US is that it’s a huge place, with lots to see and do. Not to mention some of the world’s most incredible cities, from New York to Las Vegas, the US has it all.

Of course, road tripping isn’t just about driving from place to place. It’s about making lifelong memories with your closest friends. There’s a lot more to planning a road trip than selecting a few places to visit on a map – road trips require a lot of organisation. To help you plan the trip of a lifetime, here’s everything that you need to know.

Create an itinerary

Before you can do anything else, you need to take the time to work out where you’ll be going and when. This is important, as although you want to go with the flow, you need to work out your accommodation and routes. Don’t make the mistake of leaving this until your trip, as when you’re stuck in a new place with nowhere to stay, you’ll regret it.

Your itinerary should not only include the dates you plan on arriving and leaving each place, but also a list of a few things you’d like to do while there. Obviously, you can mix things up while you’re in each place. Just make sure to book accommodation for the first two nights in each city.  As well as booking tickets for any attractions that you’re desperate to see, as often, all the best things sell out.

You’ll need a suitable vehicle

One of the most important elements of road tripping is, of course, your vehicle. It’s often much easier to rent a car instead of taking your own. As that way, everyone in your group can take turns driving it. You don’t want to be stuck being the only driver – navigating new roads is much more tiring that you would think.

When it comes to picking the perfect vehicle, there are a few things that you need to think about. First and foremost, the size and price should be considered. How many people will you be traveling with – will one car do, or will you need two? What’s your budget, how much can you afford if you all put in a small amount each?

You also need to think about where you’re starting and ending your trip. If you opt for a car rental company that’s got offices across the US, you should be able to pick up your car in one place and drop it off at another. For instance, if you rent Hotwire cars, you can collect them from Las Vegas for example, and drop them off anywhere, from Chicago to Toronto.

Invest in road maps

We might live in the age of satnavs, but they don’t work everywhere. You might be planning on using your trusty satnav for getting from place to place, but whatever you do, ensure you have road maps on hand as well. In case your satnav breaks or loses signal, it’s always best to have a plan B.

Don’t forget to stock up on snacks and drinks

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, worse than being stuck in traffic with no food and drink. That’s why, before you start your trip, it’s important to stock your car with a range of snacks and drinks. So that should you get stuck in a horrendous traffic jam – this will happen at some point on your trip, you’re not going to starve to death.

Road trips are one of the best ways to see and explore the world. The most important thing when it comes to planning a trip away is, of course, planning. You need to know where you’re going when, what routes you’ll take, and where you’ll be staying each night.