Ever had the urge to get on the road and explore; see more of the land in which you live? One of my favorite ways to travel is to go by road. Traveling by road allows me to see places of interest that I would otherwise miss if I were traveling by plane. It also allows me to stop and see sights that are off the beaten path. However, with so many places to see, it can be difficult, confusing and frustrating to know where to start the planning process. Thus, as an individual who has taken quite a few road trips in my life (and plan on taking quite a few more), let me share with you how to plan a road trip, taking the confusion out of the planning process.
These steps I am about to share, is exactly how I have planned all of my road trips. However, take from this what you will; use what works for you and if you have other suggestions for planning, please leave a comment below.
For the purpose of this blog, I will use a recent trip to Spokane, Washington as an example.
Additionally, this is not a sponsored post, therefore, all the apps and websites I mention are just what I use. However, links to products for amazon do give me a small commission which allows me to continue to do what I love and bring you content. There are also links to my online store, thanks in advance for your support.
How to Research Your Road Trip Destination
Using Google and other Search Engines
With so many place to go and so many thing to see and do, it can be a very overwhelming task when it comes to researching any trip destination, regardless of the mode of transportation. But, most likely you have some idea of a destination in mind, so the first thing to do is use the best research tool out now, the internet. Use your favorite search engine, mine happens to be Google.
So for my destination to Spokane, Washington, I Google topics like: interesting things to do in Spokane, Washington; unique things to see and do in Spokane, Washington; the best sights to see in Spokane, Washington; best places to eat in Spokane, Washington; best food carts in Spokane, Washington. You get the point. Internet search engines will always be your best research tool and the easiest and most accessible tool if you have a smart phone.
Additional, don’t forget to check both YouTube and Pinterest, as they are both search engines and you can find a lot of information on most destination. Check out my YouTube channel to see my Food and Travel Content at: www.youtube.com/gloriousgallivingfoodtravellife and if you would like to see the video on this same topic, check out the video below:
Now that you have done you desitination research, make a list of all the places and things that peak your interest and be sure to included prices so you can keep a tab on a budget.
Look over City/State Tourism Website
Another place to look when doing research about a destination, is that particular city’s and or state’s tourism website. As far as I know, every state has one and most if not all major cities also have one.
For Spokane, I went to www.visitspokane.com and hit the gold-mine for information about what to see and do, and where to stay while in Spokane, Washington. Since I knew weeks in advance that I was taking a road trip to Spokane, I also ordered a physical brochure from this website, which was free and it came in less than 2 weeks.
The internet is great, but I also like to have a physical brochure so I can make notes and take it with me on my trip. It is also good to add to a travel journal or scrapbook if you are into that type of thing. The brochure that I received from Visit Spokane came with a very detailed city map that allowed me to plan where I wanted to go and how far certain places of interest were from my hotel.
Research Places to stay with Website like Priceline
One of my go to places to check for hotel prices has always been Priceline.com and that goes the same for plane and hotel bookings to. But they are not the end-all be-all. There are several website out there that you can use to find hotel prices and bookings, like Google Travel, Travelocity and Expedia just to name a few.
I also suggest that you look on Airbnb if you are looking for a house or apartment to stay in. If you are looking for campgrounds for RVs and such, I recommend checking the Recreation.gov website. This website also give information on tours, permits and other recreational information for each state/city.
Roadtrippers App and other Route Mapping Apps/Websites
Since this is about how to plan road trips, one of the apps/websites I use to plan my route to my destination and the stops in between is the Roadtrippers.com app/website.
I love this app/website because I can find places of interest that are around my route, as well as recommendation from other user about interesting places near or on my route. This app allow me to plan in detail all the stops I want to make right on the app from start to finish. I can also add comments and descriptions about destinations that may help other users in the app.
Other websites you can use that works about the same is the google maps and Bing maps just to name a few. Take advantage of these mapping apps and websites to plan out the route you want to take, adding in all the off the beaten path stops you want to make. This will give you an idea of how long it might take you to get to your destination and help you schedule how long you want to spend at each place of interest.
Researching Gas Prices
We all shudder when we see gas prices now a day with prices being outrageously high. With gas prices differing from State to State even City to City, it is important to do some research on the gas prices on your route and in the city you are going to be visiting.
The app/website I like to use is GasBuddy. GasBuddy shows you the reported gas prices in a zip code. If the prices are incorrect you as a user can update the prices for that station on the app to help other GasBuddy user out. It is a very useful app.
Yelp app/website to Find Places to Eat
Being a food and travel content creator, we have to talk about food. Besides googling places to eat like I mention previously, one of the main tools I recommend to search for places to eat is the Yelp app or website.
Not only can you find restaurants in the areas you will be traveling, but most of the time you will find photos of the establishment, food and menus. You will also find user reviews on the food and restaurant, however, I will suggest that you take others reviews with a grain of salt. Don’t let it stop you from trying out an establishment that may catch your eye. You never know, a reviewer might have just attended the establishment on a day that things weren’t up to par, but is great the rest of the time. It is up to you. You may just find a hidden gem.
Create an Itinerary to Keep things Organized
Now having most of your basic research done on your destination, accommodations, food, route and gas, it’s time to start creating a itinerary so that you are keeping track of all the information that you have collected and put it in some type of order.
For this task, keep it simple and write it out on paper or use a note taking app in your mobile device. It does not need to be complicated. In this itinerary, include information about your destination and all the activities and sights you want to see while there and on the way there. Include info on your route, accommodations and all the good food you would like to try while you are there.
A word of caution about creating your itinerary. Be very flexible! Things happen and change rapidly and you have to learn to change with it. For example, a specific sight you wanted to visit turns out not to be open, but you have set such a strict time schedule and now you are out of sorts.
To combat this, I suggest you always check to see if the places you have set to visit while on a trip are open the day before and the day you are going to visit. That way if they are not open for some reason, you have time to plan ahead, instead of going to the destination and finding that they are close when you have arrived.
Additionally, I would suggest NOT creating a strict time schedule. I have learned that when trying to stay on a strict time schedule, it takes the fun out of your visit because you are more focus on the time between the visit and your next scheduled task.
Instead, I suggest creating very flexible time blocks. For example, when planning my Spokane, Washington trip, my block itinerary looked something like this:
8-11 am – Maybe Breakfast or 11-1 Brunch; 2-6pm waterfalls/explore Riverfront Park; 6-9 dinner.
By giving myself blocks to do things I was able to adjust easier to changes when they arose, and quite a few things did not go as planned. I skipped breakfast, slept in and went to brunch at about 12pm. I went to explore the waterfalls, but it was so cold, I scraped the plans for exploring outside and went to find a sweet treat. Went back to my hotel and had dinner with my daughter later that even.
I still got to do some of the things on my list, but I was able to flow with the changes easier because I had a very loose schedule. So when the weather changed, I just changed my activities and didn’t feel like my whole day was scraped.
Remember you are on your road trip adventure to see, explore and try new things. Don’t take the fun out of your tip by having a strict time table. Save some activities for a second trip to the same destination instead of trying to cram multiple things into a small time frame.
What to do a Week Before Your Road Trip
Vehicle Maintenance is Important
It’s a week before the big trip and you are so excited. However, there are a few more important things you should take care of before it is time to hit the road. The most important is getting your vehicle serviced.
What you never want to happen while on a road trip is for you vehicle to breakdown; that is a sure-fire way to ruin a trip. So before you leave, make sure to get your vehicle maintenance completed; oil changed, tire rotated, other fluids checked and changed, filters checked and replaced, spare tire inspected, the works.
I also like to give my vehicle a good cleaning both in and outside before I hit the road. You know you will be snacking in the car, so start with a clean slate before you get it all messy from your epic road trip adventure.
Shop for Your Trip
There are always some must have when going on a road trip that once you buy once, you typically do not have to by again anytime soon. Here are the items and the links to the items I purchased and always have on hand for any road trip:
Vehicle Jumper Cables, Power Bank, Tire Inflator: https://amzn.to/3IFmqBC
A cooler to keep all of your drinks and perishable cool: https://amzn.to/3RAenKr
Shopping for Travel Gear
Any trip in my opinion is a reason to shop for clothes and other gear. Depending on the type of road trip you are going on, you want to make sure you have the proper clothing and gear with you.
However, the biggest mistake most of us make when going on a trip is over packing. Just pack what you need because you know you probably will shop while you are on your trip. Leave some room in your pack for souvenirs.
Speaking of packs, instead of carrying a suitcase on road trips, I prefer to take a hiking backpack to carry my gear. It is easier to carry if you had to get out of the vehicle; you can just throw it on your back and go. Here is the one that I have used on my last few road trips: 50L Hiking Back Pack
Being a food and travel content creator, I do a lot of vlogs and take may pictures, so I have several cameras I use for shooting video and taking photos. I use 2 action cameras; I use my DJI Osmo Action for my dash cam and the GoPro 9 for my in car camera.
For my photo camera, I use to use my Canon EOS Rebel SL2, but now I use my Canon EOS M50.
For Vlogging I use 2 cameras as well, the DJI Pocket 2 and the Canon G7X Mark iii.
If you are looking for some t-shirts that are all about your travel and road trip adventures, check out these items from my store:
Don’t forget the Snacks
One of the most important things for a road trip is snacks. A road trip is not a road trip without snacks. This is the time to get all of your favorite things to enjoy while you are riding/driving along on your adventure.
With food prices being fairly expensive, I like to pack sandwiches and such for long trips. It cuts down on the money I spend on the road on expensive highway food. I definitely make use of my cooler that I bring along.
I also do snack shopping a Dollar Tree. They have some really good finds for the low price of $1.25; you really can not beat the price.
Enjoy the Experience and Have Fun
In any event, road trips are such an awesome way to see your country, and planning also allow you to learn more about a country and destination that you didn’t previously know. Planning does not have to be complicated, confusing or difficult. Follow the above mention process, and you will be just fine and well on your way to having many road trip adventures. Just remember to take your time and enjoy the experience and have fun.
In the comments below, let me know your favorite place to take road trip to past, future or present.
That is all for know. Until next time remember to, Cook, Eat, Enjoy, Travel, Live and Repeat.
