How to Plan an Unforgettable U.S. Road Trip

America is filled with so many incredible places to see from coast to coast. There are literally endless possibilities for planning an epic U.S. road trip. But not sure how to getting started planning? That’s ok! Keep reading and you’ll be equipped with everything you need to know to plan a U.S. road trip that you won’t forget!

As I write this post, I am also in the process of planning a road trip myself. We have some big plans for road trips in 2021 and I can’t wait to share those with you in the future!

But for now, let’s get started planning!

Short attention span? Skip ahead here show

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Step 1: Choose a Destination

Choosing a road trip destination is probably my favorite part of planning a road trip. This is when I can spend time dreaming of all of the places on my bucket list and I get to pick one. It’s a bit like being a kid in a candy shop – so many possibilities!

Although, for some this may become a little overwhelming. So start by asking yourself these questions:

Question #1: What do you want to see?

Have you been dreaming of visiting the Grand Canyon one day? Or maybe you’re in need of a beach vacation?

Spend some time thinking about places that interest you. Perhaps this is the time to bring out that bucket list and check off one of the places you’ve only ever dreamed of. Try writing down a few destinations that you would like to see.

My husband and I have a bit of a running list of places that we want to see and every year we pick a few of these places and there always includes a good road trip destination!

Question #2: How much time do you have?

After you have a few ideas of places you’d like to see, narrow it down by asking this very important question: how much time away are you actually able to afford?

If you only have 4-5 days, don’t pick somewhere that requires 2 days of driving to even get there. Maybe save that destination for next time when you have more time. Instead, pick somewhere closer so you have more time to explore!

Question #3: What time of year is it? Is it a good time of year for the weather?

Another very important consideration is the time of year that you’re planning to road trip. If the weather’s going to be too cold or too hot to enjoy the destination, consider saving it for later.

Also, don’t overlook road conditions. Many of the northern states have cold and snowy winters that can cause road closures and dangerous driving conditions. Keep this in mind as you plan your road trip.

Road Trip Inspiration

There are many incredible places to visit on your U.S. road trip. Here are a few road trips that I have taken and loved:

More Suggested Destinations for a U.S. Road Trip

Consider these seasonally-appropriate road trip ideas to get the most out of your trip.

Summer U.S. Road Trip Ideas

Winter U.S. Road Trip Ideas

Miami to the Florida Keys
See the Utah Mighty 5
Drive the Historic Route 66
Desert Road Trip to Death Valley

I rely heavily on Pinterest to direct me to blog posts that inform me on the best things to do and see in a given location. If you don’t use Pinterest as a search engine for travel planning, you really should give it a try. You can follow me on Pinterest, here.

Step 2: Plan Your Route

Now that you’ve hopefully settled on a destination for your epic road trip, it’s time to plan out the route that you’ll be taking.

To do this, I usually start by marking places that I want to see along the route using Google My Maps. This Google feature works so well for pinning and categorizing all of your points of interest along the way.

You can also use this time to figure out how long you intend to drive each day. Do you intend to drive to your final destination in one long stretch or take your time to see what’s along the way?

Step 3: Plan Your Accommodations

After I’ve pinned all of the note-worthy stops along the way, then I start thinking about where we will stay.

I do it in this order because I prefer to find accommodations that are close to the things that we want to do & see. Otherwise, you may find yourself driving a lot more than you intended.

When booking accommodations, we are always searching for budget-friendly but clean & comfortable options. This means that we will be checking a few different sites for the best deal.

The two sites I book through most frequently are Expedia and Airbnb. Expedia for hotel options and Airbnb for more unique vacation rentals.

Step 4: Things to Prepare Before Hitting the Road

Before you hit the road, you’ll want to make sure that your car is well-maintained and packed with all of the essentials that you may need.

Road Trip Must-Haves

Don’t hit the road without being fully prepared and stocked up on all the gear that you may need. I don’t leave home without these useful items:

Coleman Cooler

We bought this cooler a couple of years ago and we’re completely obsessed. The Coleman brand is much cheaper than the more expensive Yeti coolers that are so popular but we’ve been very pleased with its value. We always take this cooler on the road with us and typically replenish ice every 2-3 days.

Packing Cubes

I cannot express enough how much I LOVE packing cubes. As an organizer at heart, packing cubes just make me so happy. They really help me keep my sanity after days and weeks of living out of a suitcase.

Sleeping Bag

Whether you’re planning to sleep on your car or it just sort of happens, it’s never a bad idea to bring along a sleeping bag. A friend recommended these bags to us and their value is insane. A lot of the name brand sleeping bags can cost you up to $300 or more! But these are only $35! They’re rated down to 35 degrees F and are compact & lightweight enough to take on a backpacking trip.

Insulated Cup

Road trips are so much better with an ice cold beverage! Again, these Yeti knock-offs are a great value and keep your drink cold for hours and hours!

National Geographic Atlas

Even though I use the GPS on my phone almost every day, there’s just something special about a physical paper map. I love using this atlas to map out our adventures and it’s always a good thing to have around when you loose cell service between cities.

Duffle Bag

While I only use hard-shelled suitcases when we’re flying, duffle bags make so much more sense while on the road. For one, they’re so much easier to dig through in the back of your car. And two, they’re much easier to cramp in tight spaces in your car.

Emergency Car Kit

You never know what might happen on the road. So be prepared with jumper cables and other roadside essentials. Also make sure your car has a spare tire ready to go!

Sunglasses

A must on a sunny day! I’m not one to spend a lot of money on sunglasses as I tend to lose or break them easily. These are fairly cheap and I’ve enjoyed wearing them!

Don’t Leave Home without these Essentials

License, Registration, and Insurance – don’t be caught without these three important documents. You never know when you may be pulled over.
Spare tire and jack to change a flat
Make sure that you’re car is up-to-date with routine maintenance. Check your fluids and tire pressure before departure.

Best Road Trip Apps

There are a few apps that are super handy when planning a road trip and while on the road! Here are the ones that I have found to be the most helpful:

Links will take you directly to the Apple Store. These applications should be available for Android too.

Google Maps – An obvious choice. Although not as user-friendly and as aesthetic as Apple Maps (which I prefer in the city), Google Maps has much better reliability and results when you’re navigating off the beaten path. Much better for locating trail heads, GPS coordinates, etc.
Maps.me – Map alternative that doesn’t require cellular data access. This app allows you to pre-download the map for a certain area so no internet is required. This app was immensely helpful when I was driving around Mexico a couple of years ago with my sister. A total life-saver!
GasBuddy – Helpful for finding the nearby gas stations with the lowest price for gas. If you’re keeping your road trip budget friendly, this app is a must.
iOverlander – If you’re looking to camp, boondock, or sleep in your car at night then this app will help you so much. iOverlander also functions without cellular data and provides a map of all nearby locations that other travelers have camped or parked overnight and provides traveler reviews of these spots.
Hotel Tonight – A way to find cheap last-minute hotel accommodations. Their specialty is last minute bookings so you can expect a lower rate most of the time. And since you’ll probably be booking last minute with them, they do not offer free cancellations. So keep that in mind.
AllTrails – If you travel to hike, like I do. Alltrails is a must for finding the best trails in a park or nearby area.

How to Plan an Unforgettable U.S. Road Trip