Road trips are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure. Here’s how to plan a road trip that'll create memories to last a lifetime.
Before you start throwing random items into your trunk and peeling out of your driveway, let’s pump the brakes for a sec. Planning a road trip isn’t rocket science, but it does require a smidge more effort than just pointing at a map with your eyes closed. (Although, that method has led me to some pretty epic adventures and only one unplanned detour to a corn maze in Iowa.) Here’s the scoop on how to plan a road trip that’ll have you singing “On the Road Again” with gusto.
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Do You Love to Road Trip?
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Why Road Trips are a Popular Way to Travel
Road trips are as American as apple pie and reality TV. But unlike reality TV, road trips have substance. What makes packing into a car and hitting the open road more enticing than squeezing into the 17A seat on a commercial airliner? The allure, my friends, is in the freedom. Road tripping lets you craft an adventure that’s as unique as your Spotify playlist.
If you’ve never packed up the car, cranked up your favorite tunes, and hit the open road, you’re missing out on one of the best ways to travel! Road trips are like the Swiss Army knife of vacations — they’re versatile, budget friendly, and perfect for families. And, yes, even your furry friends can come along! (Just don’t expect Rover to chip in for gas money.)
Unlike flying, where the journey is all about getting from point A to point B, road tripping turns the journey into an adventure. Got the Grand Canyon on your bucket list? Check. Yellowstone with its grizzlies and geysers? Check and check. And while we’re at it, why not throw in some quirky roadside attractions, too? Because nothing screams “I’m on vacation” like a selfie at a fiberglass replica of Stonehenge.
How to Plan a Road Trip
Buckle up, buttercup! It’s time to get down to the brass tacks of road trip planning. I’ve logged more miles than I care to count, from being squished in the backseat as a kid (ah, memories of “stop touching me!”) to solo adventures cross country where my only companion was my questionable singing voice. And there have been thousands upon thousands of miles spent chauffeuring my four kids around the US. I’m pretty sure I’ve experienced more gas station bathrooms during their childhood years than most people see in a lifetime.
Whether you’re going solo or in a car full of family and friends, here’s your roadmap to planning the perfect getaway on wheels:
- Define your trip’s personality
- Set your budget
- Chart your course
- Book it and go!
Let’s break it down, shall we?
Related Article: Will AI Help You Plan a Better Road Trip in 2025?
1. Define Your Road Trip’s Personality
Before you start mapping out your adventure, take a moment to determine your road trip style. Is this a “cram everyone in the car and just get there via the shortest route” trip to Grandma’s house halfway across the country? Or is this a once-in-a-lifetime, epic road trip to explore The Mighty Five? This is your journey, so make it match your vibes.
Ask yourself the questions below to help you define your road trip. Remember, there are no wrong answers here — unless your idea of a perfect trip involves exclusively eating gas station sushi. Then we might need to have a little chat.
How do you like to travel?
Are you in a hurry to get to your destination? Or do you want to enjoy the journey as much as the destination? To get there fast, prioritize major highways and make fewer stops. Otherwise, consider weaving in a few smaller towns and stops that are off the beaten path.
What kinds of stops do you want to make?
Are you all about natural wonders? Or do you prefer urban escapades? Maybe you’re hunting for the best regional cuisine or the weirdest roadside attractions. Planning these stops can make the drive more enjoyable and give you something to look forward to besides the end of the road.
What kind of food do you crave on the road?
Do you love hitting up chain restaurants for predictability, or are you a fan of locally owned joints that offer a taste of regional flavor? Maybe you’re a foodie looking for the trendiest spots in each town. Determining your preferences in advance can keep you from missing a hidden gem that you might otherwise overlook and save you from mealtime indecision when hunger strikes.
Where do you want to spend the night?
Are you into the chain hotels where you know exactly what to expect, or do you prefer the charm of boutique hotels and vacation rentals? Perhaps you’re more adventurous and considering camping under the stars. Knowing your preference helps streamline your accommodation search and ensures that you rest easy each night.
Do you have any special travel considerations?
Finally, consider your personal travel quirks and needs. Do you prefer frequent breaks to stretch your legs, or can you drive for hours? Do you need stops that allow your kids to burn off some energy or a good place to walk your dog?
2. Set Your Road Trip Budget
This is where the rubber of your dreams meets the road of reality. And, unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees along the highway. Believe me, I’ve checked. Here’s how to build your road trip budget:
Vehicle Costs
Begin your budget by tallying up the not-so-glamorous but oh-so-necessary expenses. Think vehicle stuff — rental or maintenance costs (because breaking down in the middle of nowhere is only cool in country songs). If you are considering renting a car for your trip, read below for more info. You’ll also want to consider fuel costs, charging station fees, and tolls. Use an app like GasBuddy to estimate the fuel costs along your route.
Accommodations
Think about where you’ll be sleeping. Are you splurging on boutique hotels, sticking with budget motels, or camping under the stars? Mix and match to save some cash while still enjoying a comfy night’s rest. A website like Expedia can help you find everything from a cabin to a resort, including pet-friendly options if you’re hitting the road with your four-legged bestie.
Food, Drinks, and Snacks
Next, budget for meals, drinks, and road trip snacks. Stock up on snacks and drinks from grocery stores to avoid overpriced gas station grub. Plan for a mix of dining out and DIY meals. A picnic at a scenic overlook? Yes, please!
Entertainment and Activities
Budget for the fun stuff, too! Admission fees for attractions, national park passes, and spontaneous activities can add up. Check for discounts or free days at museums and parks. And don’t forget to set aside a little mad money for those “I swear it’s not tacky” souvenirs you just can’t resist.
Emergency Fund
Always have a cushion for unexpected expenses. Car trouble, medical needs, or a sudden craving for that pricey but oh-so-worth-it local delicacy — like lobster rolls in Maine. Better safe than sorry! If your wallet’s starting to sweat just reading this, consider shortening the travel time or making more budget-friendly choices.
3. Chart Your Course
Now that you’ve figured out your road trip style, nailed down your destination, and set your budget, it’s time to plan your route in detail. First, consider the total miles you’ll be traveling and how many you want to cover each day, factoring in those must-see stops you’ve planned. If you opt for the scenic route, remember you’ll be driving more slowly than on the interstate, so adjust your daily mileage expectations accordingly.
Be mindful of the season. With icy roads and unexpected snowstorms, winter weather can throw a wrench into your plans. And then there’s orange barrel season, nature’s way of saying, “Let’s add an hour to your travel times for some surprise road art!” It’s like a pop-up gallery, except instead of paintings, you get to admire the artistic placement of traffic cones.
One of the best road trip planning tools for this step is good ole’ Google Maps. Simply throw in up to ten pit stops, and presto! It’ll spit out road trip itineraries with travel times faster than you can say, “Are we there yet?” Google Maps can also help you avoid toll roads, spot traffic jams, and find alternative routes.
Sage Advice: Always have a printout of your itinerary and an old-school paper map just in case you venture away from cell phone coverage, or your battery dies after taking too many selfies with the world’s largest ball of twine.
4. Book It and Go!
Planning ahead isn’t just for Type A firstborns (although I wear that badge proudly). It’s also your ticket to a smooth ride and sweet deals. You can often snag better prices with some advanced planning. And, when booking attractions in advance, you can usually skip long lines at the ticket counter and spend more time enjoying yourself.
I recommend websites like Expedia and TripAdvisor to get the lowdown on hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and activities at every stop. They include super helpful reviews from other travelers — because “rustic charm” is sometimes just code for “hasn’t been updated since the moon landing” and “quaint” may mean “you might need to duck to avoid hitting your head on the doorframe.”
Remember to check out each destination’s tourism website for upcoming events and local attractions. You might stumble upon a quirky festival or a hidden gem that will become the highlight of your trip.
And, for those who like their road trip itineraries with a side of serendipity, apps like Roadtrippers offer custom route recommendations based on your interests. It’s like having a local guide in your pocket, minus the awkward small talk.
Renting a Car for Your Road Trip
No matter how much you love your ride, leaving your vehicle in the garage and renting a car for your road trip might be smart. If you drive a compact car and are planning a two-week family road trip, you may want to rent a minivan or SUV so that everyone has a little more room to spread out. Or, if you are planning a Route 66 road trip, you may want a convertible to add to the experience.
While the initial out-of-pocket cost for the rental might seem high, you could actually save money in the long run. Here’s why:
Fuel Efficiency. Rental car companies often offer vehicles with better fuel efficiency than your car. I rented a hybrid vehicle to drive an SUV of my son’s stuff from Kansas City to his university in Washington, and I got double the miles per gallon compared to my personal car. This cut my fuel budget in half!
Less Wear and Tear. A rental car means less wear and tear on your personal vehicle. You won’t be putting those extra miles on your tires or speeding toward your next oil change or maintenance appointment. Plus, you avoid the depreciation that comes with high mileage.
Convenience and Amenities. When selecting a rental car, consider add-ons like GPS and roadside assistance that can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. Some rental companies also offer electronic toll payment systems, allowing you to keep driving instead of stopping to take a ticket or pay at the toll booth.
Insurance and Fees. If you decide to rent a car, research rental fees and insurance costs before making any decisions. Be sure to contact your car insurance provider to understand how your current coverage applies to a rental so you don’t pay for unnecessary coverage offered by the rental company.
Prep Your Vehicle
Unless you want your road trip to turn into an unplanned tour of small-town auto shops, give your ride some TLC before you hit the road. Here are some of the things you’ll want to check:
- Oil and fluids: Check them all. Your car needs its juice, just like you need your morning coffee.
- Brakes: Check your brake pads and rotors for wear. If you hear squealing or feel vibrations when braking, it’s time for a checkup.
- Tires: Be sure you have plenty of tread for the miles ahead.
- Battery: Make sure it’s got enough juice to keep you going. Nothing kills a road trip vibe faster than being stranded in a parking lot.
- Lights and signals: Check that everything’s blinking and shining as it should.
Book Your Accommodations
While I’m all about spontaneity during the daylight hours of a road trip, I always want to know that I have a safe spot reserved to sleep at night. So, my accommodation reservations are always as guaranteed as the sun’s setting in the west.
This non-negotiable policy has saved me from unexpected speed bumps many times. The first example that comes to mind is a Thanksgiving road trip from Kansas City to Phoenix with my four kids during a freak ice storm. It took us three hours longer than planned to reach our hotel that night, and we had to skip all of our planned activities and food stops the next day. But while I stood in line to check in, watching family after family be turned away because the hotel was fully booked, I was glad we had a warm, safe place to stay.
So, do yourself a favor and book ahead. Your future self will thank you when you’re not spending the night in your car, using road maps as blankets, and your spare tire as a pillow.
Pencil in Your Meals
I’m not ashamed to admit that my family spends as much time researching local places to eat as they do what we see and do. We’re not food snobs, we just believe that calories consumed on vacation don’t count. And trying new cuisines is half the fun of traveling, right?
Penciling in our meals ahead of time has helped us avoid showing up at a place that we couldn’t wait to try only to find out that they’re closed on Sunday evenings, all day on Mondays, or for one week in the summertime. There’s nothing quite like the collective groan of disappointment when you roll up to that must-try local joint only to find a “Closed for Annual Cleaning” sign. (Side note: Why do restaurants always seem to do this during peak tourist season?)
To stretch our road trip budget, we only eat out once or twice a day, usually for our biggest meal. Otherwise, we’ll take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, enjoy protein-packed snacks, and grab picnic items from a local grocery store.
Road Trip Entertainment
Even the most scenic drive can start to feel like watching paint dry after a few hours. That’s where entertainment comes in. Plan ahead and download digital options like these before you hit the road so you’re not subject to spotty cell phone service.
Playlist. Create a playlist for the trip. If it’s a group trip, let everyone add their favorites to the playlist and play it in shuffle mode. Or, let each person take a 30- to 60-minute turn playing DJ. Just be prepared for some, um, interesting musical choices. (No, we’re not listening to “Baby Shark” for the 47th time, sweetie.)
Audiobooks. Whether you want a beach read, a suspenseful thriller, or a family-friendly option, audiobooks are an excellent way to help the miles fly by. To stretch your road trip budget further, see if your library offers digital downloads. If so, audiobooks won’t cost you anything extra!
Podcasts. Podcasts are another great way to pass the time in the car. They come in all different genres, from hilarious comedy shows to gripping true-crime dramas that’ll make you side-eye every trucker you pass.
Another activity is fun road trip games. These will keep everyone entertained during long, boring stretches of highway. From the classic “I Spy” to the counting fun of “License Plate Bingo,” these games can turn a monotonous drive into a competitive family showdown.
Ready to Hit the Road, Jack (or Jill)?
So that’s how to plan a road trip. Remember, the best journeys are the ones where the destination is just a bonus. It’s about the memories you make, the sights you see, and yes, even those “character-building” moments when you realize you forgot to pack underwear.
Now, go forth and conquer that open road. May your gas tank never approach empty, your snacks always be deliciously plentiful, and your passengers always agree on the music. And if all else fails, just remember – at least you’re not stuck in a middle seat on a cross-country flight.
Do You Love Road Trips?
What was your favorite road trip? Do you have a bucket list road trip that you’re just itching to take? What tips do you have for planning a successful road trip? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
