In a country as large and diverse as the United States, it only makes sense that you take the time to fully discover it. With 50 states to choose from, you can plan the most epic U.S road trip.
The best thing about road trips is that they can be as long or as short as you’d like, you are in charge of your own destination.
Here are our top tips for taking the most epic adventure of your life.
1. Create Your Basic Itinerary
Before you begin to map out your route, you should determine what kind of road trip you want to embark on.
How many days will your road trip last? Will you choose a pre-determined route or make your own? How many miles would you drive per day?
These are all important questions you should ask.
2. Make a List of Attractions You Want to See
If you know exactly what you want to see on your road trip, make a list and use this to plan your route.
If you have no idea what you want to see, you could opt to do some classic routes like California, The Oregon Trail, Route 66, the Atlantic Coast, and the Great River Road which are a few favourites.
Other amazing routes to consider include:
• San Francisco to Utah
• The Deep South: Chicago to New Orleans
• Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles
• Overseas Highway: Miami to Key West
• The Las Vegas Loop
• The Blue Ridge Parkway
• New York, Boston and New England
3. Plan Out Your Driving Route
Once you have a basic idea of the type of road trip you want, you can start to plan the driving route. Search for the locations you want to visit and use Google Maps to map out a step-by-step route. You can then search for restaurants and attractions nearby.
4. Get a Car
If you don’t own a car, there are rental locations all over the United States and you can choose to rent so many cars.
Some dealerships allow for dropping off at different locations which is great especially if you are planning a long journey for example coast to coast but don’t want to drive back. You will also need to choose between manual or automatic, we recommend automatic due to the long distances in the US.
Try to find a car to match your needs, it might be amazing to have a top of the range sports car, but is it comfortable to drive for long distances?
5. Take Your Car to The Mechanics
The thing about road trips is that you never know when you could be left stranded on the side of the road or end up in a nasty accident.
Before you set off on your great adventure, you should get your car checked by mechanics and ensure that everything is in order. The last thing you want during your vacation is to break down.
6. Prepare For Any Emergencies
To avoid any problems make sure to drive safely, however, if you do end up in an accident, it’s best to contact injury lawyers.
If you do have any kind of emergency make sure to seek medical attention if necessary. It’s a good idea to pack plenty of supplies, like food, water, and fuel, to cover you in case of an accident.
7. Get a Playlist Ready
One of the best parts of any road trip is getting to sing along to your favorite tunes with your friends. Make sure to have a few playlists ready, one to fit every kind of mood you may have. Don’t limit yourself to music, include podcast shows and audiobooks too.
8. Have Breaks
The most important aspect of any road trip is that you drive safely and that you get from point A to point B in one piece.
Make sure to take frequent breaks and try to take turns whilst driving if you can. It’s recommended that you stop for a 10 to 15-minute break every two hours of driving.
9. Pack Essentials
Make sure you pack important things like chargers, food, drink and clothing. Also items incase you breakdown.
10. Enjoy the Experience
Nothing much compares to exploring the USA, this country has so many amazing destinations and landscapes. Just enjoy the ride!
Take a Road Trip to the United States
North America has some of the best roads to drive in the world, and where you fancy a gap year in the United States or just want an amazing holiday, a road trip can make the experience even better.
If you are dreaming of visiting the States, you might want to search summer camp jobs or gap year tours.
Have you ever taken an epic drive across the USA? Do you have any tips or recommendations to share? Let us know.