How to Plan a US Road Trip

The Road Trip Lens Series:

Road trips across the country cannot be done quick if you're going to enjoy them. Set aside 3 weeks for your roadtrip minimum. There's no feasible way to see the entire continental U.S. in less time. If you have the cash to spend, you can travel the country in a number of different ways. What you need to decide first is if you prefer man-made convenience, nature, or the RV experience. Some people prefer to camp, while others might RV or just stay in hotels along the way. In this lens, we'll cover the option of road trip by passenger car.

You're first step in planning a trip would be to list out the places you'd like to see on your trip.

Keep Alaska out of the equation unless you're taking a multi-month trip...it's far, and there's so much to see in Alaska, you may want to make that a whole seperate trip and fly in. It may be part of the US, but it's over 1400 miles from the nearest city, Seattle!

Another option is to plan small roadtrips by flying to your location and renting a car. Try staging a mini roadtrip in California, Florida or New England. Everything is in relatively close proximity, and you'll still have the advantages of seeing everything by car, as well as the convenience of flying by air for part of your road trip.

Whether you like it or not, a road trip requires extensive research, and that means reading! If you already have a good overview of the country, start planning by digging deeper into each individual area and finding out what you'd like to see. What museums, beaches, bridges, cities, restaurants, monuments, National Parks, or historical sites are in the area? Here's a handful of well-received guides for U.S. travel that should provide an excellent synopsis of what the United States has to offer.

A good idea to start your planning is to read some literature on the country, whether online, from your local library, or by ordering some books. If you already have a good idea of where you'd like to visit, list out the places you'd like to see, then you can work on mapping out how to get there and how many days you can budget into each place.

For a roadtrip, you'll need a couple of weeks worth of clothing, and all of the essentials you would go through, like toothpaste, shaving cream, soap, deoderant, non-perishable snacks, in the amount of time you will be away. You can stock up on dry powder detergent and stow it away, or purchase some from a local store and wash your clothes in one of the hotel's laundry rooms. Most hotels have laundry facilities right in the hotel complex.

A valuable tip: if you're staying at a nicer place on some nights, do your laundry there. It's likely to be more clean, updated, and sometimes even free!

Don't forget the first aid kit. Chances are you won't need it, but what if you do? These are very affordable, and you'll be able to bring on every trip in the future. The ready-made kits usually have everything you would need if an emergency should arise.

Cellphones are the Reason you're Getting Away, But...

...they're a necessity for roadtrips. Cellphones are a way of life nowadays, and sometimes there are circumstances where a cellphone is very handy. From making restaurant reservations, calling the hotel you were supposed to be checking into 4 hours ago, or calling AAA because you popped a tire on the busiest interstate in downtown L.A., you'll be glad you have one. Make sure the coverage is nationwide before you leave on your trip! If you're headed off to an area with no cellphone reception, be sure to contact someone else before you hit that space. Areas like National Parks, wide open deserts, high mountaintops, sparsely populated towns and deep forests will often not have much reception, if any. A quick call, text or voicemail will let anyone know what road you're on in case you break down and have no one to call!

Learning how to pack your car quickly and easily is essential for a fun roadtrip.

It's not fun, but if you can figure out a method and order from the beginning, you'll save a lot of time and frustration. The best method is to use luggage cases for all or most of your clothing. If there are two luggage cases, you should be able to fit them into the trunk of most cars. Be sure to do a test long before you leave! After the luggage cases are placed in the back, The backseat can be used for a cooler, tote bags, your laptop, and any items you may need to grab quickly on the road.

How to Pack your Luggage

Roadtrips can have a slightly different packing method than air travel. Since you'll have to be in and out of your luggage so frequently, you'll want to make your luggage easily accessible. Place frequently used items within easy reach, and seldom used items at the bottom. Be sure to utilize side pockets and outside pockets to seperate your garments. For toiletries, it's a good idea to store them in a toiletry case. This will prevent leakage onto your clothing and keep them organized.

You should have a little extra room on the sides of your luggage in your trunk. This is a good spot for placing squishable, non fragile items or extra clothing. Don't forget to bring your first aid kit! If your trunk has a lift-up flap, you can place the first aid kit in the spare tire well. Some jumper cables might not be a bad idea either.

If you are traveling with more than two people, you may want to consider either traveling very light so you can fit everything in the trunk, or using an SUV or van for your trip. You may be able to rent a hybrid SUV to save a little money on gas, though these sometimes book out far in advance at rental dealerships.

They add up quick. Any empty space in your vehicle will be like striking gold. Limit yourself when packing to a certain amount of clothing, duffle bags, tote bags, or suitcases and perform a "test-pack" before you leave. If everything fits without squishing all of your luggage, great! Now, take some of that out, and leave room for at least a duffle bag or so. You're bound to come home with some unexpected item(s).

The only souvenirs you should need are some photos, maybe a few t-shirts. Send postcards instead! Don't worry about getting other people gifts either. Unless you're going to ship them back, which is costly, takes time away from vacation, and you may have to pack it yourself (breakages?), skip the souvenirs all together. Postcards are much easier. Or better yet, why not text people with a photo from where you've been? If you're dead-set on bringing something home, consider shipping it to lighten your car and reduce the number of trips to the car every time you unload/pack.

In the internet age, you may be finding that you're going through email withdrawal. A laptop is a good tool for your roadtrip, besides a few setbacks. If you can find a hotel with free wireless access, you can check it every week or every few days along your trip. Security is also an issue...wifi cafes are not exactly the most secure areas in most instances..read more about wifi security here.

You may also run into car theft...conceal your laptop at all times when traveling. Don't give thieves a reason to break in! Keep it under your seat or in the trunk of your car...that goes for anything of value. If you're in a warm area, take the laptop inside with you wherever you go or the weather will do serious damage to your computer. A sturdy laptop case is a must. Even better, travel with a Blackberry if possible instead of your laptop.

Gas prices are volatile, and you might be second guessing your roadtrip for a number of reasons. To reduce the cost of your fuel, or at least get some cash back, consider signing up for a gas-rebate credit card. There are a number of cards to choose from.

When traveling across the country, you may encounter some not-so-friendly gas station attendants. If you get any sort of doubt in your head, pay with cash. It's not worth the headaches! This can happen anywhere, so use your best judgment.

Shop Around for Gas?

This isn't worth it either. Hopping from station to station in hopes for saving a few pennies per gallon just eats up your gas, and more importantly, your vacation time.

You'll definitely want to sign up for a rewards program with your favorite hotel prior to the start of the trip. You'll quickly rack up points towards another hotel stay, which you may be able to use on the same trip! If not, you'll be well on your way to another vacation. There are a number of hotel credit cards that offer points programs as well.

Should you book the rental car ahead? Yes, definitely.

Hotel stays? That's debatable. You may find yourself not liking the place that you booked yourself for a 4 day stay and jumping for an early getaway to your next stop. If this is the case, talk to the front desk of your hotel immediately and see if they will charge your card for the days regardless if you are there or not.

Here are some things to keep in mind when booking your hotel stays:

• Know the peak seasons of the cities or parks you are visiting. If peak season is in July and you are arriving on the 4th of July weekend, you will definitely need to book LONG in advance. On the other hand, places like Key West and the desert region of California experience there "slow" seasons in the months of summer due to the heat.





• School gets out in mid-June in most areas. Also, certain weeks in April, February, and December are popular vacation weeks for families. Several weeks in March are considered spring break week.




• The weekends are always more expensive. When booking your hotel, you may save money on booking ahead for the weeekends of your trip--but on the other hand, there are unadvertised discounts for hotels when the building has not booked to its capacity. You might also have a tough time finding accomodations if you have not booked anything.





• Cities are much more expensive than small towns. If you are not staying in the city to experience the city, consider staying outside of the city. It will cost much less money. Try staying on the outbound side of the city so you'll miss the traffic when you leave in the morning. For example, if you are traveling through Houston coming from Lousiana, go slightly past the city to stay on the outbound side for a smooth commute the next day.




• Check out the parking lot first. Check out the parking lot and see if you feel comfortable leaving your car there overnight! If not, skip it and head to the next one if you haven't booked it.




• Learn the fine art of "creative photography that hotels practice." Many hotel sites will take some very creative shots of their grounds to persuade you to stay with them. What may look amazing in the pictures may be a huge bomb when you arrive. Look for hotels that have virtual tours online, many, many pictures, and online reviews. Online reviews can be your best friend when vacationing, don't underestimate them!




• Make sure you'll be there by the check-in time. Some hotels do not have staff present all night. If you're arriving late, let them know so they can plan ahead for you. This works the same for late checkout. If you want to leave late for any reason, check with the front desk the day before or morning of and see if they'll allow you to stay an extra hour or two. They will often let you stay a little later without charging you.

Think about what you enjoy the most about your vacations. Is it rest and relaxation? The hustle and bustle of the big cities? Impressive mountaintop vistas? Lots of sun and water sports? Quiet, serene National Parks? Take this into consideration when planning and book your stops in places you know you'll enjoy. If you're not a mountain person, plan on making Colorado a drive-all-day part of your trip. If you love warm weather and the ocean, extend your days in Florida to more than just a few.

The United States is one of the largest and most frequented tourist destinations on the planet. If you live here, take advantage, and help the tourism industry here instead of abroad! You have some of the greatest National Parks, cities, beaches and people anywhere. Here's a rundown of some of the most popular destinations of the United States...

There aren't many other places in the country where you'll find so many things to do in such a close proximity. The Green Mountains of Vermont are right next door to the incredible peak of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, which directly abuts the deep, unspoiled forests of Maine. These forests lead directly to the craggy and memorable coastline of Maine, dotted with lighthouses and rocky edges. In the middle of the coast, you'll find Acadia National Park, one of the most spectacular sites on the east coast, and home of the first sunrise of the whole East Coast atop Cadillac Mountain.

Head a little south to Massachusetts and you'll find endless beaches right from the North Shore down to Cape Cod. Boston is smack dab in the middle, and has some of the best restaurants, bars, sports and sights of the whole state. Rhode Island also offers a unique experience in Newport and its famous CliffWalk of antique mansions. Connecticut has incredible small, historical towns and beaches to choose from like Mystic, New London, and Old Lyme.

New York, as a state and city, is possibly the most famous area of the world. The city itself sometimes eclipses the finer points of the state as whole that shouldn't be missed. Just to the North, you'll find the famed Hudson River Valley. Never heard of it? Check out some of the renditions of the Catskills by artists of the Hudson River School. Don't count out Long Island, either. The beaches there are just as nice as some of the Cape Cod beaches.

Niagra Falls is a huge tourist attraction for both Canada and the USA. It's a multi-country wonder that you can view from both sides of the falls. While the surrounding area might not be a natural wonder, the falls themselves are a spectacular site.

From New Jersey to Virginia, there are incredible bird watching locations, panoramas, tucked away coasts, and unique getaways. For a cool side trip, try Cape May, on the point of New Jersey, or visit the great capital of the country in Washington DC.

North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia comprise the Southern coastal states of the United States (though Florida is technically southern as well, it deserves its own space here on this lens).

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are an incredible trip. The beaches are unparalleled throughout the country, sweeping for endless miles along the exposed Atlantic waters.

As you head South towards South Carolina, you'll notice the scenery start change as palmettos appear, indicating warmer climate year round. Myrtle Beach is a popular, fun place to visit, but slightly off the beaten path of the main Interstate 95. Plan on adding some hours to your trip for this. Charleston is well worth the approximate 2 hour drive from the main road to visit. Full of history, old architecture, Civil war era forts, authentic Southern style cuisine and cobblestone streets, you'll have plenty to do here. Not far is Savannah, where you'll find a similar historic atmosphere.

Driving defensively should be your #1 priority while on the road. Not only is it a huge inconvenience to get into a collision on the road, but it can be dangerous and costly! There are some excellent and important tips at Defensive Driving America.

Intro photo of Monument Valley roadway by paraflyer on Flickr.

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