How to Plan a Road Trip: the Best Step by Step Guide

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with road trips. I’ve driven over 100k miles of solo road trips and even more miles with family and friends. In my opinion, road tripping is the best way to travel. It allows you to explore on your own schedule and really get to know a destination.

But coordinating and learning how to plan a road trip – especially planning a road trip with multiple stops – and destinations – can be challenging. To make it a bit easier, I have a method I use every time I plan. And it works great for beginners and road trip veterans.

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How to Plan a Road Trip

The difference between a road trip and a successful road trip is good preparation. I know it sounds like a lot of fun to grab a bag and ride off into the sunset but in reality it isn’t very practical. Especially if you have limited time or PTO.

If you aren’t prepared and don’t have a good plan, then you might waste time, drive around needlessly and miss out on some special things. So, before you start planning a road trip, there are two things you need to ask yourself:

1. Do you actually have enough time to get to where you want to go?
2. How much can you comfortably drive in a day?

These two questions will have a big impact on how successful your road trip is. Here’s why.

Step 1 – Do You Have Enough Time to Get Where You’re Going?

If you already know your road trip destination, it’s super important to calculate if you actually have enough time to get there. (And if you don’t know yet, no worries, we’ll get to that in a bit.)

The main thing to remember: road trips should be fun. If driving in the car is how you are choosing to spend your vacation then you don’t want to feel rushed or in a hurry. You want to have enough time savor the journey.

“Its the not the Destination, It’s the journey.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The reason for that is because road trips are about more than just getting from point a to b. What makes road trips special are the unexpected things you find along the way. A good road trip plan allows time for those kind of experiences to just happen.

When you start planning a road trip, be realistic about the time you have and what you can actually do in that time. Don’t over plan. Make sure you have enough time for driving to your destination and time for both planned and unplanned, spur of the moment activities.

Step 2 – How Many Miles Can You Comfortably Drive?

The next step planning a road trip is figuring out how much you can realistically and comfortably drive in a day. It might seem minor, but if you’re not used to long-distance driving – or most of your daily driving is short or in city traffic – a long or cross-country trip can feel overwhelming.

Why? Because the more miles you need to cover, the more pressure you may feel to stay on schedule. Every stop, detour or unplanned discovery adds time. Before you know it, you’re behind, exhausted and trying to do too much. And it’s not fun anymore.

To calculate your driving comfort level, do a practice run. A short road trip can help gauge how how many miles you’re comfortable driving in a day and get you used to driving longer distances. What’s important is what works for you.

It might take a few trips to find your sweet spot but you’ll get there. Don’t forget you can always take someone along for support. Two drivers – or even three – are best. Taking turns driving means no one person is overly exhausted. And remember: rest areas were made for rest.

Step 3 – Choosing a Road Trip Destination

Now that you have your timeframe nailed down and know how much you’re comfortable driving, it’s time to pick your destination(s). Most people usually have an idea about where they want to go when planning a road trip but if you’re unsure and need inspiration it’s time to check out your favorite website – or social media – for ideas.

Or think about your interests and hobbies. Love nature? Consider a national park or a state park road trip. Grouping parks together, is a smart way to maximize your time and create a more efficient itinerary. Utah and its Mighty 5 national parks – which includes Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Canyonlands and Arches is a great place to start.

You could also focus on a specific or area or state. Arizona is a perfect example. Start with Sedona and the Grand Canyon and add in a few of the state’s lesser known historical and cultural sites. Keeping a road trip in one small region means less driving is ideal for first time road trippers.

Do you like quirky road side attractions? Maybe a Route 66 road trip or a southern road trip is right for you. Literally, anything can be turned into a road trip. I know people who visit ball parks, lighthouses and wineries – with a designated driver, of course on road trips. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Step 4 – How to Plan a Road Trip Route

Now it’s time to map out your route and decide whether to follow major highways, scenic back roads or a mix of both. I usually recommend a combination – especially if your time is limited – because the best discoveries happen when you leave the highway. To help you choose your route, start with Google Maps.

Just enter your destination – or multiple destinations – search from your starting point and browse the routes Google suggests. You can also filter out major highways and toll roads if you only want to travel on secondary roads.

When you choose the route, don’t forget to check the actual miles between destinations and the road type. A destination might look close and doable on the map but the route might be a small two lane road that requires more time and patience.

Also keep in mind that in many states – especially in the west – wildlife is abundant, even along major interstates. Use extra caution if you plan to drive at night and build in additional time for slower speeds or unexpected stops. This can significantly affect your overall drive time and how far you’re able to travel in a day.

If you use Google Maps, take advantage of its layered maps feature to organize your stops, attractions and overnight stays. It’s a simple way to visualize your route and keep everything in one place. I cover this in more detail in my full guide to planning a road trip with Google Maps. (coming soon)

Step 5 – Road Trip Planning and Where to Sleep

The hardest part of learning how to plan a road trip is figuring out where to stop and sleep for the night. Generally it’s not a problem if you’re only road tripping to one location and know exactly where you’re going. But if you have an open ended itinerary without exact stops, then where to overnight is more of a challenge.

And when you book accommodations ahead of time, road trips can still feel tricky. Having a set place to stay means you’re on a bit of a schedule – so when you stumble on something unexpected along the way, like a park or a town you’d love to explore longer, you have that pressure to move on to your reserved room.

To avoid that scenario, it’s tempting not to make any reservations and just wing it. Unfortunately, this also can be risky. Hotels and even campgrounds in popular locations – or at busy times of the year – fill up quickly. You might end up having to sleep in the car. Ask me how I know about that.

One thing I find helpful is breaking the road trip up into small segments within the bigger road trip plan. For example, let’s say I’m driving to California from Georgia and I plan on stopping at Grand Canyon National Park in four days. Since I know that’s a popular, very busy national park, I’ll go ahead and book my room or campsite in that area.

That way, I feel secure knowing that I at least have set plans and a place to sleep at the busiest, most crowded stop of my road trip. With those plans set, I can then tentatively plan out – and anticipate – where I might be before I get to the Grand Canyon and either book more accommodations or wait to see what I find along the way.

The more you road trip, the more skilled you will become at figuring out the sleeping part. Really, if you’re just going from one place to another and know exactly where you’re stopping, then lodging shouldn’t be a problem. And with the help of Booking.com for hotels and KOA for campgrounds you’ll find the perfect spot to sleep.

Southerner Says: If you are on a long haul road trip and plan on camping, you might want to plan a hotel stay or a home stay every few days so that you will have laundry access and a real bed.

Step 6 – Planning Road Trip Stops

Besides the necessary stops for fuel and bathroom breaks, you’ll want to plan some fun stops on your road trip too. Roadside America has a mobile app for finding fun places along the way and Atlas Obscura is another good website – and app – for finding unusual attractions on your route.

More than just a way to reserve national park reservations, Recreation.gov has expanded their website and app with an interactive map of all national park sites across the country that allows you to build a trip to national parks and other public lands. Select “Trip Builder” from the dropdown menu and begin planning.

One more tip for planning stops: as you come across places that catch your interest, jot them down – or add them to your curated Google Map. When I’m planning a road trip, I usually create two lists: a must-do list with the things I absolutely don’t want to miss, and a “B list” of bonus stops I’d love to squeeze in if time allows.

Some of my favorite road trip memories have come from the places I stumbled upon unexpectedly. That’s why it’s so important to build in a little extra time. If something grabs your attention, stop. Trust me – skipping it will stick with you. I’m still thinking about a Route 66 gas station I passed by back in 2014 and never found again.

Step 7 – Choosing the Best Vehicle For Your Road Trip

The vehicle you choose for your road trip is one of the most important pieces of planning a road trip. That might sound strange, since most people assume they’ll simply take the car they already own. But if you’re planning a cross-country drive it’s worth considering whether your current vehicle is truly the best fit for for your trip.

With gas prices, if your vehicle is a larger SUV that consumes a lot of fuel, it’s possible that renting a smaller more economical car could be more practical and money saving in the long run. Planning on a cold weather destination or somewhere with a lot of unpaved roads like Death Valley National Park? Then an all-wheel drive or a 4-wheel drive might be the best bet.

Other factors that might affect what vehicle you take on your road trip is: how many people are going? Do you have room for everyone and their luggage? How much equipment do you need? Based on your answers, in some cases, a rental might be the better option.

If you decide to drive your own vehicle, it’s smart to have it inspected by a professional before you hit the road. At the very least, check a few essentials yourself – like the tires, fluid levels, and battery – before heading out. And don’t forget to pack a solid emergency kit. I’ll be sharing a full guide on what to include. (coming soon)

Step 8 – Putting Your Road Trip Together

Once you’ve gotten this far with your road trip plans, I recommend using either a digital calendar or a spreadsheet for all your activities and ideas and. That way you can put it all down, look it over and play around with it. Personally, I like to print a calendar and actually write on it. Either way, it’s entirely up to you.

I find a calendar useful because it helps with daily plans. If there’s a firm final destination and end date, I’ll put that on the date I have to be there and work backwards. Then, I can estimate how many miles I need to drive in a day, I can also figure out about where I should be on certain dates – filling in around those dates with things I want to do.

Once everything is on the calendar, I look at it closely. If I think I’ve got too much planned, or it’s going to be a rush then I remove a few things – moving those the Plan B list – remembering I can always add it back if I find I have the time.

Step 9 – Road Trip Entertainment

Whew! You’re almost done planning your road trip. This last step isn’t strictly necessary but it can make your journey much more enjoyable. I’m talking about music, podcasts and even audio books – you simply cannot road trip without something to listen to.

Music has a way of turning long, boring stretches of road into something much more fun. I even made a playlist to get me in the mood for a road trip. If you subscribe to a music provider like Spotify, you can follow my playlist, explore others or create your own ultimate road trip soundtrack to fit the vibe.

But sometimes I get tired of music so Podcasts are my second favorite thing to listen to on a road trip. My go-to picks are Office Ladies, Smartless and 90 Miles From Needles. And recently, while road tripping through Kansas (articles coming soon!), I checked out a Wild West Podcast.

Finally, audio books related to the area you’re traveling to can be a fun addition. Listening to an book about Bourbon while driving through Kentucky and following the Bourbon Trail really upped my appreciation for the craft and the area.

How to Plan a Road Trip Round-Up

If you made it this far you’ve seen that good preparation goes a long way when planning a road trip, especially when it means fewer surprises and more time to enjoy the journey. If you want to plan even smarter, check out my guide on the most common road trip mistakes to avoid.

For me the real magic of a road trip is the freedom to go where you want, hang around where it feels right and spend time with your favorite people – or enjoy the peace of a solo road trip. It’s time to grab your map, start planning and let the adventure begin. Are you ready?

See you on the road!