I took off on my first proper road trip way back in 2016, since then I’ve road tripped over 100,000 miles all across the world. It’s almost laughable how little I knew back then.
To say there have been many lessons learned along the way would be an understatement. So I plan to share what I have found to be the biggest time and money savers for planning your own epic road trip!
With that being said let’s hit the road and get right to the top 10 road trip tips!
1. Be Realistic
One of the biggest road trip vibe killers is being stuck in the car too long. You should always be realistic with how long you are comfortable driving. If you are going with others it is always best to discus a plan for who will be responsible for driving and/or for how long. Assessing this in advance will insure everyone enjoys the trip. Personally, if I am solo I don’t mind a 12-14 hour day on the road, but it is definitely not something I would recommend for everyone. Plan accordingly based on your level of comfort driving in foreign environments and the flexibility of your itinerary. Be sure to always add a little time for traffic delays, bathroom breaks, etc.
PRO TIP: If you are planning a long distance road trip and intend to rent a car, I always recommend checking the company policy on daily milage limits. I try to avoid milage limits at all cost but if you plan to rent a RV they will be unavoidable.
2. Never pay for additional insurance on a rental car.
This will save you hundreds of dollars! Check you current auto policy, but most major auto insurance companies and/or travel credit cards have built in protection for when you rent a car. Be warned, the rental companies will always try to up sell you, politely decline. Always be sure to take your time when inspecting the car for damage before departing. You should always take a short video and a few pictures of the car before leaving just to be safe.
PRO TIP: Sometimes you will be shit out of luck and on your own regardless of insurance. For example, I had a flat tire on a rental in New Zealand, it ended up being beyond repair and to my disbelief tires are not covered by my insurance OR the insurance offered by Omega Car Rental. I ended up having to pay $120 for a new tire with no chance of being reimbursed. Same applies to windshield damage in most cases.
3. Stock up on snacks before you leave.
This one applies more so if you are departing from your home rather than flying somewhere and renting a car. But either way it will save you a lot of time and hassle to stock up on your favorite snacks before hitting the road. Beef jerky and granola bars will always be cheaper at your local grocery store than they will be at a road side truck stop. Not to mention it will save you a lot time throughout your trip. Unnecessary, snack stops can easily add up and steal away valuable time from your road trip.
4. Sign up for loyalty programs.
All major car rental companies and airlines have loyalty programs that will give you various perks and discounts. They are usually free and can save you a lot of time and money. If you haven’t already, check out what your preferred rental/airline offers, but also sign up for other companies loyalty programs that you may use in the future.
PRO TIP: Currently, my favorite loyalty program perk is by far Budget Rental Car – Fast Break Pass. It allows you to skip the long line at the main desk and proceed directly to an assigned parking spot where you will find your car with keys on the dash, ready for you to hit the road! This one is a major game changer, I’m able to save 2-3 hours every trip with this perk and its totally free to sign up.
5. Pay attention to the gas level.
You would think this one would go without saying, its definitely not something I’ve ever done at home. But in all honesty there has been more than one occasion while road tripping where I have pushed my luck going well beyond 0 miles to empty. All of which could have been easily avoided if I would have topped off the tank when I stopped.
PRO TIP: This one is especially true if you are road tripping in very remote locations like Iceland or New Zealand. I found out the hard way that small town gas stations close ridiculously early, some without the ability to pay at the pump. I wanted to blame the scenic views for distracting me but I knew I was the only one at fault, lesson learned.
6. Task Management/Organization.
This one is a huge time saver, especially if you are road tripping with a partner or group. Before leaving have everyone volunteer (or draw straws) for designated task. Example: Someone to be the navigator, someone else to throw away trash at every stop, etc.
If you are solo, you have to wear many hats during your road trip journey but it will save time in either case if you keep the car organized and have certain spots for important items. For example: Phone, water, wallet, snacks, trash, etc…
7. Plan for unexpected delays.
Generally speaking major delays are rare but… Murphys Law still applies. If you spend long enough on the road anything that can happen will happen. You should always try plan a flexibility day into your itinerary, but they become more increasingly important if you are planning a long road trip.
Pro Tip: Make the best of any delay. In retrospect both of my incidents (flat tire in New Zealand and car trouble in Oregon) have ended up working out just fine and awarded me two unplanned extra days at beautiful locations. Sometimes slowing down gives you a more intimate experience by allowing you extra time to go for a long run or explore a local museum that you otherwise would have bypassed. At the end of the day we cant always control the circumstances but we can control our reaction to them and staying positive is always the way to go.
8. Avoid booking accommodation in advanced.
Pre-Booking anything in advanced should be avoided in almost all cases. It will take a lot of freedom out of your road trip and will also keep you stuck to a strict schedule. Most third party booking sites do not offer refunds for early cancellation and they are always a hassle to deal with. It will save you a lot of stress. However, during holiday weekends or major events it may be necessary to book in advance.
9. Road maps are still useful.
This one sounds old school but they are still very useful, even in today’s digital world. I reccomend getting a adventure oriented one, like the National Geographic Road Atlas: Adventure Edition. Reason being is they will always have smaller, local parks and road side stops that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. A few weeks ago, before heading out to Arkansas and Oklahoma I saw on the atlas there was a small state park where you could dig for diamonds (and keep what you find). It was going to add an hour to my trip but it ended up being an awesome experience (despite not finding any diamonds). Without the Atlas I never would have known about the park and would have missed out on a unique experience.
10. Be Spontaneous.
Quite a few of my favorite road trip memories have came from unexpected experiences at spontaneous stops along the way. Only you know what your main interest are but if you are grabbing a bite to eat at local restaurant you should always ask what their favorite local activities are. If you know you enjoy hiking, pop in a local outdoor shop and ask them what their favorite hike is? (shop local and buy something small if possible).
One of my favorites came from a waitress in Moab Utah while taking my younger brother on his first proper road trip. She recommended the Corona Arch, a hidden gem of a hike that was equally impressive as nearby, Arches National Park but without the crowds.
