We love road trips. Hitting the Highway and exploring the landscape at Street level is the best way to really get to know and experience any location. And the United States is a Country truly built around its road network. Hollywood has spent decades searing evocative images of vanishing horizons and endless tarmac into our brains. Route 66 is the most recognisable highway in the world and more so the entire nation has been built up on the idea of getting around by car. This makes hitting the Road in America more than just a convenient way of getting around, it’s part of the very fabric of the culture of the Country.
Road trips are an incredible experience and extremely rewarding. However, they can be a little intimidating, especially for non-residents of America. Even for residents, you can quickly find yourself outside your comfort zone in an unfamiliar area of the States. It’s very rare for us to head out to the States and not hire a car, usually clocking up several thousand miles per trip, and learning a fair few lessons about what to do and what not to do when cruising the Highways of the Country. So we decided to put together this guide to help share some of our acquired knowledge.
Our USA Road Trip Tips article will help you plan and execute your road trip in the best possible way. With our tips, you can rest assured your great American road trip will go off without a hitch. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.
1 – Navigation
Satallight Navigation transformed how we get around, and the advent of smartphones ensured we all have a GPS navigation unit in our pockets at all times. Gone are the days of Paper Maps, and we are all now well-versed on how to get around using our Phones. But knowing where you are going is just about the most essential part of a Road Trip.
Despite all this, many Rental Companies still offer you the choice of paying for a separate or standalone GPS unit for the Rental Car. This is a pretty terrible idea, as the charges for this are astronomical and completely out of sink with the actual cost of a Sat Nav unit nowadays.
It would actually be cheaper to just buy a unit with USA Maps than to rent one from the Rental Desk! And as we said you don’t really need to do that either as your phone has all the navigational power you could ever need. But there can be a couple of issues with relying on your phone.
First of all, is Data. If you have a good data plan then for the most part you can just use your phone as you usually do. But if you are coming from Abroad then you may not have a great Data Roaming plan, and even if you do…Network coverage in the States is not the best so it pays to have a back-up option.
99% of the Time we just use Google Maps and Apple users can make their own choice on which App they prefer.
Google Maps allows you to Download Maps so they are available offline (How To Download Google Maps) and Apple Maps has now also Added this function. You can only download parts of the Map so you need to know roughly where you need to go and make sure you download all the areas you will be driving through. However, there is an issue with this. Search and Route planning are not possible with no DATA connection.
This is partially solved by making your routes before you leave, in a location with Data or Wifi. The Map will work fine as you travel along but it’s not ideal and sometimes Turn by Turn directions do not work. You will also not get route updates which can really be a huge time-saver.
If you are coming from abroad and do not have Data, we really recommend getting some kind of plan as it makes things a heck of a lot easier if you do have Data. In the UK 3 offers great deals on Sim-Only plans that give 10 GB of Data for only £10 that work in the States…you can even buy them Pre-Loaded on Amazon.
NavMii is an Offline GPS navigation app that works very similar to Google Maps but is 100% Offline. You will not get Live updates without data, but you get full functionality and Voice Controlled Turn by Turn. It’s a bit clunky in our experience, but we have it as a backup and it can be a lifesaver!
The other issue with /using your phone is mounting it. It’s not good holding your phone for hours on end even if you are the one navigating. Having it mounted properly means only minimal attention needs to be taken away from the road to check the directions and being able to see the road layout helps you visualize which turn you need to make. Buy a good car mount and off you go. We are also finding more and more of the Cars we rent offer Android Auto or Apple Carplay, these allow you to connect your phone to the car and the Maps instantly come up on the Cars Nav Display even if the car does not have GPS enabled.
Always Pre-Programme the Sat Nav. Most Navigation systems have a “favorites” option. Take time beforehand to program in all the locations you would like to visit. This way you can pull them up on your device instantly. It might seem a little thing but if you find yourself without data and with the device not playing ball you can find yourself barreling down a freeway with no idea where you are meant to be heading, at night, shouting at each other. We know…we have done it many times.
2 – Preparation
Know where you are going as completely as you can. And we don’t just mean having the destination programmed into the sat nav but having a fuller understanding of the actual route you want to take. Sat Navs will take you the best route, but that’s best for getting there, not best for scenery or enjoyment. You need to understand the route you wish to take and how and when to deviate from the robotic instructions of the Sat Nav.
Every route we drive has every section pre-mapped on Google Maps and printed out ready for perusal. We run through the Map highlighting any road numbers or place names that have become lost on the printouts. This way the route is almost pre-programmed in our heads before we head off. This may sound incredibly Anal.
Let me assure you however we are not in any way Anal people we travel with a very loose and exploratory attitude. However not knowing where you are going inevitably leads to you going NOWHERE. As you read on you’ll see this prep is only ever done as a framework to build exploration onto. But having that framework ensures you have somewhere to go and somewhere to stay when you get there.
This planning stage also gives you the MOST powerful exploration tool imaginable. A top-down satellite view of the entire world. Once you have your rough itinerary planned, open up Google Maps and get exploring. Using Street View and Satellite view you can uncover endless little hidden gems. Vista points to hidden coves, little restaurants, and cafes or photo opportunities. You will find your route and Ininary mold and develop into your perfect trip as you virtually explore so when you are finally there you are already a destination expert!
We cannot overstate how many simply wonderful little gems we have uncovered by just exploring our routes beforehand on Google Maps.
3 – Provisions
By this, We just mean supplies. America is not always the easiest of places to stop while on the road, which is quite surprising really considering the insane number of franchise restaurants and supermarkets the country has. However, when you get away from the more populated areas or follow a large interstate the endless food and drink can completely dry up. So it’s important you have stocked up on foodstuffs that are easily eatable beforehand while you have the chance.
It’s not life or death stuff but being hungry or thirsty with nowhere to get supplies can be distracting and detract from the experience, it’s much better to have some snacks on hand to fill the gap. If you are heading somewhere really remote then proper provisions should be considered but by this we really only mean water. Hunger is not dangerous for days but being stranded without water is more of an issue, especially in America’s desert regions.
Pack mainly non-perishable items as life on the road can be tough and food can go off very quickly in the heat of a car.
4 – Take your Time
It’s not a race. You are here to absorb the sights sounds smells and tastes of the country. Charging through intent on getting to the next destination is missing the point. The road is the destination. While there may be times when you are on an interstate linking places where it does pay to just bury your head and “burn” most of the time you will, or at least should be on back roads, the “two-laners” enjoying the scenery and the culture.
Take the long way, stop at the quaint-looking cafe, and head down the dead-end…just to see what is at the end. This is the whole experience, Wherever you are headed will certainly be there when you finally get there. We promise.
Also…Don’t break the Speed limit, more on this in the next section!
5 – Plan extra time
However long Google Maps says a section will take add-on extra time. Things rarely go to plan. You will undoubtedly get lost at some point. You will spend longer in the supermarket than you expected. You will find something fascinating to investigate. You will get stuck behind EVERY RV in America. You will get stuck at every traffic light for 100 miles. and you will be stuck in the worst traffic jam you could ever imagine.
All these and more are unavoidable, but if you are on a strict time schedule they are made a hundred times worse. Being late adds a lot of stress to the mix and this makes traveling far less fun. If you have time in the bank none of it matters. Our biggest mistake with our early road trips was just planning a too-tight schedule. This meant we were rushing to the destination stressed we would not get there in time…in time for what?
By scheduling in little leeway it takes the stress away and you can enjoy a much more relaxed journey. First, be realistic and then add a couple of hours to any significant journey. Make sure you are never pressed for time for really important things such as flights or reservations.
Speed Limits – In our early Road Trips, not only would we not really plan enough time, but we would also assume Google Maps was wrong. A 4-hour drive could be peeled off in 3.5 hours or less. We raced the Sat Nav confident we could take down the time Google had Suggested.
Then one day in Arizona, after ripping up 200+ miles in a day we overtook an RV on a Dual Lane Highway with a 65mph Speed limit at 95 mph. This sort of speed easily took minutes off the Estimated Time of Arrival and out here, in the desert no one can see your speed and there is obviously nothing to hit!
It’s not always a great idea to confess to crimes on the Internet, however, in this case, we feel we are safe to do so as moments after passing the RV, blue lights appeared in the Rear View Mirror. We moved over to let the officer pass, obviously on the way to an important call…but he followed.
The next few minutes were some of the scariest of our travels as the Officer informed us that breaching the speed limit by this amount in Arizona was an Arrestable offense! I was the only driver and we were a long way from anything remotely comparable to Civilisation, it was a bad predicament.
Fortunately, the officer dealt with the infraction with a Ticket…a $550 ticket, but no arrest. It was a solum reminder that you are not on your home turf where you know how things work and it’s much better to play by local rules… an expensive lesson learned long ago now
It adds to the Tip that if you just add a little more time to any estimate things just go a lot better. If your Google Maps says 4 hours…assume 5 hours, 6 if you want to plan in stops and breaks and time to take some photos and see the sights. Remember the Road IS the destination.
6 – Playlist
American Radio is …Garbage. While for a while it’s fine and listening to local jocks is great for long or iconic stints, the overall quality is really not up to much, they have access to so few songs and repeat repeat repeat. They are also unlikely to really be the songs you REALLY want to listen to during your great American adventure! Either they are modern top 40, or very unmodern, or even quite bizarre country or religious tracks.
You may have dreamed of this for years and the songs you grew up associating with the American culture will be very powerful and moving for you. You need to definitely be prepared with a playlist of songs that you associate with America. Yes, rolling into Miami in a convertible blasting out Will Smith, Welcome to Miami, is very cliche and will get a lot of eyes rolling but if that’s what you want, screw everyone else. A bit of Chuck Berry on Route 66? Go ahead. Want to blare out Mustang Sally in your Mustang don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t.
Read our 100 greatest Road trip songs for inspiration.
7 – Power
Modern life is ruled by batteries. Phones Cameras, San Nav, and even Drones. And they can all get a licking while out on the road. It’s essential you have car chargers for everything. Along with USB Splitters and Car Socket Splitters. While modern cars are getting better and better at adding more USB and Power sockets you can be sure it’s never enough so plan ahead. These items are cheap and easy to pack so make sure you are juiced up and ready to go.
There is nothing worse than a flat phone battery when that is your primary navigation device. or seeing a perfect sunset with a flat Camera battery. Cars are the perfect mobile power generator, but only if you have the necessary cables and adapters to plug in.
We also tend to carry a power bank. This is more often used for Themepark or when we are away from the car, but it’s saved us more times than we like to admit.
8 – Breakfast
The first meal of the day is extremely important from a health point of view…as they say. But on a road trip, it’s even more vital to get a good meal inside you. With a good hearty breakfast, you can almost ignore lunch completely if need be. Just rely on Snacks until dinner. It’s probably not the healthiest plan but when a packed day presents itself it can really help to be fuelled up right from the off and limit time wasted hunting out a food stop, which will probably be even less healthy.
We try to choose Hotels / Motels that offer an Included Breakfast. They are not always the best but a simply hearty start to the day of waffles and Toast is all you need. It helps keep the budget down. On at least a few occasions though you should hunt out a proper American Diner (or even a Dennys if you can’t) For that proper USA Breakfast experience.
9 – Spontaneity and Adaptability
All the Sat Navs, Maps, Planning, and knowledge should still only ever serve as a framework. We use planning as a way of ensuring we will get to the places we want to see and discover the places we didn’t know existed. But when on the road we are always ready to alter the plan on the fly.
Maybe we just want to stay somewhere longer than planned and need to sacrifice or take a quicker route. Maybe a road is closed due to weather or landslides or unexpected snow drifts. Maybe someone you meet recommends something. Or a million other reasons. There will always be pressure to adopt the plan. And that’s good. Following your itinerary like a robot is no real fun. And stressing because you can’t do what you want only leads to unhappiness.
So whether you are being spontaneous, or adapting to adversity, accept and understand that plan changes are not undesirable. It’s part of the excitement of being on the road. We can’t think of a single road trip where we executed the plan precisely. We almost always achieve the overall objectives (get from A to B) but it’s almost never in the exact way we planned…and almost always for the better, or at least we let it feel that way.
10 – Relax
Road Trips can be incredibly stressful at times, as you find yourself unsure of your present location (Never lost!) running out of daylight, tired, and hungry. The stress levels can get firmly out of hand. It’s at these points you need to take a deep breath and relax. Stressing won’t help. Shouting and screaming definitely won’t help…we tried, it just makes it worse…
Understand these moments are normal and think of the worst that can happen. You may be a bit behind schedule but your destination isn’t going anywhere. If it goes dark, you have lights. If you are hopelessly lost…Sorry, temporarily unsure of your position. Pull over, take ten minutes, and check the maps and the sat nav. Even find a shop or gas station and ask, however unsure of your location you are you will always relocate yourself. You are not lost, you got there, and you can always just backtrack.
This last tip is probably the hardest to enact. It’s very easy to write it and to read it and agree, but when the pressure rises it’s a lot harder to keep the lid on. We can assure you even now we still “lose it” from time to time. But it’s recognizing that and applying the coping mechanisms that get you out of the unproductive phases, to being back on your way with the Music Blaring, the top-down, dreaming of the cold one that awaits at the Destination.
Have Your Say
We hope this article has got you fired up to hit the road and see where the flow takes you. We love Road Trips and think it really is the best way to see the states. From Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, Death Valley, and even the wild and remote Hana Highway and many more. Nothing makes us happier than being free as a bird exploring the Country. So we hope this can inspire and assist you in making your own Lifetime Memories.
As always let us know what you think in the comments below. Have you got any tips of your own for planning a road trip? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Or if you just have any questions, fire away below.
The 9th point really stood out for me…spontaneity and adaptability. If I’m traveling for business, that’s one thing. If I’m traveling for pleasure, well, that’s an entirely different animal. Not being able to stray from the plan based on a desire to enhance, enrich, or extend the experience takes some of the fun out of it, at least for mefor me.
Hi Sherman,
Thanks replying, yeah While plans are important it is crucial to remain flexible and spontaneous, you can never plan for every eventuality. While part of this is due to negative circumstances it’s also the need to be free to go where the desire takes you. It’s all part of being on the road.
Years ago I drove my tiny Geo Metro from Edmonton AB, Canada all the way down to Cabo San Lucas. I traveled through Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California on my way South then California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana on the way back North. I was using mostly old school paper maps. I didn’t have a real route just the general direction. I was in a bit of a hurry to get to mexico as it was January and -36 Celsius (-33 F) back in Edmonton. I had other reason to hurry back when I came North. I really wish I would have taken the time to stop and smell the roses as I traveled through the US. I will be back. Thanks for the tips. What would you suggest I visit when I do return? Preferably somewhere western USA.
Sounds like an awesome trip but yeah sometimes we can be in too much of a hurry to get where we are going and not appreciate the journey. Still sounds an Epic trip though!
Take a look at our 10 best american road trips for some inspiration for your next trip. Plenty to see and do in the Western USA.
Thanks for reading
Have any tips about taking a road trip on a motorcycle? I’m getting my license at the end of the month, and traveling the US is something I plan to do with it
Hi Sara,
Unfortunately we are not big motor bikers so can’t really give any real tips on touring with a bike. While we are not sure there is a huge difference between road tripping on a bike or in a car we can’t be sure there are not some glaringly obvious things you need to take into account when biking. All of our routes are perfectly suitable for bikes if you want to check out of top Road trip ideas?
Hope you get to make your trip soon. It sounds like an incredible way to see the Country. It is such a big area it gives the opportunity to really exercise the freedom a bike brings.
Thanks
Steve