How to Plan a Cross-Country Road Trip: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Planning a cross-country road trip is no easy task. There are many things to think about before you hit the road. This blog goes through the 10 steps I followed when I planned my cross country road trip. Hopefully they will you help you feel confident on the journey you're going to take.

Step 1: Figure out your "why"

Before getting into the details of your cross-country road trip, it's important to understand the "why" behind your adventure and what you are looking to get out of it. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

• What type of trip are you looking for? Adventure, relaxation, a mix of both?

• Are you trying to live out of your car, find new campsites, or live out of hotels/Air BnBs?

• Is your goal to learn a new hobby like photography or are you just looking to escape for a little while?

• Are there specific landmarks you want to see?

• Will you be trying to stay within a budget?

• Do you even like being in the car for long periods of time?

• What are your priorities going to be on the road? Visiting places, driving on scenic routes, trying new foods?

For me, I have always loved traveling to new places and felt like my best self outdoors. My goal was to learn to trust myself more and gain confidence by traveling solo with my two pups. Doing this solo naturally put me into the adventure category and I was trying to stay within a small travel budget which meant living out of my car and finding free campsites when possible. Road trips to me are just as fun as the destination, so I knew it would be a good fit for me. My priority was finding cool places to work from because I had to maintain my 9-5.

Going through this exercise will help shape your itinerary and overall experience. It will also make sure a road trip is the best option for you as opposed to just breaking your journey into a few shorter trips.

Step 2: Begin Building Your Route

Start creating your bucket list itinerary using these tips:

1. Make a list of Key Destinations: If you're looking for an adventurous journey you can start listing out places like national parks, historic landmarks, or scenic drives. For the foodies, you could start looking up cities that are known for the best cuisine. A more relaxing journey could be a trip along coastlines so you can relax along beaches or drive along some mountain ranges and find different cabin stays.

2. Route Type: Do you prefer getting to your destinations as quickly as possible or taking backroads for the views? Determining the length of your road trip and the time of year would also help with deciding on the types of roads you may want to take. Many roads in national parks shut down during winter and spring months, so you'll want to keep that in mind when planning your route.

3. Flexibility: You never know when a local could give you a better suggestion than what you had planned or when a road might be closed unexpectedly. Always give yourself some extra time to have less stress and enjoy the moment.

4. Map out your Route: Use road trip planners like Google Maps, Roadtrippers, Roadie, or good old fashioned paper maps to sketch your route. These tools will tell you how far each place is from one another, give you a gas cost estimate, and allow you to easily add stops along the way to help keep your trip spontaneous.

Step 3: Budgeting

Unfortunately most people don't have unlimited funds to spend on a trip which is why this part is important. I recommend creating a road trip budget calculator in a spreadsheet including the below items to estimate costs and plan effectively. Keeping track of your costs will help with being a responsible adult and making sure you can have a travel budget for the following year. Here some items I budgeted for when planning my cross country road trip:

• Fuel Costs: Road trip planners like Google Maps, Roadtrippers, or Roadie give you estimates on the cost of gas. While you're on the road you can use apps like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas around your location.

• Lodging: Factor in costs for campgrounds, motels, or Airbnb stays. You can find free campsites on websites like Campendium.com, Freecampsites.net, or iOverlander.com. Just note that most of these free sites don't have electricity, running water or bathrooms so you will need to be self sufficient. If you are planning on doing the free sites, it's good to have an "emergency fund" just in case you need an actual roof over your head for a night or two because of things like weather or getting sick.

• Food: You can save a lot by cooking your own food. I packed a cooler and bought a camping stove to cut down on costs for my trip. If your main goal is a "foodie" trip be sure to budget much more.

• Activities: Budget for park fees, tours, and entertainment. If your goal is to visit national parks I would recommend getting the America the Beautiful pass instead of paying for each park individually. It's definitely worth it if you plan on visiting even just a couple of parks. It would also be good to see if the state you are visiting has a state park pass if you will be doing a lot of hiking in state parks. Park fees can quickly add up, so buying passes is often a good budget option.

• Car Maintenance: If you are going on a multi-month or super long road trip you will need to account for oil changes and any unexpected repairs you may need to take care of along your journey. It would also be good to budget for a roadside emergency kit along with a AAA membership.

Even with all of these items budgeted for it is also always good to have a bit extra saved in case of any unexpected emergencies or just extra spontaneous adventures you may want to take.

Step 4: Prep Your Vehicle

Your car will be your most important asset on your road trip, so make sure it’s ready to go by taking care of these tasks:

1. Maintenance Check: Inspect tires, brakes, and fluids. Get an oil change if needed. It would also be good to take your car to a mechanic and have them check everything to make sure nothing is missed and to get a professional to basically sign off on the safety.

2. Emergency Kit: Pack jumper cables, a tire repair kit, and a first-aid kit. I recently got a rechargeable jumper kit and air compressor along with a tire repair kit so that if I get stranded alone I could be self sufficient.

3. Comfort Upgrades: Don't forget your neck pillow and some blankets, organizers, and maybe a portable cooler for drinks and snacks. If you're planning on living out of your car that will be another blog post.

Step 5: Plan Your Rest Stops

If you're going on a cross country road trip that likely means you have some long drives ahead. Planning out your breaks will help you from getting sleepy while you're driving. Breaking the trip up also makes the driving feel like it's going faster for me. Here are some important stops you may need to take:

• Gas: Google Maps easily allows you to add gas stops along your route. You could also use GasBuddy to find gas stations nearby and to compare prices.

• Dog-Friendly Stops: If you’re traveling with pets, look for pet-friendly parks and hotels. I like to use BringFido.com to find dog friendly restaurants, parks, and hotels.

• Overnight Parking: Check apps like like Campendium.com, Freecampsites.net, or iOverlander.com for free overnight parking spots.

• Bathrooms Breaks: Normally I would take care of this during a gas break, but if you ever find yourself looking for a restroom along your route you can use an app called Flush.

ChatGPT and Google say it's best to plan for breaks every 2-3 hours to stretch and recharge, so it must be correct.

Step 6: Pack Strategically

Packing for a road trip will need to be strategic since you'll have limited space in your car. You'll need to find the balance between luxuries and essentials, but here are some things I think are cross country road trip essentials:

• Must Haves: Clothing, toiletries, and road trip snacks.

• Camping Gear: Tent, sleeping bag, and portable stove if camping. If camping out of your car I would recommend a hatchback tent to expand your space a little bit and to allow more airflow when sleeping.

• Tech: Phone chargers, a portable battery pack, and a Wi-Fi hotspot if working remotely. Check out this post for a more in-depth checklist if you'll be working remotely.

• Pet Supplies: Leashes, food, food bowls, doggy bags and toys for your furry companions. It would also be good to bring immunizations records in case you end up needing to board or take your pet to the vet.

  If you are going on a multi-month road trip be sure to do a test round with all of your gear to make sure you aren't over or under packing. It's also good to test how you would prefer to stay organized along with making sure you know how to use all of your gear.

Step 7: Stay Connected and Safe

Safety and staying in touch are key aspects of any road trip. Incorporating road trip safety tips and learning how to stay safe on a road trip can ensure a smooth and secure journey:

• Navigation Apps: Download maps offline for both driving and hiking in case of poor service. Google Maps allows you to do this for driving and the AllTrails pro plan allows for downloadable maps when you are hiking.

• Check-Ins: Share your itinerary with a trusted friend or family member. I like to create and share a Google Sheet with my itinerary along with my location on Life 360 with my closest family members so they can always make sure I am safe.

• Roadside Assistance: Consider a service like AAA for peace of mind.

• Satellite Feature on iPhone: Be sure your phone is up-to-date if you have an iPhone as Apple just released a new feature that allows you to call for help or send messages by connecting to satellites. This requires you to be outside and away from trees/mountains that could block the signal, but it is good to know it is there and how to use it.

Step 8: Embrace Flexibility

Even the most thoroughly planned trip can change. Embrace the unexpected by:

• Allowing extra time for exploring. Whenever I go somewhere, locals always offer the best suggestions and I love leaving room in my plans to go where the locals do.

• Stay patient with delays or detours. Turn on a good playlist, roll the windows down, take a deep breath, and make the most of those delays.

• The journey can be just as fun as the destination and all of it is part of the adventure.

Final Thoughts

A cross-country road trip is an unforgettable experience. With thoughtful planning and a touch of spontaneity, you’ll create memories that last a lifetime. Start small, stay organized, and enjoy every mile of the journey!

Get in touch

If you're planning a road trip I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message, and let me know about your plans or if you have any questions.

Email

waganerthetraveler@gmail.com