Whether you’re planning to drive across the country or across your state on your own, a solo road trip can be a lot of fun. Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your travel adventure is safe and fun.
Know Your Limits
You might be able to drive for a long time, but can you do this for multiple days in a row? Without someone to split the driving with, it’s all on you. Know your limits. Driving while tired is very dangerous, and puts you at risk of an accident. I like to think of driving as the “job” [art of the road trip. Do you 8 hours and get out. Map out cities that are 2-4-6 hours away so you know where to stop.
Set Your Schedule
Getting the pace right is an important part of the trip. Work out how many days you will need and where you want to stop along the way. I’m a morning girl, so I will always opt for a early start, but if you’re a night owl, maybe you want to sleep all day, and drive al night. I will say, there is much more to see when the sun is out though. If you have booked activities, like a diving session with Dip ‘N Dive, a surfing lesson, or even a date with that fabulous spa you saw on Instagram, make sure you give yourself time to get there.
Use Multiple Tools To Map Your Trip
Using more than one kind of map can be a good idea, as each map might have slightly different details included on it. For example, some maps might have great information on places of interest that you might like to visit along your way. If you end up driving through a naitonal park, pick up a park map so you can find interesting stops along your route. Although Google Maps is useful to have ready to go, the Atlas has not died yet. A road atlas is handy for planning your route, whereas Google Maps is more useful when you’re actually driving. If you are using Google Maps, make sure your cars GPS maps are as up to date as possible, and you have an offline way to navigate with you too in case you lose signal or the device you’re using to navigate runs out of battery.
Know The Highlights That You Want To See
You might have a few ideas in mind already for your trip. For example, maybe you want to see historical landmarks, visit areas of natural beauty, see quirky roadside attractions or visit areas known for their food or wine. Decide what you want to see on your road trip and plan with this in mind. Of course, you can see other things, but having a few key highlights in mind can help you to plan your route and keep some focus. Know what you really want to see and choose your must-sees.
Recommended article: Solo Travel: How to Travel On Your Own
Book Your Accommodation
Once you have decided on your route, start booking your accommodation for the trip. Spontaneity is fun, but if you’re traveling alone, the last thing you want is to arrive somewhere late and spend half the night searching for somewhere safe to stay. Make sure that where you will be staying is safe for solo travelers, especially for female travelers. I love using the app HotelTonight tor this.
What are your solo road trip tips? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
