Perfect Road Trip Planning Guide

There’s something about hopping in the car, turning the music up, rolling down the windows, and feeling the warm breeze flow through your hair that really hits home. Road tripping is my favorite way to travel, and the best part about road tripping is that it can be as glamorous or as simple as you want it. Therefore, when it’s time for an adventure, taking a road trip is the easiest way to get out there! This Perfect Road Trip Planning Guide will provide everything you need for your next adventure.

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In this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know when planning your epic road trip. From drafting an itinerary, to where to stay and what to pack, you’ll leave this post feeling prepared to hit the road!

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How to Plan The Perfect Road Trip

I personally prefer road trips because it means I have the freedom and flexibility to travel anywhere I want because I’m in my own vehicle. I’m also able to bring our dog, Whiskey, with us on road trips and that’s something I’m not willing to give up! Let’s move on to the step-by-step process on how I plan a road trip. 

Choose Your Destination

The first thing I do is figure out where I want to go. Am I going to Jackson, Wyoming to see Grand Teton National Park? Am I taking the perfect road trip around Oregon, moving sites every day? The first thing to do is determine your destination(s). You can find inspiration on where to go by visiting travel blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, or recommendations from people you know.

To help with understanding my road trip planning process, I’ll outline a trip from Seattle, Washington to Jackson, Wyoming.

How much time do you have for a road trip? 

The next thing I do is choose the dates I want to travel during. From there, I’ll see how long it takes to get to the destination and back. I use Google Maps for this part of road trip planning and map out how long I’ll be driving and visiting each location. Ask yourself these questions:

• “How many miles do I feel comfortable driving in a single day?”
• “How long do I want to stay in one location?”
• “Do I want to drive leisurely or quickly to my next destination?”
• “How many total miles will I be driving?”
• “About how much will that cost me in gas?”

From Seattle to Jackson it’s 860 miles, about a 14-hour drive. For me, that means I’ll have at least four days of driving from Seattle to Jackson and back, which is 430 miles per day. If my car gets 30 mpg then it should only cost me about $75 in gas each way. Once I arrive in Jackson, I want five to seven days to explore the region, so in total, I would be road tripping for nine to eleven days – perfect!

Plan your route and the stops along the way

This is where the foundation of your itinerary is built. For my road trip from Seattle to Jackson, I would consider making a stop in Spokane or Boise to break up the long drive. It also allows for time to enjoy a coffee shop or local restaurant in each city!

Jot down all the stops you want to make while on your trip and eventually, as you research and learn more about these places, you’ll discover activities, places to eat, and where you can sleep. You could do this with pen and paper but I recommend using Excel. In a spreadsheet it’s easier to assign columns for the date, starting location, ending location, accommodation, activities, and restaurants.

After planning the destinations and activities, I prefer to put everything on a Google Map and use it as a guide for the day; you will see an example of this further down the page. 

Ash, where are we staying?

Alright, we’ve planned how long we’ll be traveling and the places we’ll be visiting. The next thing we want to do is find where we’ll be sleeping at night. Do you enjoy staying in your car or camper? Maybe you prefer the extra amenities that a luxury hotel offers? This is where you get to customize your perfect road trip, so put some extra time into choosing the places you want to call home while traveling! Below are a few recommendations on how I find places to stay while on a road trip. Regardless of where you choose to stay, always do your best to leave no trace!

• Hotels and Lodges – Hotels are a great choice for accommodations when road tripping. Getting a hotel can be as cheap or expensive as you choose. I love using hoteltonight.com, which is a website that has hotels at a discounted rate if you book the same day as your stay.
• Vacation Rentals – I love vacation rentals because most of them have a kitchen and eating in helps cut costs on a road trip. Airbnb and VRBO are great websites for this type of accommodation. 
• Glamping – Glamping is a combination of “glamorous” and “camping”. At a glamping site, everything will be set up for you and there are amenities at the location. Hipcamp and Under The Canvas have options for glamping experiences. 
• Car Camping – If you have all the camping gear and enjoy kicking it outside then I recommend using Hipcamp, Harvest Hosts, Bureau of Land Management, or United States Forest Service land to find yourself a campsite. Each platform provides a different experience so do your research on which one you would prefer.

What’s the budget? 

We all wish we had an unlimited budget, at least I know I do. Before you create and finalize your itinerary you’ll want to set a budget for gas, food, and accommodations before you make the final call on what you’re going to do in each location. Planning a budget helps keep you on track during the trip and prevents overspending. 

Let’s create an itinerary

It’s time to map out our days in each spot! I start by creating a trip map via Google Maps, which allows me to include restaurants, activities, accommodations, and more in one map. Below is an example of how I created a map for a trip to Sandpoint, Idaho! You can find My Maps by going to www.google.com/mymaps. This is the fun part of trip planning and it always gets me so excited to hit the road! You finally get to bring together all the research you’ve done on the best local restaurants, activities in the area, and iconic destinations along the way.

Once you’ve compiled a rough draft of your itinerary ask yourself the following questions:

• “Does this itinerary feel too rushed? Will I have enough time to truly enjoy each activity?”
• “Could I add a few more stops to the itinerary?”
• “Do I have a place to sleep each night of the road trip?”
• “Are the drives going to leave me exhausted? Will I still want to adventure once I arrive at my destination?”
• “Have I given myself enough time to get home in case things don’t go perfectly according to plan?” Accidents happen!

Road Trip Mistakes

Not taking your car for a tuneup before leaving

• Make sure your car is tuned up before leaving. There’s nothing worse than your road trip being canceled or postponed because your car stopped working in the middle of Minnesota. Get your car tuned so that you can be as prepared and safe as possible.

Sticking to a strict schedule

• You’ll want to plan, but you’ll also want to leave room for spontaneity. No matter how much you research before going, there will always be a hidden gem restaurant or trail to explore.

Running low on gas

• Always fill up the tank when you’re halfway to empty. Don’t find yourself driving through remote areas with a low tank when the next gas station is 100 miles away.

Forgetting to download your maps, podcasts, or music playlists

• Hours of silent driving can be exhausting. Download podcasts and playlists to keep the brain sharp when you’re on hour six of driving and have two more to go!

Visiting during the wrong season

• Imagine driving up to Maine to car camp and you find three feet of snow, or you want to go to Yellowstone and half the park is closed during winter. Always check the weather and plan your trips accordingly!

Leaving home without snacks or drinks

• What’s a road trip without snacks? Pack some snacks and water for safety measures, but also because being hangry on a road trip isn’t fun. Don’t forget the snacks!

Forgetting your emergency kit

• Being prepared is important on any vacation, but having emergency supplies can be life saving on a road tripping. Be sure to have a spare tire, an emergency blanket, extra snacks, water, etc. 

Not having roadside assistance

• I have used my AAA membership more than I can count on two hands. Always have roadside assistance in case of an emergency and a gps beacon in case you don’t have service. We use the Garmin InReach Mini.

Road Trip Essentials

Below is what I pack in the car every time I head out on the road! Some of these items are a necessity on the road and others are more luxury. Below you’ll find all of my favorite products to bring on the road and that I think you’ll enjoy too!

You always want to have enough water when on the road. I fill up our 5 gallon jug and keep it in the car when I’m on a road trip. You don’t want to be out of clean water if your car gets stuck or there’s no clean water in the area. Definitely grab one of these!

If you have a water jug then you definitely need a reusable water bottle. I have both the Nalgene water bottle and the Stanley tumblr. They are the best water bottles on the market, I swear!

Always bring snacks on a road trip! There’s nothing worse than a hangry adventurer plus it’s a good way to save money when traveling. Below are my favorite to-go snacks to bring on a trip.

If you have a passenger princess in your car you’ll want a blanket, but you’ll also want a blanket in case it gets cold outside and you need something to wrap yourself in! I love the Rumpl blankets, they’re amazing and provide good warmth and comfort while on the road.

A flashlight or headlamp is an essential to keep in the car when you’re on the road. This is especially essential when you’re driving at night. If you get stuck or the car breaks down, a flash light or headlamp will definitely come in handy.

Another essential is a first aid kit. Accidents happen and when you’re on the road you definitely want to have a medical kit with you. Please get one for your trip as well as every day travel!

I always bring a beanie with me because nights can get chilly in the Pacific Northwest no matter what season it is. Here are a few of my favorites!

Grab those sunglasses before you leave the house because it’s not fun to stare directly into the sun. Protect your eyes and sanity with some sunglasses!

Don’t leave the house without chapstick! Air conditioners, wind from the windows being down, and other natural elements can leave your lips feeling dry. Definitely bring your chapstick with you.

Having a game on hand is always a good idea! If you get stuck in traffic or you’re on a long ferry ride, it’s always good to have a game on hand to play. Plus they’re great for kids!

You’ve got to have good music around when on the road! Definitely bring portable bluetooth speakers with you to get the good vibes going.

Final Thoughts on Planning The Perfect Road Trip

You’ve got a good itinerary and you’re ready to hit the road! I hope you have the best time adventuring out there. Please be safe and remember to always leave time for spontaneity!