When it comes to road tripping, it’s all about the journey rather than the final destination. These kinds of trips are an excellent way to get out and explore without breaking the bank.
As fun and enjoyable as a road trip might be, there are some things to keep in mind. Whether you are traveling across the United States or exploring another country, you have to plan appropriately for the amount of time you are going to spend in the car.
Because road trips typically involve days on the road at a time, it’s important to make plenty of stops along the way to keep yourself and those with whom you’re traveling entertained and happy. Driving fatigue, for example, can be dangerous on a road trip, but fun stops along the way can help break things up and even offer you places to rest overnight.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best road trip ideas and offer some options for what to stop and do along the way. We will also offer some tips for planning your road trip to ensure everyone stays safe and happy.
1. Things to Do and Places to See on Your Road Trip
There are some amazing places all over the world that make for incredible road-tripping destinations. Planning your road trip, including where you’re going to go and what you’re going to do along the way, can sometimes be half the fun.
To start, let’s take a look at some of the best routes to take when you want to have a fun-filled, stop-friendly road trip.
- The U.S. — Route 66
If you live in the United States and you love to go on road trips, you should definitely start with the infamous Route 66. The route starts in Chicago, IL, and ends in Santa Monica, CA, passing through eight states for a total of 2,485 miles.
- Brazil — BR-101
This road in Brazil follows along the length of the Atlantic Coast, going from the Rio Grande do Sul state to the Rio Grande do Norte state. The route stretches more than 2,900 miles and offers stunning sweeping views of the Brazilian coastline.
- Australia — Great Grand Ocean
This route is a coastal roadway that runs throughout Southeast Australia from Melbourne to Adelaide. It’s not quite as long as the others already mentioned at only 150 miles, but there is plenty to stop and see along the way. One such sightseeing stop is The 12 Apostles rock formation.
- California — Pacific Coast Highway
Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, runs nearly the entire length of the California coast from just above San Francisco to shortly beyond Los Angeles. It is a well-known drive that many love to make on the West Coast, as it offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean as well as gorgeous scenery in the state parks, like the Redwoods.
- South Africa — The Garden Route
This route runs along the southern coast of Africa, starting near Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth. This scenic route offers beautiful views of the coastline as well as plenty of fun attractions to stop and see along the way, such as the highest bungee jump in the world and great white shark swimming tours.
- France — La Route des Grandes Alpes
If sweeping mountain views are more your thing, then this route along the French coast is perhaps more to your liking. It runs directly through the middle of the Alps and other mountains, as well as Lake Geneva, for a total of 435 miles.
- Chile and Argentina – The Road of the Andes
This journey offers breathtaking views from Santiago, Chile, to Mendoza, Argentina. It passes directly through the Andes and is the longest mountain pass road in the world, offering views of Mount Aconcagua, one of the highest mountain ranges outside of Asia.
These are just some of the many beautiful routes all around the world. As many of these journeys include miles and miles of driving, however, it’s important to make as many stops and side quests as you can along the way. This will allow you to make the most of your trip and see as many things as possible while also offering you a break from the fatigue of driving and sitting in the car.
Stops and side quest ideas include:
- Stopping at infamous landmarks to take pictures and videos;
- Parking and walking down to the beaches on the routes that run along the shoreline;
- Stopping to eat at famous and unique food joints;
- Checking out local tours along the way to learn about the areas you’re driving through;
- Getting out to simply walk around and explore nature;
- Going beachcombing or metal detecting to find fun little treasures as a souvenir from each place to take back home with you;
- Checking out local museums or other fun attractions;
- Getting out to take videos of the different places you pass to create a video documentary of your trip;
- Stopping to check out local wildlife.
With that last idea, just be mindful not to get too close to any animals as they could be dangerous. If you feel unsafe in any area, for that matter, listen to your gut and move along to the next interesting destination. That’s part of the beauty of road trips.
Tips to Make Your Road Trip Safe and Enjoyable
Though the destination and the stops you will make along the way are likely what you focus on, there are other road trip essentials to plan so that your vacation goes off without a hitch.
2. Prepare Your Car
If you are planning a road trip in your own car as opposed to renting one, it’s important to go through a maintenance checklist to make sure it’s ready for hours and days on the road. This includes checking the tires, topping off fluids, getting an oil change, checking your brakes, and having anything else inspected that might need repairing before you go.
3. Purchase Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must when you are going on any trip. If you are going to be doing any activities where you could get hurt on your road trip, Travel insurance is a must when you are going on any trip. If you are going to be doing any activities where you could get hurt on your road trip, you should consider acquiring travel insurance to protect you and make sure you have a good car insurance for your vehicle.
While most people skip insurance due to the cost, there are actually plenty of companies that offer cheap travel insurance. Some of these include Atlas Travel, IMG Global, WorldNomads, Safety Wing, and AARDY.
4. Know When Not to Drive
Another important step in planning your ultimate road trip should be knowing what hours are best to drive depending on where you are traveling. The last thing you want to experience on your road trip is an accident. In many places, the most dangerous times to drive are late afternoon and early evening, between 4 and 7 p.m. — but driving late at night in the dark can also be hazardous simply if you don’t know where you are going. Further, if you’re sleepy, the darkness can exacerbate that and slow down your reaction time.
5. Bring Entertainment for the Car
Though there are plenty of things to do outside of the car on a road trip, there will also likely be lots of hours spent where there isn’t as much to do or see. Thus, it’s a good idea to bring some things to keep you occupied in the car, especially if you are road tripping with kids.
This can include books or audiobooks, music – a good playlist with road trip songs, podcasts, games, and toys. You can play some fun traditional car games, such as I Spy, 20 Questions, Punch Buggy, Would You Rather, and more.
6. Pack Plenty of Snacks and Drinks
It’s fun to stop at local food joints on a road trip to check out local fare and unique attractions. However, there will also likely be plenty of times when you are hungry or thirsty and there is nowhere around to stop. It’s smart to pack a cooler and bags of snacks and drinks to keep you nourished along the way.
As much as you might want to pack junk food, it’s also a good idea to have some healthy travel foods on hand. Sitting in the car for hours can already mess with your body so the healthier you eat, the better your body will feel. This way, you can enjoy the many stops along the way without feeling sluggish.
Wrapping Up
Going on a road trip across the country is something everyone should experience. It’s a great way to get out and explore hidden gems and famous attractions that you’ve never seen. It also is one of the best ways to take in the most scenic and even breathtaking views all in one trip.
Just make sure you’re fully prepared and take lots of breaks along the way to keep you and your road trip companions alert and entertained.