

Have a backup GPS system, or paper map, and be prepared to be out of touch with the wider world for a few hours, or even days! Determine a budget When you are mapping your route, you will want to make a note of these areas. There will be remote parts of the country with limited cell service. The USA is massive and not all states experience the seasons equally. Make sure you know alternative routes and always have an idea of how you could get home quickly should an emergency arise.Ĭonsider the time of year you will be traveling and be aware of the weather conditions in the states you will be passing through. Start connecting a path between your key stops and your final destination. Remember, you will be driving to your destination and back, so your route should come to resemble more of a circle than a straight line.
CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP PLANNER HOW TO
You never know what weather and road conditions will be like so it’s good to have options.Ĭheck out our article on How to find Tourist Attractions along a Route for more advice. Star things you absolutely must see, but leave things on the list that might be interesting alternative choices.
CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP PLANNER FULL
Your list should have the full name of the attraction/stop as well as the phone number and address for ease of locating later. Now that you have a turnaround point, break out the map and start googling! Make a list of all the things you’d like to see between here and there. The option is up to you! Make a list of key stops between you and your endpoint If you are renting a car, you may even choose to return your vehicle at this point and fly home from there. Think loads of tourist attractions, nature reserves, or distant loved ones you never get to see. I recommended choosing a place you’d be happy to spend a few days in. This helps give your trip some direction and structure. This will be a place you reach, rest, and relaunch from. Once you know how long you have to travel, you can pick a designated turning around point. Not really the adventure people have in mind or the safest.Ī minimum of 2-3 weeks is a more realistic time frame to have an enjoyable cross-country experience, but you will find a schedule that works for you. It takes 4-6 days to drive across the USA, but this is with 8-10 hours of driving a day. To avoid stress on the road, be realistic about how long you can spend away from your regular life. Decide how long you can spend on the roadĪ cross-country road trip will give you dreams of endless freedom and adventure, but your reality may be any number of obligations that can’t be left for infinite time. So don’t wait! Take our advice and start planning your cross-country road trip now. I had always wanted to do it again as an adult.

Tons of car ride games, overnights with family we’d not seen in years, late-night swims in the hotel pools, and all sorts of weird and wonderful roadside attractions. I have amazing childhood memories of a summer spent traveling from California all the way out to the east coast and back again. Then it’s just a matter of saving your money and getting ready to go! Put together a rough budget so you can start planning a route with attractions and accommodations. Start with how long you’d like your trip to be, and then select a final destination. Planning a cross-country road trip can feel daunting, but if you take it in pieces it’s easy to do.
