In the last year or so I’ve taken myself on a few solo road trips. Okay, maybe more than a few. Many of my friends have spread themselves out across the United States and I like to take the time to wander into their lives. Driving is way cheaper than flying, plus I live in a van, making it the obvious choice of transportation. The road trip is a classic American concept, but taking on multiple days and thousands of miles alone isn’t typically what comes to mind. It may feel a bit intimidating at first, but there is truly something calming about wide open roads and being in exclusive control of the radio. In the end, it’s totally worth it so I’ve put together these tips for how I survive a solo road trip.
Make a Loose Plan
Having a loose idea of what route I plan to take is always my first step. Whether I’m google mapping a direct route to a friend’s house or bouncing from sight to sight, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of what roads I’ll be driving. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally driven an hour in the wrong direction because I didn’t pay better attention to where Google was taking me. Remember though, loose. Try not to over-plan where you stop each night, you never know what unexpected activities or detours you might find along the way! Since my home is my backseat I don’t have to worry much about where along my route I stop. Still, I try to have a parking area in mind just to be safe.
Make Sure Your Ride is Ready
Hopefully, this step is pretty obvious. The last thing you’d want is to be broken down and alone in the middle of nowhere. (Trust me I’ve been there, though luckily, I wasn’t alone.) Whether you have your oil changed, fluids topped off and tires checked, etc. by a mechanic or by yourself doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that you feel confident in your vehicle’s ability to get you where you’re going. And remember that it’s necessary to keep up this maintenance on the road. Take care of your vehicle and she’ll take care of you!
AAA Roadside Assistance
I super recommend having AAA in case of emergencies. Basic membership can be as low as $40 and they have roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year anywhere in the US and Canada. This is a huge comfort, especially when traveling alone.
Tell Someone Your Plans
My family has become pretty relaxed about me traveling all over the world by now. But part of that is because I’m always keeping them updated on my plans. Sometimes it can be tempting to not tell anyone where you’re going so you can feel that “true solo road trip freedom.” But that feeling will fade quickly if you go missing or get stranded somewhere. It’s a hell of a lot easier to be found if someone has an idea of where you’re supposed to be. Now, I promise that despite my convincing, solo road trips aren’t some kind of horror movie. Being careful and intelligent about your decisions is just good common sense and can help you out drastically in a pinch. It’s always a good idea to have someone watching your back, and they can only do that if you keep them in the loop.
Inflight Entertainment
Spending hours on end in your car alone with the scenery is nice but it also has the potential to get really boring really fast. And on those long haul trips through B.F.E. you never know where you might lose cell reception or even the radio. So a good rule of thumb is to always have a few playlists or podcasts downloaded just in case. Personally, I find podcasts (Timesuck, The Adventure Zone, Wine & Crime, etc.) to be the most stimulating and they always help me avoid drowsiness.
Set a Driving Limit
We aren’t superhumans, and driving can take a lot out of anyone. Set a limit to how many hours you’ll drive in a day. That number will be higher for some than others and if you don’t know yours just take it slow and steady. I can drive up to 15 hours in a day and be alright but it’s still not something I do often. Normally a 10-12 hour day is more reasonable and I’m always paying attention to my mind and body and respecting my limits for each new day.
Stop and Stretch
Every time you stop for whatever reason make sure to do a few stretches. Stretching is a great way to release tension from those cramped up muscles and it will also help wake you up if you’re feeling drowsy. Map out a few places along your route where you can stop for gas or the restroom and get that stretch in.
Truck Stops
A pro tip is to stop at truck stops over rest areas and smaller gas stations. They usually have big restrooms, showers if you need them, food, drink, gas, auto supplies, and some sort of restaurant. They’re also not isolated like rest stops and when solo road-tripping this can help with security.
Pay Attention to Your Gas Gauge
You’re probably thinking duh, Casey. But trust me, it happens. I’d never run out of gas in my life before I started long haul road-tripping. It’s easy to forget when your tank holds 35 gallons and there’s no handy little low fuel light to warn you. Keep an eye on that gauge and if your out in the wilder parts of the country have an idea of where your next fill-up will be.
Bring Extra Gas
This is KEY and seriously a huge peace of mind tip. You will be so damn thankful that you’ve got that extra few gallons when it keeps you from being stranded and gets you to the next gas station. (Or just one where gas doesn’t cost $4 a gallon.)
Bring Snacks and Water
Bring more than you think you’ll need. Traffic can pop up anywhere and those extra snacks can save you in a pinch. It also helps control your hunger when you’re smelling those truck stop Cinnabon stands for the fourth time in a day. More important than snacks is water. Driving is surprisingly dehydrating and when your doing nothing else all day it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself. It’s worth the extra bathroom breaks.
Just Go!
Quit finding reasons why you can’t go and just do it! You don’t have to leave for weeks or go across the country. There are plenty of weekend adventures out there just waiting to be had. And remember don’t worry so much about the planning. Have a rough idea of where you want to go, be smart and safe, and have fun. The only one stopping you is yourself.
