10 Tips for an Amazing Solo Road Trip
Though road trips are often considered a group adventure across unknown lands, more and more people have decided to go the journey alone. Driving for hours to hours, sometimes bumper-to-bumper through changing landscapes and weather conditions is both harrowing but rewarding once you reach your destination—and you will be thankful for having taken this journey. Here are 10 tips to make your solo road trip even more amazing:
1. Get Schooled
Do some research on the routes you plan on traveling. Have a day-to-day itinerary that is fairly flexible, allowing you time to go on adventures while sticking to a decent schedule. Also, why not consider planning everything out on a traditional paper atlas? Not only will it become a memento once you finished the solo road trip, but it will being something to fall back on if your Google Maps fails.
2. Shop Around for Cars
Choosing the right car for a solo road trip is all about comparing models and their rates. Not everyone has the same needs for their road trip. You might want a sleeper van or a compact car, depending on your budget and goals. When it comes time to decide, check out Holiday Autos for accurate comparisons and guaranteed low costs.
3. Touch Base With Old Friends
If you know any old friends and acquaintances that you have been wanting to see who live along the route you have plotted, give them a call and see if you can stop by for a day or two. This will make the journey much more fulfilling and memorable, while preventing bouts of loneliness.
4. New Playlists
Music is going to be your main companion for this solo road trip. Be sure to stock up on music playlists and update your favorite streaming apps. Choose music with a higher bpm for longer periods of driving to ward off highway hypnosis.
Sometimes you’re going to want more than driving music. Podcasts are another fantastic way to keep yourself awake and aware, while giving you something to think about.
5. In Case of Emergency
Never leave home without a first aid kit, compass, emergency flares, and a spare tire. Jumper cables might also come in handy. Additionally, you might want to bring a spare car charger for your essential devices—smartphone, music player, and so on. You never know what might happen during a solo road trip, so preparedness for the unexpected is key.
6. Play it Safe
Going on a solo road trip, regardless of the region, is all about being vigilant—on and off the road. Use good judgement. Don’t talk to people who seem suspicious. Don’t stop in places that don’t “feel” right. Never give too much information about where you’re headed, either. Lastly, don’t walk around unfamiliar places at night or leave your car unlocked for long periods of time.
7. Stay in Hostels
Not only is staying in a hostel cheap, but you’re going to fulfill some serious socialization needs. Hostels are everywhere in this world, so you never have to worry about going without a decent bunk bed and kitchen area. Plus, a lot of the people you meet will leave an impression and may become lasting friends.
8. Achievable Driving Goals
Instead of trying to do the impossible, like driving 24 hours straight (okay, it’s doable but dangerous), plot out achievable distance goals. Similar to making frequent stops, you should be taking breaks from behind the wheel, even if that means just pulling over to stretch your legs for 10 minutes every 3-4 hours of straight driving.
9. National Parks
Regardless of where you are going on a solo road trip, there will be national parks to visit. For example, in USA, there’s Arches, Yellowstone, national monuments, Glacier, and many more all within a drivable distance from one another. The road may be long, but every moment will be picture perfect.
10. Blog (or Write) About it
Though you might not be much of a writer, you can brush up on your writing skills and broadcast your adventures through a blog. If blogging isn’t your thing, simply keep a scrapbook or plain paper journal. Write about what’s inspiring you, what you ate, spent, and more. You won’t regret writing everything down.
The bottom line is that solo road trips can be as fun, if not more so, than a group trip. Be prepared, shop around for the right car hire, and have an open mind for the open road that awaits!