Everything You Need to Plan a Stress-Free Road Trip
Right now, it's difficult to know how to prepare for a road trip. Naturally, staying at home is the safest course of action. The antsiest among us have focused on a good ol' road trip as a practical answer to a socially isolating vacation, however, as international locations are mostly off the table (at least for Americans) and several states are relaxing up their travel regulations. According to Veronica E. Garnett, the Black Adventuristas travel organization's founder, "a blend of planning and spontaneity is excellent." Here, she and a host of other road-trip authorities provide their advice on how to achieve the ideal balance.
Map your route
Before hitting the road this year, it's especially crucial to become familiar with the laws of the states you intend to visit. As of June 19, a small number of states, including Maine and New Mexico, continue to demand that some out-of-state and foreign visitors spend two weeks in quarantine after arrival. Some states, like Florida, request information from visitors by having them fill out surveys about their upcoming vacations. For the most recent information, check with the health departments of the locations you'll be visiting. Another helpful tool for locating state-by-state mask requirements and closures of parks, beaches, casinos, and rest places is AAA's Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Map.
Make your itinerary specific with Google Maps' My Maps tool if you're organizing a road trip with numerous waypoints. This lets you include as many points of interest and driving instructions as you'd like. (If you don't use the feature, Google Maps limits you to 500 interest locations and 10 directional stops.) Garnett plans her routes on Google Maps, uses Waze to monitor traffic and any road dangers, and TollGuru to calculate tolls and determine whether they can be completely avoided.
Be cautious of tiny roads and other potential obstacles if you're traveling in a recreational vehicle rented via Cruise America, Road Bear, or a peer-to-peer rental platform like RVshare or Outdoorsy. permanent RVers The fifth wheel travel trailer used by Jason and Rae Miller of the Getaway Couple is 42 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 13.5 feet tall. The Millers explain that their vehicle is "exactly at the legal maximum size for driving on the interstate," which prevents them from simply opening Google Maps and driving away since some overpasses are too close together. Instead, they use the RV LIFE app to enter their destination and receive turn-by-turn directions that securely avoid unforeseen hazards like low-hanging bridges.
Find good food, cheap gas, and other points of interest
What is the first rule of making a road trip memorable? Get off the highway. Get off the interstate as often as you can, suggests Sam Highley, the creator of All Roads North, a posh U.S. road trip planning service: "Research scenic byways for each state." National Aesthetic Byways are defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation as highways containing at least one noteworthy archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic element; All-American Roads are defined as having two or more of those characteristics. Users may search for byways in this extensive mapping tool by state, and each listing includes estimated mileage, driving duration, and noteworthy attractions.
A excellent method to "leave 95% of the crowds behind" when hiking is to allow enough time, especially in state parks and on nearby hiking trails, advises Highley. An program like AllTrails is suggested by Alexandrie Adebayo, a Black Adventurista from Plainfield, New Jersey, for free detailed hiking maps, trail notes, images, and user reviews.
Denise Barlock, a Level 10 Local Guide and superuser of Google Maps, has rated more than 1,000 dining establishments, supermarkets, and campgrounds around the nation. When you're traveling, expenses can mount up quickly, she explains. In order to find the best deal nearby, utilize Google Maps to explore gas stations and prices. Another useful tool for locating cheap fuel is the GasBuddy app, which has a trip-cost estimator.
