How to Plan Your Dream Trip This Year
While vaccines have reduced the risks of travel for those vaccinated, the CDC still recommends caution when traveling around the country. So, when you are faced with a new spring and summer travel pandemic, it is important to remember one important fact: car travel still exists. CNBC reported that 80% of vacations in 2020 were planned road trips, and for good reason: Open road travel makes social distancing much easier from anyone other than your immediate family or group members. Most of the stops along the route will be open by now, with takeout or outdoor dining options keeping your distance and enjoying sightseeing or other excursions. Depending on the type of trip you want, you can plan your trip for a specific type of terrain and mark stops for sightseeing along the way. Here are some tips and tools for planning your pandemic trip, whether they’re vaccinated or not.
How to choose a ride
Your choice of road trip should be based on several components, from the distance you are willing to travel to your budget and the landscapes you want to explore along the way. The Road Trip USA website provides detailed itineraries, including local attractions, to help you make the most of your trip.
Landscape
Different routes lead to very different travel experiences. Traveling along the Pacific Coast will reveal everything from lush forests to barren deserts. You will have the opportunity to jump on a buggy on the largest dunes in the world in Oregon’s Dune Country . Drive through gorgeous mahogany forests and visit the beautiful beaches of San Diego.
You can enjoy iconic US sites on the Oregon Trail . Where would you travel coast to coast, starting at the beaches of Cape Cod and then driving through the northern states to Portland, Oregon. Along the way, you will see Niagara Falls, Dreamfield, Yellowstone Park, and Mount Rushmore.
Or you can take a historic journey along the famous Route 66 . Well-known Chicago to Los Angeles road with stops at Cadillac Ranch, Tinkertown and Grand Canyon to its final destination in Hollywood. Or explore one of eight other cross-country trails on Road Trip USA. Each offers its own unique attractions, but if you try to complete your trip within a reasonable time frame, you may not be able to cover everything. List the destinations to visit and plan your stops and stays accordingly.
Distance
Planning a cross-country trip requires a lot more preparation than a typical day trip. You will need to calculate the distance, along the way, find hotels or local stops where you can rest and recharge, as well as restaurants that will allow you to feed for a long time. Think about the length of the trip you want. Traveling from coast to coast on the Oregon Trail or the “loneliest road” that crosses middle America can take 45 hours or six days (based on an eight-hour workday). If traveling around the country seems like too much of a challenge, try traveling around the country. For example, travel from Vermont to Florida takes less than 22 hours, or just under three days. The Travel Math website will help you calculate travel times based on your travel destination and mode of transport.
Schedule bathroom breaks and stay
After choosing the ideal route, think about your stops. Find places where the bathroom breaks down and filling the tank is easy. It is not always possible to assume that there will be many stops – one day, traveling from Arizona to Las Vegas, I found myself on a long stretch of road with no gas stations or rest stops, which made the trip stressful. Apps like USA rest stop locator can help you find rest stops along your route so you can plan breaks based on what your trip allows. Of course, you can’t schedule every bathroom break (when you have to go, you have to go), but at least you will know if you need to stop before that long period of time when nothing happens.
Depending on the length of the trip and how you are traveling, you will also need to schedule overnight stops. The Roadnow travel site will help you find hotels along your itinerary. If you’re a more detailed planner, you can reserve airbnb at specific locations to live more comfortably wherever you go.
Make sure you get some rest before heading out and leave at a decent hour to build up your stamina for the day. Nationwide recommends stopping every 100 miles or every two hours to maintain your energy, and they spoke with sleep doctor Dr. Michael Breus, who advised: “Avoid driving between 1 and 3 pm when your body temperature is lower. and people are naturally drowsy. “
Stick to your budget
Decide if you rent a car or use your own. Keep in mind that long journeys can lead to significant mileage and you will increase the wear and tear on your personal vehicle. If you rent a car, make sure it includes unlimited mileage so that you don’t get pounded on ridiculous fees if you exceed the mileage limit set by the company. Use theGasBuddy or AAA website to calculate the gas price for your route. The trip calculators on these sites use gasoline price information based on the states you will be driving and the make and model of the vehicle you are using to give the most accurate fuel cost for your trip.
Consider whether you will be driving the entire way. On my trip from Massachusetts to Florida, the trip there was invigorating, but the realization that we needed to drive back was exhausting. One option is to rent a car and return it to a different location, and plan an alternative route back home, whether by train or plane. Additional fees may apply for this option, so make sure you plan ahead.
Be sure to keep in mind any admission or parking fees in national parks, as well as the cost of excursions and sightseeing during your trip. If you are planning every stop, this should be the easiest part of the budgeting process.
And don’t forget to plan for the cost of any incidental expenses. From unexpected detours and tolls to car problems and unplanned night stops, you’ll want to be prepared for anything.