Planning a cross country USA road trip sounds exciting! There is much involved in this trip and planning behind the scenes though. Today we’re going to share some tips to help you plan a cross country USA road trip with friends, family, or by yourself.
From the planning stages to packing your bags, there are many things to consider when about to embark on this journey across the good ole’ US of A. We’ve gathered some helpful tips for the planning stages.
How Long Should My Trip Be?
This is probably one of the first things you should consider when planning a cross country USA road trip. How long do you want to be out on the open road? A weekend or maybe a week? Maybe even a month. It all depends on what you’re looking to get out of the trip and how much time you have available.
When I took my cross country USA road trip , we decided on two weeks. We were able to see most of the things we wanted, within reason, and got to enjoy some great rest stops and sights along the way. If you have a lot of stops in mind, you may want to go with more time. If you’re just looking for some good scenery, two weeks should give you enough time to see America’s best!
What Will I Be Able To See On My Trip?
There are so many beautiful things that can be seen on a cross country USA road trip. If you’re into nature, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from! There are many national parks that are perfect to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Yellowstone National Park. And don’t forget interesting attractions like the Roswell UFO Crash Site & Museum, the Kennedy Space Center, and more.
If you’re into cities and architecture, you can experience a variety of things on your cross country USA road trip. There are unique grid-style streets in Chicago, sporting arenas in New York City, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, skyscrapers in Miami Beach to name a few options.
Will I Be Traveling With Others?
If you’re planning a cross country USA road trip with friends and family, obviously this will give you an advantage on where to go and how long to stay. Some of the most epic locations we’ve seen were while we were with others! There’s nothing like camping under the stars or hanging out on the beach all day with good company.
If you’re planning a solo cross country USA road trip, it’s important to be safe, smart, and responsible. You’ll need to think about how much money you have to spend in case of an emergency, where you will stay each night, and how long your trip will last so you can make the necessary accommodations.
Budgeting For Your Trip
How much are you wanting to spend on your cross country USA road trip? You should always have a budget in mind if you’re planning an epic adventure across America’s roads! We suggest including all expenses when creating this number, even though it may be hard to think about. Although it may be tempting, you shouldn’t skip paying for important things like car insurance or emergency roadside assistance.
If possible, it would be wise to save up money before taking your trip. Do some research on hotels, food options along the way, and attractions in each location to give yourself a general number of how much it will all cost. Don’t forget to leave some wiggle room, just in case!
Getting There And Getting Around
If there is more than one person traveling with you, it might be a good idea to rent a car for your trip. If not, set up some carpooling with friends or family to split the costs of gas and parking. There are many great apps out there to find people in your area willing to share their ride.
If you’re traveling by yourself, this will likely be very costly unless you can convince someone else who is already on the trip to rent a car for your use. However, you could try taking buses, trains, and other transportation options along the way if they are suitable in each location.
What To Bring On A Cross Country USA Road Trip
You will want to pack light when preparing for a cross country USA road trip. The last thing we wanted to deal with was heavy luggage! We suggest getting a backpack that can be carried on your back as you travel from location to location, as well as putting some items into a small duffle bag or suitcase.
Make sure you have everything possible ready to bring with you on this cross country road trip in the USA because you may not want to stop at unknown locations to use a bathroom, buy water, or whatnot. Knowing that you have most of your supplies in the car will ensure that you can be more independent during this fantastic cross country USA road trip experience.