Tips for Planning Your Own Magical Road Trip

Whether it’s a cross country trip or a day trip, here are some ideas and suggestions for planning your own road trip. If you plan on bringing your pets, make sure to check out my practical guide on roadtripping with pets.

Pick a Theme
What are the things that make your heart happy? Are you a foodie fiend? Outdoor enthusiast? Music aficionado? Whatever brings the magic to your life, try planning out your trip around it.

Map It Out
I highly recommend roadtrippers.com for planning out road trips. You can input your route and the website/app will recommend stops along the way based on your interests. There are also some existing trip guides that others have built. You can build on these or use them for inspiration. When planning your route, make sure you note things like rest stops and gas stations so you can plan stops accordingly.

Be Flexible
It helps to have both an itinerary and an open mind. In my opinion, part of what makes a road trip magical are the endless possibilities. Prioritize the things you REALLY want to see and do, and then leave some room for surprises.

Build a Playlist
Whether you are going solo or with friends, there will be long stretches of roads and silence. Pick out some podcasts, audio books, and/or music to listen to.

Pack All the Snacks
There’s something magical about going to the store and loading up on fun snacks. Live a little and get yourself the treats you might not usually indulge in. My personal favorites include chocolate covered pretzels and fruit by the foot roll ups.

Have you been on a road trip before? What was your experience?