It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, there’s no wrong day for a road trip. In the spring, you can head to the beach to enjoy the weather as it shakes off the cold of winter. Summer brings endless possibilities, from heading inland to hike or to the shore for swimming and surfing. Fall lets you go leaf watching or just take in nature’s colors. And winter invites you to head to the mountain to test your mettle on the snow. Here are three things to consider before you take your next epic road trip.
Planning Ahead is Important
No matter where you go, or what time of year, it’s important that you don’t get put in a dangerous or costly situation. That takes foresight and planning. Some things are obvious. For example, if you’re going camping, you know you need a tent, food, water, and some way to contact the outside world in an emergency. Some aren’t so obvious. For instance, if you’re heading to another state and you decide to rent a car instead of taking your own. Do you know if your auto insurance is going to cover your rental or if you need to take the policy that the rental company offers? Before you head out on a long road trip, sit down and take some time to plan things out. Even if nothing goes wrong, you’ll be glad you did.
Go Solo? Or Take Friends?
Another important consideration is whether you’re going to hit the road alone or if you plan on making it a group affair. There are advantages and drawbacks to both types of road trips. A solo road trip can be an amazing experience – just you and your camera on the road, visiting places that you’ve never seen before. Still, while a journey alone can be a voyage of self-discovery, you might find yourself yearning for someone to share the experience with.
On the other hand, heading out on the road with friends can also be a great experience. It doesn’t matter if you head out on an impromptu weekend trip to the shore or plan an extravagant five-state tour of the best BBQ joints in the Southern United States. Sometimes having your best bud on the trip or even a group of friends can make the trip even better. However, after spending a week with everyone, you might find yourself yearning for some peace and quiet.
Ditch the Car
No matter what you choose, there are some great adventures to be had on the road. Keep in mind; you aren’t stuck with just using a car on a road trip either. There are amazing adventures to be had by trading four wheels in for two. Motorcycles are more fuel efficient and with the right touring cycle, you can pack everything you need, whether you’re going camping or taking that tour of all the BBQ you can handle.
RV’s are another stellar choice for a road trip. Taking an RV lets those who aren’t driving relax in the back on a couch instead of fighting for elbow room in the back seat. You can also hook up an RV at any campsite, letting you experience almost all the comforts of home. Plan the trip right, and you can find some amazing places by RV that you’d never see from behind the wheel of a normal car.