hey 👋 thanks for following along with our journey! Our hope is that you are able to use these emails & our website as a resource to help you plan trips to the most epic places. Quit dreaming about it.. get out and do it!
Let’s kick this thing off with something that will help anyone wanting to hop in the car and hit the road!
Here's 22TIPS to an EPIC road trip!
1. RESEARCH!
Maximize the use of Instagram, Google, and even Facebook Groups for the particular national park or city you're heading to!
2. DECIDE YOUR MUST-SEES.
These are your non-negotiables... the places you absolutely HAVE to see. in some cases, you'll have to make a choice (due to time, money, etc). Don't compromise here if possible!
This was one of our MUST-SEES.
Thor's Well - Oregon Coast.
We drove past the pullout and didn't realize it for 20 miles, so we turned around and headed back to find it. Ended up spending 2 hours! wanna go back...
3. PLAN FOR THE UNPLANNED.
Some of our most incredible memories have been the ones we didn’t see coming. The epic pullouts and unseen trails that Google didn’t mention and weren't anywhere on social media. Leave room in your itinerary to see the random stops you see along the way!
We found this cool spot just off the road - south of Jackson, Wyoming!
4. GET AN EPIC PLAYLIST GOING.
(And don’t forget the little Aux adapter for newer iPhones - yep, was a tough mistake. and no, the vehicle didn't have bluetooth).
5. PRE-DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET & STICK TO IT.
Overspending is super easy to do. Food and gas prices can add up in a hurry (In California, we saw gas hit over $5.00/gallon.. yikes. Take time to sit down and research the area, and evaluate how much you want to spend/can afford to spend. Then, stick to it as best you can. You don’t want to be making payments for 6 months after the trip is over!
6. SLOW DOWN & ENJOY EACH MOMENT.
If there’s anything that can make a trip less memorable, it’s being miserably tired from being so GO GO GO GO GO that you didn't even get to sit and take it in. Slow down and enjoy each moment.
Kayaking Lake McDonald in Glacier NP, Montana - rented through Glacier Park Outfitters!
7. GIVE YOUR VEHICLE A FULL CHECK BEFORE HEADING OUT.
Gas, oil, tires, fluids, all of it. Oh yeah.. have an emergency kit too. We use Just in Case. Flashlight, tow strap, jumper cables, tape, even a first aid kit. Hopefully ya never have to use it.. but just in case. (get it?)
9. EMBRACE THE UNFORESEEN INCONVENIENCES.
The inconveniences are what make the storybook later. So, if you make a wrong turn, or if someone gets lost on a hike, or if you slide through an icy 4 way stop into a ditch in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere in Arizona (yes, all of these have happened..), fix the problem, smile, and keep moving forward. You’ll look back and laugh about it (hopefully 😂)
10. ASK THE LOCALS
Food, especially. We try not to eat at the typical places when on trips. We love to try something new! (Food trucks, markets, local hole-in-the-walls). Never hurts to ask!
This grilled cheese at a small restaurant
in San Francisco was 🔥.
11. DOUBLE CHECK BEFORE BOOKING.
This is HUGE! You don't want to be tired after a long day of exploring and have to drive 90 minutes to where you booked your stay. It's easy to do if you aren't careful. AirBnB, VRBO, etc. will all bring up results within a large search area. This is especially true in larger cities (Los Angeles, Miami, New York City) & in larger National Parks (Glacier, Olympic, Yosemite, etc). You can still be within the city or park and be 90 minutes from your place. Make sure where you are staying is on your route.
12. STOCK UP BEFOREHAND.
Alright, this makes a big difference for us! Before you go, head to Walmart, grab a 24 case of waters and some snacks. Gas station prices and fast food can add up in a HURRY.
SIDE NOTE: Grab some healthy stuff, too. Get some nuts, crackers, etc. cause snacks at every stop just make me feel bleh. Eating healthy (somewhat) helps us enjoy the trips more!
13. DRIVE DURING THE DAY WHEN YOU CAN.
You miss a ton if you only drive at night. Sometimes, we get it, ya can't help it.
But, we try to drive during the day.. PLUS, that lets you pull off and take off running in the middle of the HWY to change things up.
This was on the side of the road in Southern Oregon.
14. ALWAYS TOP IT OFF.
Even if someone just has to pee, top the gas tank off. You don't know when the next opportunity will be - don't wanna miss an opportunity because the tank is approaching E.
15. HAVE A FEW USB PLUG INS.
Dead phone batteries can definitely be an inconvenience. nuff said.
16. CALL THE BANK BEFOREHAND.
Quick story... we were inside the Empire State Building in NYC about to purchase an express pass to bypass the 3 hour line. Well, we swiped our debit card and it rejected it. Swiped again, rejected. We had to call the bank and hold up the many people who were trying to go the express route and let them know this was actually us swiping the card in NYC. (We haven't had this happen with a credit card, but with debit, it has been an issue on numerous occasions).
17. STUDY THE MAP AHEAD OF TIME.
GPS isn’t always reliable. So, I always study the map ahead of time. Plus, I love understanding the region that I'm gonna be driving through.
18. BOOK IN ADVANCE WHERE YOU CAN.
This saves hassle in the long run. and you can often check rates at several nearby hotels and be sure you get the best one.
19. JOURNAL AND TAKE TONS OF PICS.
Do it. We reminisce on the many trips we've taken often. Like, weekly. Photos and journal entries walk us back through each and every story. We even design and purchase a photobook from each year, full of the many photos from each adventure! We use Printique by Adorama!
We snapped this one on the edge of the East Rim of the Grand Canyon, AZ.
20. BRING A SMALL PILLOW & BLANKET ON LONG TRIPS.
This is a game changer. We drove 28 hours straight from Alabama to Utah. - not sure if I would've made it without my pillow. lol
21. PACK LIGHT!
If traveling with several people in a minivan, suburban, or other SUV, pack LIGHT. A carry-on size suitcase or duffle is perfect. Nothing makes a long road trip more miserable than having no leg room for hours on hours. Plus.. do you realllllly need all of that stuff with you?
22. TRACK EXPENSES AS YOU GO.
If you're a stickler for knowing exactly where your money is going, then this just makes things less hectic. I can't stand the thought of wondering where all the money went at the end of a trip (which has happened). Tracking as you go keeps you accountable. We use our Notes App and/or the EveryDollar App!
As a bonus.... here's one more super important tip for ya!
BONUS TIP!
+1. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER MUST STAY AWAKE***
This is especially true for long drives & ESPECIALLY at night. Long trips can be extremely exhausting, so some front seat conversations helps keep the driver from falling asleep and keeps everyone safe.
NOW, you're ready! Get out and go do it!
coming soon....
gotta tell you the story of our absolute WORST airBnB experience. we up and left. didn't even get the money back, but we didn't care.
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