A solo road trip is an adventure completely of your own making. You decide where you want to go and you decide to change directions on a dime. There’s no one to consult, only your own dreams and desires on a road trip alone.
From another perspective, a solo road trip also requires you to do all the driving and planning as well as prepping the car. It can be daunting before the trip and physically taxing when on the road.
Not to worry. We can help with advice to relieve some of the stress. We have been helping solo travelers take to the road for years.
I’ve taken dozens of road trips in Canada, the US, and Europe. On these many trips, I’ve learned a few things about how to plan, pack, navigate, stay safe, and have fun.
Once you read below about preparing for a road trip, check out How to Plan a Road Trip: Route Planning, Scheduling & Budgeting and these posts on specific road trips.
How to Plan a Road Trip Alone Across the Country or Closer to Home
Whether you’re planning to drive across country alone or across a province or state, if long-distance driving is something you enjoy, and the idea of going your own sweet way is appealing, here’s the rest of what you need to know to prepare for a long drive by yourself.
1. Know your driving limits.
I can drive up to 10 hours in a day, but not two days in a row. And, on a long drive, I have to get out and stretch every two hours or so. Other people have a limit of three or four hours in a day. Whatever they are, know your limits. To plan your trip, you need to know how long you can drive each day, what distance you can cover, how many breaks you need, and whether driving at night is an option. All these factors must be considered to get the road trip you want.
2. Set a theme to plan your road trip route.
You might want to choose a theme for your trip. In France, it was history for me. I wanted to see the Bayeux Tapestry and also Juno Beach where the Canadians landed on D-Day. In Arizona, it was landscapes. The Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Monument Valley–could those landscapes from old western movies truly be real? Driving around Lake Ontario, I was visiting wineries. Every road trip I take alone has some sort of focus. Know what yours is and identify the places you just have to get to. Use this information as you plan your route.
3. Set your pace with the ideal “drive and explore” schedule.
Getting the pace right is a big part of a trip’s success. I’ve found that, generally, I need three days per destination. If I have four destinations, I need twelve days for the trip. I might be able to get away with ten but it’s important not to squeeze too much into too few days. If you do, you’ll miss lots and find that you spend all your time driving, rather than experiencing destinations. I also don’t plan to drive too far on any one day. I try to aim for five hours a day. Even though I’m not typically an early riser, I like to set out early in the morning. I’m up at 6:00 am and away by 6:30 am to beat the traffic and arrive at my destination by noon.
4. Use these tools to map your trip for navigation and points of interest.
Naturally, I start with Google Maps as I can plan the trip with a visual of my major destinations and get a good sense of the time between them. From there, I can build out my itinerary. In this post I explain in detail how to plan a road trip using Google maps. But I don’t just use Google Maps. I also like road atlases for planning as they give me a bigger picture of my trip. For recording my trip, a road atlas with my route highlighted makes a great souvenir. Here’s an atlas for North America and another for Europe.
5. Book your accommodation.
Now that you’ve mapped out your solo road trip, book your accommodation. I recommend Booking.com, though if you have a loyalty card with a specific hotel chain you may be better off booking directly with them rather than through any booking site. If you’ll be RVing or camping, read Solo Camping: Tent Camping, Safety, and the RV Option.
6. Make sure you’re covered.
- Personal Travel Insurance. If you’re road tripping in your home country, this may not be important. If you’re planning a road trip outside your country, get travel insurance. Depending on the coverage you buy, it can reimburse the cost of doctor fees, medical examinations, medication costs, and even hotel accommodations. Possibly more importantly, it may cover the cost of getting someone you love to your bedside during a medical emergency or return you to your home if that’s necessary. For details, read A Complete Guide to Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers.
- Roadside Assistance. Whether you run your battery down (as I did in Maine), lock your key in the car, get a flat tire, or worse, it’s great to have roadside assistance on your side. If you have AAA or CAA, you’ll be fine in North America. If you don’t have it, it’s likely a good investment for a long road trip alone, and it’s not expensive.
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Rental Car Insurance. If you’re renting a car for your road trip (read How to Save Money on Car Rentals: What You Need to Know Now), check with your insurance company and credit cards first to find out what kind of coverage you already have through them. If you rent a low-end vehicle on a credit card that offers coverage, you should be okay. If, however, you upgrade, your credit card insurance may not cover the more expensive vehicle. It’s important to get the details right. If you’ve determined that your current coverage is not adequate for your rental car, here are the questions you need to ask the rental agency:
- How much does it cost?
- What type of collision coverage is offered and what is included?
- Who is insured under the coverage?
- Is there a deductible associated with the coverage?
- Is there anything that could possibly void the insurance coverage for the rental car?
- Is roadside assistance available as part of the plan?
- What steps need to be taken if you get into an accident?
7. Pack right for a car trip.
Pack light. I know I say this all the time but whether you’re staying at hostels, B&B’s, or hotels, you are going to be hauling your luggage in and out whenever you move on to a new destination. Having just one bag to carry makes life much easier. Here’s a link to my Bare Minimum Packing post for a bit of guidance on how to pack light.
8. Use multiple navigation tools to keep you on track.
Navigation when you’re on the road alone can be a bit of a challenge. I use Google Maps, however, it chews through a lot of data. Depending on where you are, it could be expensive. In addition, I use the paper map or atlas I bought to plan the trip. I will also use the compass on my phone if I feel lost as it confirms my direction. It’s also helpful to know that in the United States:
- Two-digit Interstates often go directly through cities while three-digit Interstates go around them.
- Odd-numbered highways run north to south and even-numbered ones run east to west.
9. Prepare your vehicle.
Have your car tuned up and inspected at least a week before you leave. This will give you time for any repairs that are required. Car Talk recommends the following items be checked. You can click on any of them to go to the Car Talk site for details that are specifically for summer trips. On a winter road trip? Read A Winter Road Trip Alone: Essential Tips for Survival and Enjoyment.
10. Stay in touch.
Let someone at home know your route, when you leave, and when you arrive at your destinations. A quick text message will do. If you have Wi-Fi (McDonald’s and coffee shops are always good bets for free Wi-Fi), use any messenger system or send a quick email. That’s all it takes.
Extra Tips for an Electric Vehicle Road Trip
Taking a road trip alone with an electric car not only gives you the freedom of the road but also freedom from the carbon footprint of a gas vehicle. While the range of travel for EVs continues to increase, there is still the issue that charging stations are not as readily available as gas stations.
1. Find fast EV charging stations for road trips.
Not all charging stations are created equal. Fast chargers will make your road trip easier. Where to find them? ChargeHub boasts a network of 89,000 charging stations with an in-app payment system. Also note, EVs will lose power faster in colder weather than warmer. Keep that in mind for winter road trips and be conservative in your range estimations.
2. Plan for charging time in your schedule: apps.
You can’t charge an EV in five minutes like you can fill up a gas-powered vehicle. It takes time to charge and you’ll need to plan for that. Plugshare has a map of hotels with charging stations.
Increase Your Solo Road Trip Fun
1. Take the stress out of your day of driving.
Start your drive early in the morning. You’ll be less tired and more alert. The roads will also have less traffic, making the drive more enjoyable. You’ll arrive in daylight with time to find your accommodation if you haven’t already booked it.
- When you’re driving, make sure your doors are locked and (need I say this?) you’re wearing your seat belt.
- Be mindful of where you park your car. Try to park near an entrance to a mall or hotel. The lot may be busy when you arrive but if it’s empty when you leave you won’t enjoy a long walk across a vacant parking lot.
- If your trip takes you along roads with little traffic, consider getting a full size spare tire rather than a donut tire that can only go a short distance. You can get an affordable, decent quality spare tire at a used tire store.
2. Create a playlist.
There are definitely times to listen to local radio, but chances are you’ll get bored of it and, possibly, be out of range of a station. Whether your playlist includes audio books, music (you may want to get Spotify), lectures, or all three, be prepared with what will keep you happy, interested, and alert as you explore on your road trip alone. Check out our Solo Road Trip Playlist.
3. Slow down, go local.
Slow down, save on gas, and enjoy the scenery and the scene. On my trip through the southwest I listened to KGHR 91.3 Native Radio. Listening to this station, I learned what was going on in Tuba City, what the Indigenous people care about, the values they hold, and much more. It’s a wonderful aspect of travel that is most easily enjoyed on a road trip. Hungry for lunch? Look for the diner in a small town and you’re sure to get some local flavor from the people as well as the food. Sometimes a local museum is the one that you’ll find yourself telling people about years later. Don’t overlook what may appear to be small experiences as they may be the most memorable.
14 Great Road Trips: All Solo Traveler Tested
Here are 14 Great Solo Road Trips: All Solo Traveler Tested.
Here’s a link to our road trip category with tips and itineraries from us and readers around the world.
Planning a road trip in Europe? You’ll need this: Driving Tips for Europe: Essential Rules You Need to Know.
Last updated: 27th June, 2024
