Things I’ve learned from exploring the US by car

I enjoy exploring the United States. This is such a large and diverse country; I find that it offers a lot without having to travel overseas. I’m not making a case that the US is the ‘best’ or that international travel is bad. On the contrary, I encourage experiencing other countries and cultures. My point is that there is so much ‘HERE’ to explore that I don’t think that the domestic trip should be under-appreciated. Whether visiting the natural wonders, big cities, or small towns, there is always something enjoyable to be found. After college, I eschewed the European backpacking trip in favor of the cross-country road trip. I wanted to see all of the places “in-between” in this country. So, that was my first large road trip. From Boston to Seattle and back all in about two weeks. We had a deadline to be back, so we drove long days but still managed to stop, explore, go on detours, and leave me with an experience I continuously wished to recreate in my life.

The busy schedule of work and the ‘typical’ vacations filled my life for over a decade. Long weekend trips jetting into a big city to visit a friend. Longer trips to far and distant lands. This is what I feel is the status quo. What we are told are the vacations we should take. Or, I should say, what we are ’sold’ as the vacations we should take. Yes, they are fun…but the airlines don’t make any money when you decide to jump in the car, pick a direction, and see what you find.

What brought me back to big car trips? It was a trip in May 2015 that should have been a disaster. The goal was to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the first time. I was heading out from Chicago by car with plans to visit people in between Illinois and Chicago on the trip. As I was heading out west, I noticed that there was a low-pressure system stalled out over the Front Range of the Rockies that was keeping temperatures in the mid-30s with frequent rain/sleet/snow. Not the best weather for camping. So, I looked at the weather map and saw it was 70F and sunny in Utah. And, just like that, my trip was saved by being flexible. Instead of having a suboptimal trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, my ‘detour’ led me to see Arches, Canyonlands, and Mesa Verde National Parks instead. Ah, yes! The freedom of the road. Instead of a destination, I should have chosen a DIRECTION. 

I replicated ‘directional trips’ twice by taking a week off from work and heading out. In 2017, I headed west from Dallas to explore New Mexico on a trip that resulted in a detour to Tucson and Phoenix. And Thanksgiving week in 2019 took me east toward Civil War Battlefields and natural wonders. By 2022, I was ready for a bigger trip. I took a break from work and hit the road for the summer. This trip inspired me to launch my website, Chrisintheoutdoors.com, primarily to allow friends and family to follow along. During my travels, I was elated to hear from people I’ve never met that my website helped them plan a family trip or stop somewhere they hadn’t planned.

That’s what led me to connect with Wandering Bel and contribute this entry to her site. Bel wants to help you have a better experience on the road, so I’m honored to be a part of her efforts. So, without further ado, here are some tips for traveling spontaneously by car.

General Tips

- Be prepared for plans that don’t work. Stay flexible and know that every day can be terrific with the right mindset.

- Be okay to alter your plans on a whim. If you see a point of interest, stop and see it. I saw a sign for “National Monument,” and it led me to having a terrific time at Rio Grande Del Norte, NM. It altered my trip for two days, but this was better than what I had originally planned for those days.

- Set goals that facilitate having the best time. For example, set a goal of exploring a national park instead of stating it will be Rocky Mountain National Park.

- Do everything you want to do while you are there. It’s easy to say, “I’ll do it when I come back.” You may not be back for decades or ever. Do it now!

- There are no awards. Make your trip for you. Don’t see every park to complete a checklist—design trips to maximize your experiences. We might remember a checklist, but we treasure memories.

Sleeping Tips

- Being able to sleep in your vehicle is helpful, even if that’s not your plan. Hotels or campsites might not be available. 

- Post-2020, hotels and campgrounds are more difficult to book last minute

- For hotels, be flexible about where you stay. Think about a 2-hour radius from where your perfect spot.

- If "first-come, first-served,” try to get to your campground by 3 pm to secure a spot (you can explore the area later)

- Weather can quickly make a car better than a tent.

- Bears have more difficulty getting into your car than a tent (believe me, this can happen!)

- Sleeping at a Loves or Pilot Travel Stop is usually possible but don’t expect the best sleep. They are noisy. 

- Test your car/tent sleeping arrangement before you hit the road. Make sure you are equipped to sleep well.

- The best sleep I have is after a hike. Even if you don’t hike a trail, explore your area by foot before bed. 

Pre-2020…such a glorious time for spontaneous travel! I just wanted to share a little of what it used to be like on the road. I would reserve my hotel room for the night while eating dinner. I would intentionally book after 6 pm because rates/points would come down. I would see rooms at Holiday Inn Express go from 25,000 points at 5:30 pm to 10,000 points at 6:15 pm. Now it seems like prices continue to go up through the day, so booking a day prior is best. 

Random Tips

- Always have a few meals stored in your car. This allows the spontaneous to stay spontaneous. Be prepared to have an unexpected camp night. 

- In lieu of showers, wet wipes work. But follow them up with a wipe from a towel or paper towel. The wipes moisten the skin and remove some dirt. The towel dries and removes a lot of dirt. I’ve felt nearly as clean as after a shower with this method (except for hair)

- Have 5-6 water bottles handy. I refill these every morning, whether at a hotel or campsite and drink water all day. Stay hydrated & save money.

- Visit friends on the way. Or, invite them to join for a day. Shared experiences are shared for life. You may talk about these moments for the rest of your lives.

- Talk to people. Some of my favorite conversations/moments have been with strangers on a trail. You might learn something interesting. Or, more importantly, make someone else’s day better.