Waymo: A New Way to Travel Solo
Before my trip to Arizona, my cousin told me about this self-driving Uber-like car called Waymo. Trying a Waymo became my top priority in Phoenix. If you have followed me for a while, you know I LOVE new experiences. Self-driving car? This takes a whole different meaning of legit traveling solo!
Below, I will discuss Waymo, locations where you can try it, how to request a Waymo and my experience with it in Arizona and California. Waymo will be in D.C.!
What is Waymo?
I mentioned that it is a self-driving car, but really, it is more than that. Yes, it is a total experience, but Google developed the concept in 2009 to have an autonomous driver. Their goal was to give us freedom and ease of traveling without the issues of humans.
Waymo is designed to alleviate the frustrations of driving or the discomfort of sharing a ride. With a vision of fewer humans behind the wheel and more autonomous driving on the roads, Waymo is paving the way for a more relaxed and safer travel experience. If you're interested in their safety statistics, they're available for your peace of mind.
Waymo's commitment to the environment is evident in their all-electric, zero-emission fleet. This aligns with my own passion for environmental protection, and it's a factor that makes me even more enthusiastic about Waymo.
Waymo Locations
Currently, you can request Waymo in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. But in the next few months, you can request a Waymo in Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. If you are in Phoenix, you can request a Waymo 24/7. It drives across 315 square miles of Phoenix.
However, I recommend not taking a Waymo to or from the airport since it will only drive on 55-mph roads. If you plan to go to the airport and have time to kill, you can request one since it will take about an hour to get there vs. 20 to 30 minutes.
How do you use a Waymo?
Like anything else, you must download their app from the App Store or Google Play and create an account. The account creation process is straightforward, requiring basic personal information and a payment method for the ride. Once you do, follow the steps below.
Enter your destination (up to four people can ride at a time)
Wait for your Waymo to arrive
Unlock the car door with the app
Get in and buckle up
Click on Start your ride
Pick your music and watch the car drive you to your destination.
My experience in Phoenix and San Francisco
My first time using Waymo was on my way back from dropping off a rental in Phoenix. My cousin ordered one while he walked me through the steps of signing up for an account. It was only a 10–12-minute ride from the rental place back to his place.
As you can see in the video, I was in awe. It was mind-blowing to see a long car with black cameras all over it pulling up with no human inside. Then it really hit me when I saw the steering wheel move without a human! I watched it turn left, then right, then stop at a red light, and proceed when the light turned green. It was truly mind-blowing!
My second time was in San Francisco on New Year's Eve, this time solo. Traveling with a person for eight days helped give me a chance to take a breather and be solo.
This experience was different. I rode for about 25 minutes, and unlike Phoenix, there was a lot more traffic and stoplights. It was really cool to see how Waymo reacted, as you will see in the video below.
The whole experience is definitely weird as hell, but honestly, it's really cool to do! I implore you to try it, and sometimes, it's cheaper than Uber and Lyft! On average, a Waymo ride can be 10-15% cheaper than a similar Uber or Lyft ride. I'm just saying, my fellow solo travelers!
Waymo in Washington, D.C!
The other day, as I started this post, I saw three Waymos in D.C.! I took pictures and called my cousin in a Christmas Day excitement voice. I discovered they are collecting data from this spring through the summer. This means you will see these White Jags with black cameras and humans driving, teaching the car the city's layout and what to do and not to do. I am excited to be able to order a Waymo by 2026/ 2027.
If I were to visit the visit her locations I mentioned above, I would book another Waymo!
It is such a great way to travel solo.
Have you had the chance to try Waymo? If so, I'd love to hear about your experience. Share your thoughts and let's keep the conversation going!