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Map Out Your Journey Effortlessly - Guidelines for Planned Road Trips

Travel blogger Carly Eisley, a regular contributor to our site and an ardent road-trip aficionado, reveals her essential advice and recommendations to aid in organizing a successful road journey!

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3 min read
Road journey expert and frequent guest blogger Carly Eisley offers her prime advice and recommended...
Road journey expert and frequent guest blogger Carly Eisley offers her prime advice and recommended resources to ease your road trip preparation!

Hit the Road with These Road Trip Planning Tips

Map Out Your Journey Effortlessly - Guidelines for Planned Road Trips

Excited about your upcoming road trip? Let the planning begin! While it can seem like a daunting task, we've got you covered with some simple steps, resources, and insider tips to help you create an adventure-filled journey.

Step 1 - Choosing your rideStart by deciding on the perfect vehicle for your road trip — go for a campervan! Not only will it allow you to travel comfortably and camp along the way, but it simplifies two major decisions: transportation and accommodation.

Planning your route

Now that you've got your campervan, it's time to decide where to go. Sit down and map out some potential destinations using your preferred online mapping tool, like Roadtrippers or Google Maps. Remember, the journey matters just as much as the destination, so strive for scenic routes instead of the shortest distance. Consider the climate and terrain of your chosen location, and take note of potential road hazards, like mountain passes or desert driving conditions.

Sharing the fun

Want to road trip with friends, but find it challenging to coordinate plans? Create a shared Google Document to organize your trip details, allowing everyone to contribute and plan together. Be sure to include everything from itinerary and campground reservations to points of interest and activities.

Essential resources for your road trip

Here are some of our favorite planning resources to help you research and organize your road trip:

General Planning

  • [Website Name]: Staff, prior renters, and blog contributors have curated a wealth of information about road trip planning, packing, itineraries, and more.
  • Yelp: A go-to for reviews on restaurants, tour companies, and more. Proceed with caution when it comes to campgrounds and parks as reviews can sometimes be unreliable.
  • TripAdvisor: Similar to Yelp, offering reviews on restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
  • Google blog/image search: Type specific keywords to find outdoor and travel bloggers who have shared their experiences across a wide variety of destinations.
  • Social media: Scroll through Instagram for trip inspiration and to connect with fellow road trippers.

Route Planning

  • US-Parks.com: Discover road trip routes linking national parks.
  • Roadtrippers.com: Plan your route and discover points of interest along the way.
  • Google Maps: A must-have tool for mapping and saving routes, with features likesaved places and rerouting options.

Park Information, Hiking, and More

  • National Park Service: Important information about park entry fees, maps, camping, weather, directions, and activities.
  • National Forest Service: Find information on Recreation Management Areas (RMAs) and Recreation Facilities.
  • Bureau of Land Management: Know the rules for free camping, also called boondocking, on federal land.
  • National Geographic Trail Maps: Reliable trail maps for popular national park trails and trail systems.
  • Ranger guidebooks: Expert-written guides tailored to specific national parks.
  • The Outbound Collective: A curated collection of adventure recommendations from local contributors.
  • Outdoor Project: Gain inspiration for outdoor adventures from a community of knowledgeable locals.
  • AllTrails: Access trail maps and descriptions, complete with a phone app that allows you to download maps for offline use.

Campgrounds and Camping Resources

  • FreeCampsites.net: Find free camping spots across the country.
  • Hipcamp: Discover campsites, from public sites to private glamping sites.
  • Campendium: Detailed reviews of campsites, most suitable for RV campers.
  • The Dyrt: Similar to Campendium, but with an app to help find campsites on-the-go.
  • CampsitePhotos.com: View photos of campsites from campgrounds across the country to get an idea of what your stay might be like.

Final thoughts

Remember that no planning resource can replace the valuable insights from real humans. Chat with park rangers, local experts, and fellow travelers for insider info and an unforgettable road trip experience. Happy adventures!

  1. With a campervan as your chosen ride, you'll combine transportation and accommodation for an adventure-filled road trip.
  2. Plot scenic routes for your road trip, using tools like Roadtrippers or Google Maps, and take note of potential road hazards.
  3. Create a shared Google Document to organize your trip details and allow collaboration among friends.
  4. Use websites, online reviews, and social media platforms for research and inspiration during your road trip planning.
  5. Explore resources like US-Parks.com, National Park Service, and Campendium to find campgrounds, route planning options, and park information for a memorable road trip lifestyle.

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