Summary: Road trips can be a lot of fun when you know how to plan a road trip. However, if you don't know how to plan your road trip and you're not prepared, you could wind up spending your trip dealing with problems rather than enjoying new adventures and relaxation.<br> While a road trip is a great way to see the country, it's essential to plan ahead, so you don't run into any problems. Without a plan, you could find yourself stuck at your wit's end in the middle of nowhere.<br> Don't worry, though. If you're unsure about your road trip planning, this article is here to help. This guide will walk you through everything from choosing your route to packing your bags. With our tips and tricks, you'll be ready for anything that comes your way on your next road trip adventure!<br> So what are you waiting for? Let's get going so you can hit the road!<br> <br> What is a Road Trip?<br> First, let's start by defining what a road trip is.<br> The Cambridge dictionary defines a road trip as: "a long trip or vacation taken by car." While that definition should expand to cover trucks, vans, buses, and even motorcycles, it's an excellent summary.<br> With that, road trips are typically taken by friends or family members, often stopping at various tourist traps along the way to an ultimate destination. While unplanned road trips can be great, the safest and often the best road trips are the ones that are carefully planned, with plenty of time left for spontaneity, exploration, and the perfect road trip.<br> <br> <br> 10 Steps on How to Plan a Road Trip<br> Here are my 10 tips on how to plan a road trip.<br> <br> 1. Goal of Your Road Trip Journey<br> The first step of your road trip planning is to decide the who, what, where, and when of your next trip.<br> Determine who is going on your road trip and the number of road trippers joining you.<br> Next, plan where you'll be going. Is it a trip to national parks such as the Grand Canyon or another destination such as Disney World?<br> Finally, consider what kind of trip fun you'll have along the way and once you get to your final destination.<br> Ultimately, the goal of your road trip can be summarized in a mission statement that is similar to this:<br> "On "X" date 10 people (names) will drive to Grand Canyon / Disney World (road trip destination) where we'll relax at the pool, wander through the park, and stuff our faces."<br> <br> 2. General Road Trip Planning<br> Now that you know when and where you're going, who is coming, and what you're doing along the way, you're ready to begin drilling down into your road trip planning.<br> <br> <br> Potential Routes<br> The first step of your general road trip planning is to select a few route options that will get your group to all of the places you intend to spend time visiting on your trip.<br> For example, if you're idea of fun is to travel from Southern California to Savannah, GA, for its monster St. Patricks Day celebration, you may select Interstate 10, 20, 40, or a combination of them and others.<br> Your final decision will come after narrowing down your possible routes to your primary and alternate routes. That filtering down will depend on the goals and constraints of your road trip.<br> Are you pressed for time so want to take the quickest route possible? Are you trying to conserve money, so you'll plan your trip according to gas prices? Maybe there are specific sites you want to see along the way that dictates your travel choices.<br> The point is to start with a general idea of your routes and as you plan your trip, make solid information-based choices to arrive at the best travel option possible.<br> <br> <br> Weather<br> Once you decide on the general outline of your adventure, it's time to begin researching the weather for your trip. If your road trip doesn't take place for a month or more, examine the historical weather trends along yo...
