Planning a Road Trip: A First-Timer’s Guide to Hitting the Road

It’s officially spring, and the open road is calling. Maybe you’ve been scrolling through photos of scenic highways and rolling hills, thinking, “That looks amazing,” but also wondering, “Where do I even start?”

Good news: Planning a road trip doesn’t have to be complicated, and your first outing doesn’t have to be perfect. We’ve put together everything you need to plan a stress-free getaway by car, from mapping your route to what to throw in your bag and how to document the whole thing.

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Plan Your Route

Planning your path is where the fun begins. Before you open a map app, decide on a vibe: Are you chasing a destination — a specific town, park or attraction — or is the drive itself the point? Both are completely valid for a first trip.

Once you have a direction in mind, pick a realistic distance. A good rule of thumb for a weekend trip is no more than four or five hours of driving a day. That leaves you time to enjoy where you’re going instead of spending the whole trip in the car.

Use Google Maps or Waze to sketch out your route, then look for interesting stops along the way — a quirky roadside attraction, a highly rated diner, a state park overlook. These little detours are often the most memorable parts of the trip.

First-Timer Tip: Download your maps offline before you leave home. Cell service can get spotty on the road, and there’s nothing quite like losing GPS signal on a twisty highway in the middle of nowhere. In Google Maps, search for your destination, tap the three dots and select “Download offline map” before you leave.

Book Your Accommodations

When considering where to stay, do you picture staying in fancier hotels each night? Budget accommodations? A space that feels like a home? Or maybe a mix? Here’s how to decide:

• Hotels are reliable, comfortable and easy. They’re great if you want to take advantage of amenities, like a swimming pool or on-site spa services.
• Motels offer classic road trip vibes on a budget, and many are genuinely charming. Live out your Rosebud Motel dreams by seeking out well-maintained, vintage motels along your route.
• Vacation rentals like Vrbo and Airbnb work well if you’re traveling with a group or want a home base with a kitchen.

First-Timer Tip: Book at least a week in advance in spring and summer, especially near popular parks or beach towns. Spots fill up faster than you’d expect. Look for accommodations with free cancellation in case your plans shift.

Pack Smart

Planning a successful road trip means not overloading the car so much that you feel cramped. Luckily, you don’t need much to have a good time.

For your bag:

• Clothes for the length of your trip, including layers for unpredictable weather
• Toiletries in a dedicated bag, so they’re easy to grab at each stop
• A small first aid kit, including a few bandages, pain reliever, antacid and any personal medications
• Phone charger and all your device charging cables
• A reusable water bottle
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Any recreational equipment you need for your destination(s), such as hiking shoes or paddle ball

For the car:

• Paper towels & baby wipes
• A small trash bag
• Your insurance and registration documents

First-Timer Tip: Pack a small easy-access tote bag for the front seat with snacks, a phone charger, lip balm and anything else you’ll want to grab without digging through your luggage.

Don’t Forget Road Snacks & Playlists

Don’t discount the impact of creating great ambiance on the road. Snacks, beverages and great tunes can literally make or break the trip.

Snacks

Save some money by skipping the gas station stores and packing a few snacks before you leave. The key to great road trip snacks is to choose things that don’t melt, crumble or require refrigeration. Some solid options include:

• Trail mix or mixed nuts
• Beef jerky
• Fresh fruit
• Chips or rice cakes
• Candy

Up your snack game with a small soft-sided cooler to pack with hard-boiled eggs, cheese sticks and sodas. This inexpensive cooler is perfect for road snacks now and lunch use later.

Playlists

Plan your entertainment in advance. Scrambling to find something to listen to while driving is more distracting than it sounds. A few great ideas include:

• Make one long playlist with a mix of your favorite upbeat songs, throwback classics and mellower tunes. Or curate several playlists that match the energy level — morning, afternoon and evening, for example.
• Pick a podcast series to binge. True crime, comedy and storytelling shows are all great for long stretches.
• Audiobooks work well, too. Poll your travel companions and pick a book you’ve all been meaning to read.

Whether you prefer music, podcasts or Audible audiobooks, Amazon Music Unlimited keeps the road trip playlist going (paid link).

First-Timer Tip: Download a few playlists or podcasts to your phone before you go. Streaming can eat up data, and internet coverage in rural areas won’t always be reliable.

Review Road Safety Basics

Car Safety

Be smart before you head out and give your car a once-over. You don’t need to be a mechanic. Just make sure your tires are properly inflated, all your lights and signals work, and your windshield washer fluid and radiator are topped off.

Even with run-flat tires, we keep a portable tire inflator like this one in the car for peace of mind — and it’s come in handy more than once. Speaking of emergency supplies, this roadside kit includes jumper cables, a tire gauge, reflective triangles, an emergency blanket, and more helpful tools to keep you moving if the unexpected happens.

Driving Safety

Take breaks from driving every few hours. Pull over, stretch your legs and get some air. Fatigue can be a real factor on road trips, especially on stretches of highway that all look the same.

While road trips are all about making car travel fun, never drive distracted. Use a phone mount to keep your GPS hands-free and make your passenger the official navigator, DJ and text responder.

Personal Safety

Share your itinerary with a friend or family member before you leave. And, if you feel comfortable, sharing your phone location is also good sense. On stops in unfamiliar areas, stick together and keep each other in the loop about where you’re heading.

Capture the Memories

When you’re planning a road trip, don’t forget to document the good times. Sure, everyone takes photos and videos, but how often do they sit on your camera roll, never to be seen again?

Up the fun factor and memory-making with these ideas.

• Take a portable photo printer and output your favorite shots as you go. Stick them in a travel journal, on your phone case, or save them for a scrapbook when you get home. This portable photo printer makes great images and comes with lots of photo paper and ink cartridges to last the whole trip.
• Keep a running voice memo to record the funniest, most memorable moments along the way.
• Grab a postcard or small souvenir from every town you pass through.
• Bring a sketchbook and draw or paint the sights and scenery.
• Take a group photo at every state line or quirky roadside stop.

You Did It, First-Timer! You’re on the Way to a Great Trip!

Planning a road trip doesn’t require a spreadsheet or a month of preparation. Pick a direction, book a place to stay, pack the snacks and go. The rest figures itself out along the way, and that’s kind of the whole point.

Safe travels!

If your road trip includes a stop at a music festival, our beginner’s guide is perfect for planning and packing. Taking your next trip by plane? Get there faster with TSA PreCheck.