How We Plan a Trip

How We Plan a Trip

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

How We Plan a Basic Road Trip

Planning a road trip, regardless of its length, can be overwhelming. However, there’s no need to stress as it can also be an exciting adventure. Here are some essential steps we take to plan our trips.

Pick Your Destination

Your destination could be anywhere, the world is huge. Here are a few possibilities.

  • State Park
  • National Park
  • Beach
  • Mountain retreat
  • Across country
  • Close to home
  • A busy city

How Long of a Trip Can You Do?

Consider your travel pace when planning your road trip. Do you have the luxury of taking it slow and enjoying the journey, or is it necessary to reach your final destination as soon as possible?

Determine Your Why, Your Point of Interest

Do you envision yourself enjoying a relaxing beach vacation, a peaceful mountain retreat, or immersing yourself in a rich history run? Or perhaps you’re considering a combination of two or three of these experiences? Or, you may have a completely different type of trip in mind. Another factor to consider is the time of year you plan to travel. Keep in mind that many destinations can become busy during peak seasons, so you might prefer to visit during the off-season.

Determine Your Budget

Think about all the possible spots and stops.

  • Gas
  • Restaurants
  • Souvenirs
  • Fun Extra Activities
  • Accommodations

Determine Your Route

Roadtrippers is an excellent tool to assist you in planning your road trip. By simply inputting your final destination, the platform helps you discover interesting places to stop at along the way. Whether you’re searching for hidden gems or popular attractions, Roadtrippers provides you with a comprehensive list of options to choose from. We’ve personally used this platform to plan numerous trips in the past, and we highly recommend it to anyone planning a road trip in the future.

Book Your Accommodations

  • Hotels
  • Campground
  • Rental
  • Other

“Build traditions of family vacations and trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children.”

Ezra Taft Benson

How We Plan Specifics of Our Road Trips

Pick Your Park

As a family, we’ve set a goal to visit all of the National Parks before our kids leave the nest. Due to this objective, our road trips have mainly consisted of visiting National Parks. However, keep in mind that there are many other incredible destinations to explore beyond the National Parks. State Parks, for instance, can provide equally remarkable experiences and often with fewer crowds. Additionally, privately owned parks may offer amenities and activities that are better suited to your family’s preferences.

Make a Bucket List

To keep track of all my road trip ideas, I maintain a well-organized binder that’s categorized by state. This way, whenever I come across interesting content such as a YouTube video, a blog, or a book, I can quickly jot down any relevant ideas and refer back to them when planning future trips. Even if I don’t end up exploring all the ideas, I keep them in the binder for future reference in case we plan a second or third trip to the area. It’s an efficient way to stay organized and ensure that no exciting destinations or experiences are missed out on.

With AllTrails you can make a to-do list of hikes and organize them by National Park or State Park or however you’d like. You can also download hikes for off line usage, so we do not get lost with no cell service.

Pick Your Place to Stay

One reason I suggest creating a bucket list before looking for accommodations is to ensure that you’re not staying too far away from your desired destinations. Some parks can be quite vast, and it can be frustrating to have your accommodations an hour away from all the places you want to visit. By creating a bucket list of must-see places and attractions, you can identify the areas you want to spend the most time in and choose your accommodations accordingly. This will not only save you time and travel expenses but also ensure that you can make the most of your trip by focusing on the activities and sights that matter the most to you.

Make Your Accommodations

It’s worth noting that for some popular destinations, you may not be able to book accommodations until 3-6 months in advance. To ensure that you secure your preferred camping spot or lodging, it’s a good idea to mark the booking date on your calendar so that you don’t forget. Additionally, it’s helpful to have a few options in mind for camping or lodging, including a backup in case your first choice is not available. By planning ahead and being organized, you can increase the chances of securing the best accommodations for your trip and avoid the disappointment of missing out on a popular spot.

Make Your Specific Bucket List

Planning is key to having a successful road trip. I recommend creating a master list of all the activities, sights, and experiences that you want to have on your trip. You can organize the list by location or any other system that works for you. This is where your bucket list binder can come in handy. By referring to your binder and incorporating your must-see destinations into your master list, you can ensure that you don’t miss out on any opportunities to explore and make memories. Having a well-organized and comprehensive master list will also help you stay on track and make the most of your time on the road.

Organize Your Day to Day Trip

To keep our road trip organized and easily accessible, we use Google Sheets to create a daily itinerary. This allows you to easily see and manage your plans. If you have the time, you can also create a document in Google Docs that outlines your route and schedule for each day. By having a well-organized itinerary, you can stay on track and ensure that you don’t miss out on any of the experiences you’ve planned for.

Sean (the primary driver) loves having a travel summary each day at a glance

Enjoy Your Trip

It’s important to keep in mind that things may not always go as planned on a road trip. However, it’s important to stay flexible and maintain a positive attitude. Embrace any unexpected experiences and challenges that come your way, and be sure to laugh and make the most of every moment. With a willingness to adapt and a spirit of adventure, you can have the best trip ever, filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

So, what are we waiting for?! Let’s get out there and see the world! Perhaps we’ll see you on the road. 🙂