An epic trip can be planned in just some simple steps.
1. SET YOUR FOUNDATION (Time Parameters)
-How long do you have for this trip?
-What is the earliest you can leave (day/time)?
-What is the latest you can be back home (day/time)?
-Plan on leaving and arriving at those times, but make it early and late enough to allow flexibility because chances are it will run an hour late, so add some time in the beginning and end of trip.
Overview: Decide when you need to leave and return, so you can determine the destination and turning point, and route details. For example: I have three days, so I can leave Friday morning at 8am but need to be back Sunday night by 8pm. Once you have the beginning and ending noted, you have a Time Frame to work with for all other plans.
2. TRIP TYPE (Destination-Based Trip or Experienced-Based )
The trip will always be one of two main types: Destination-based, which would be a roadtrip with plans based on an event or reason to be in a certain place by a set time. For example, I am going to attend a wedding in Boston and planning a roadtrip for the journey. This trip type is slightly more destination-focused and will emphasize getting to your destination quicker while still taking time to enjoy the journey, and may take the same route up as it does back home. Or, it will be experience-based, where you plan to take a roadtrip and enjoy what each surrounding area has to offer, along with seeking certain key experiences, though you may still choose a final destination where you spend the most time. This final destination would be where you seek to experience the majority of what you desire. Taking your time on the way up and enjoying everything along the way, you’d then head home on a different route at a slow pace. Planning to seek these experiences is often dependent on where you are and where you can travel comfortably within your distance range. (Reference the recommended roadtrip ranges previously shown based off of your general time frame.)
So, ask yourself:
-Do I need to be at a specific place at a certain day and time for an event such as a friend’s wedding, concert, road race, or other event? If so, my trip type is destination-based. I will enjoy the journey up and plan accordingly, though I’ll generally try to get to my destination as fast as possible within the guidelines and will plan to spend the majority of my time there.
- Do I simply want to take a roadtrip that allows me to experience as many things as possible on my way to and home from a final destination? If so, my trip type is experience-based. I want to take a trip with friends and just explore the countryside and go camping somewhere, or I want to go skiing and enjoy everything associated with winter up north, from hot chocolate to cozy fire places and building a snowman. For this you would use the guidelines and ultimately choose a destination for these experiences based on how long you have and how far you can travel to an area that offers these experiences, and then break the trip up into sections and take your time enjoying the trip up, trying to maximize the journey by then taking a different route home.
3. ESTABLISH A THEME! (What You Want to Experience)
Choosing a theme allows you to appreciate your adventure more by immersing yourself further in it. To give a context and provide a framework for the many decisions to make before and during your trip, you need to choose a theme. Knowing your theme will help you find and accomplish more of the key experiences you want. Of course your roadtrip will provide many spur-of-the-moment opportunities and you want to take advantage of what comes along, but you can ensure that you will experience more of what you want through some planning around your theme. Simply put, it will give you more direction while helping you appreciate the trip more. You can define your theme by considering any of the following:
Theme Ideas
-What the surrounding areas have to offer
-Event or events to experience
-Different seasons to enjoy
-Activities
-History
-Key attractions
Make a list of the experiences you most want! This list helps provide the framework for your research later. I suggest making it fun and naming your trip once you determine your theme. For example, I will be driving from Florida to Tennessee in late October, an ideal time for a fall-themed roadtrip. My plans will include seeing beautiful fall foliage, Halloween festivals, and pumpkin spice-flavored everything! Name of trip: “Fall Adventure Roadtrip.”
Use the Theme Ideas list for some helpful prompts, keeping in mind that having a theme is simply to make your roadtrip richer in memorable experiences. Rather than driving aimlessly or only focusing on getting to the destination, a theme is a great way to enhance your trip.
Now you have a framework to begin to choose key cities and put a plan together.