11 Tips for The Great American Road Trip
Over the past four months, I’ve been traveling around the USA. Even though I’ve been saving for years allowing me the freedom to not work, I’m frugal, spending only when I really need to, but splurging when the time is right. I still have no final destination in mind, and I also have no particular end date, so I’m motivated to keep my spending in check.
Perhaps you’re considering a Great American Road Trip, and I’d say DO IT! Using my experience, I’ll give you some advice, and I think these 11 tips will help as you turn this trip into a reality.
For starters, you already know that the USA is huge, like really huge. It’s the fourth largest country in the world by land area, and even with a large chunk of that being non-contiguous (thanks Alaska), the distances are immense. Plus, the range of geographic diversity from the Atlantic, over the Appalachians, through the grasslands of the Great Plains, over the Rockies, through the deserts, and ultimately one last coastal range before you reaching the Pacific is awe-inspiring. My journey has taken me from the deep South (starting in Georgia) in December 2017, down to New Orleans, northwest through the entire country to Seattle, then down the Pacific Coast to San Diego, before setting up camp in the Sonoran Desert (aka Phoenix) for the past month. I’ve stayed in countless hotels and Airbnbs, eaten locally and not-so-locally, and I’ve driven about 12,000 miles. So, here are some tips that I’ve learned to make your experience (hopefully) as good as mine has been.
Make a rough agenda, and build your journey around it. Having lived in the Northeast and South, I really didn’t have a desire to spend any time in those areas, plus it was winter (I didn’t want any snow!). In my opinion, the best places to be in the winter are out west, so that dictated where I’d be focusing. I prioritized spending time with my best friend down in New Orleans, visiting a university in Denver, and scouting out Portland and Seattle with my partner, as we thought about potential places we’d like to live. I also really wanted to drive down the Pacific Coast. So, I had a framework in mind, but my itinerary was a living and breathing participant, deviating when necessary, and being open to different paths. To give you an idea of the deviations:
We ended up spending a few extra days in Monterey, California because hotels were really cheap, and it was just so beautiful! It also gave us more time to drive down to Big Sur, since we wouldn’t be able to drive all the way down the coast (due to heavy rains and mudslides, CA 1 was closed south of Big Sur).
When hotel prices in Southern California were super high, we found very inexpensive deals in Las Vegas, a short two and a half hour drive from the Inland Empire of California.
Our friends in San Francisco were going to be away when we initially planned to be there, so we changed our course to make sure to stay with them when they would be home.
We found an AirBnB in Phoenix that was a steal! Two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, two pools and two spas - so that’s why we’ve spent two months here. Plus, food is quite cheap, and it’s not too hot just yet!
Take your time and be flexible! When I started this trip, I knew that I would be traveling for at least 3 months; I’m now on month 5! Most Americans are not offered a great deal of vacation time, and fewer want to take that leap of faith to just go and experience the country (when they’re jobless, like me!). Other countries are much more generous with vacation time - even allowing employees the freedom to take a leave, and return to their job. Since that’s not the case in the USA, I just did it. Have there been times that I’ve been scared and worried about what to do next? OF COURSE! However, I’ve learned so much on this journey about myself and what’s important in life, so if anything, I’ll be more prepared for whatever my next steps may be. To make this journey more palatable for those I speak with, I’ve been referring to my time on the road as a sabbatical, allowing me the space in my life to figure out what should come next. It seems that people really admire and respect that! Because I’ve not established a strict agenda for a certain time period, I’ve been presented with a variety of unexpected opportunities and experiences. By allowing the wind to take me where it blows, I don’t feel rushed, and I feel more at ease about letting trusting that life will work out. I also want to make sure that I get what I need out of each location. For example, we wanted a little more time in Portland, so we ended up staying a few extra nights there. We allowed intuition to dictate, rather than reservations and agendas, and it’s allowed us to get what we really wanted out of each destination.
You’re in the “Land of the Free” so look for free things! I did my very best to find those inexpensive or FREE things to do in all of the places that we visited.
The Phoenix Art Museum is donation only (aka free) on Wednesday afternoons, and it did not disappoint! The Palm Springs Museum of Art has a location in Palm Desert along with a Sculpture Garden - it’s free too! Art museums across the USA offer free times, you just need to do a little research online, and plan a day around it.
Concerts - I follow many of my favorite singers and bands on Instagram. When I saw that one was passing through Phoenix, and giving a FREE concert, I had to go! Follow those folks on social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and you might be surprised.
Many cities have First Friday events or other types of street fairs, and these are great opportunities to see local artists, and many museums will even be free. Check out the city’s website to see what might be possible! In Palm Springs, the main downtown street was closed one night for a street fair with local vendors. It was a great opportunity to see it from a different perspective.
Farmer’s Markets - We’ve done a number of these in a variety of cities. It’s a great way to see what the locals are doing, and you can also chat with some really interesting people - again, for free!
Guest Passes - we did this at the Phoenix Zoo, Monterey Aquarium and the Oregon Coast Aquarium, thanks to friends in each of these spots! They got us in for free!
State Houses - these buildings are typically free, and most of them have state museums in them. During this trip, I’ve visited the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, and the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
College / university campuses - I’m kind of a geek for campuses because they’re usually really beautiful. Even though you might only be thinking of the big names (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, etc.), there are so many remarkable higher education institutions across the USA. During this road trip, I’ve spent time seeing the University of Denver, Texas Christian University, University of New Mexico, Arizona State University, University of California - San Diego, University of California - Santa Cruz, University of California - Santa Barbara, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Boise State University, Portland State University...just to name a few. The point is, these are beautiful places to walk around. If you like architecture, you can get a feel for the regional architecture. If you like history, regional development is interwoven into the fabric of university campuses. Many of these campuses have free museums or even visitor centers to get a feel for the area, and there are often good coffee shops and cheap food right around a campus, so it’s a great way to get a feel for a city!
Sometimes you do need to pay for marquee sites that you just wouldn’t get for free, and that’s ok. So, splurge and treat yourself! Below are some of the treat yourself days that we took while road-tripping:
The Portland Japanese Garden is stunning, and it was so worth the $16.95 admission price. It might be one of the main tourist attractions in Oregon, and it is well worth it. The gardens are so beautiful, and it was a place that allowed us to find a sense of zen and calm during a relatively chaotic trip!
The Los Angeles County Arboretum is only $9, and it has an extensive collection of trees from around the world. The sections for Australia and Africa were particularly stunning, plus there are peacocks roaming the area freely, so it’s worth a visit!
Antelope Island State Park is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake, just north of Salt Lake City in Utah. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, admission is $10 per vehicle, and the island boasts incredible scenery of the stunning mountains juxtaposed against the sparkling lake. Oh, and there are bison all over the island - truly an incredible site.
Cabrillo National Monument is west of San Diego on a peninsula between San Diego Bay and the Pacific. With a $15 per vehicle entrance fee, you can see some fascinating tidal pools, and great views of San Diego.
These are just a few ideas, but find those things that are priorities to you, and build your trip around those sites.
Driving. So, it’s time to start thinking about what it will actually be like to drive in these places. I’ve been driving in the USA since I was 17 (that’s a year later than most of my friends because I was intimidated!). The open highways can be wonderful, but they can also feel lonely at times. Those same highways can be packed with traffic, including huge trucks. Even the most seasoned driver can be put in situations in the USA that is daunting.
I’ve rented cars in Europe, I’ve driven all over Greece, I’ve spent hours on the roads in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and I’ve even tackled driving across the entire Republic of Georgia - so I understand difficult driving around the world. With that in mind, there are some cities in the USA that make those places seem like a walk in the park!
If you’re in some of the major cities with excellent public transportation (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco), leave the car outside the city, and enjoy it without fear of having an accident. While my car has never been broken into, I’m also careful to park my car in safe, secure lots. It’s better to not drive in these cities. If you have to drive through them, fine, but know where you’re going, and stay with the flow of traffic.
There are other huge cities, where you simply need a car to get around (Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego). With superhighways like stretching across 10+ lanes of traffic moving at 80mph, it can be scary. Simply stay with the flow of traffic, and prepare yourself for any sudden stops. The great thing is that most of these cities have tons of free parking, so you should be able to drive between your destinations, but with a lot of traffic! Also, be aware that even some side roads have three lanes in each direction, with a 45mph speed limit. Many of these roads have center lanes for turning in either direction. If it feels too rushed to make your turn, simply turn around at the next intersection with a traffic light. It’s much better to take a bit more time than to risk a collision.
Then there are those cities with decent parking and budding public transportation options (Denver, Portland, Seattle). They may not have extensive subway systems, but they’re getting better! It’s a treat in these cities because you can leave your car near where you’re staying, and take the light rail or bus. This can be a great way to experience these cities.
Uber and Lyft are prevalent in most cities in the USA. Lyft is a great option as it is slightly cheaper than Uber, and I’ve met some fantastic drivers who have given me tips on exploring cities. Download both apps and compare the prices! Plus, if you expect to drink at all, err on the side of caution, and call a Lyft rather than putting yourself in any risk while driving.
Perhaps you’d like to jet off somewhere different during your road trip. I did this by flying to Hawaii for eight days from Denver. Since I had a car, I knew I didn’t want to pay the high airport parking costs. I found a site called Top Airport Parking, and I was able to park at an onsite airport parking lot for $48 for eight nights - a huge savings! They also had additional specials listed on their website. While it’s not ideal to pay to simply park a rental car, it’s worth considering.
When staying in a super expensive parking city, I’ve also made use of airport parking deals. In San Francisco, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf for a couple nights after finding a great deal on Priceline.com (more to come on this later). Parking costs were insane at roughly $50 per night. Any deal that we snagged by a cheaper hotel cost were eaten up by this charge. I found a Groupon for 2 days of parking at the San Francisco airport. Although it was a bit of a hassle to get down there, and take the BART back, it was so worth the money I saved. Additionally, once we picked up the car, we were already planning to drive south along the coast, so we avoided the notoriously terrible Bay Area traffic.
When you’re outside major cities, enjoy the drive - it’s a road trip for a reason. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway through California and Oregon will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Don’t be afraid to get on the backroads, enjoy them! I always prefer taking a bit more time to see the scenery, so do that - you’ve got the time!
Lodging. I love a good deal. I’ll go out of my way to use coupons, find specials, sign up for loyalty cards, so I try my best to make travel affordable. During this trip, I’ve used a variety of different apps and websites to find reasonably priced lodging. I scour over the apps to find the absolute best price, and I compare and contrast almost to a fault! The great thing is that you really can find price discrepancies and deals! I’ll highlight some of those sites with the best prices below (and the price will be the total WITH tax):
Priceline.com - this has been a favorite of mine for years, and honestly, it used to be WAY better (back when you could name your own price and actually get it!). I’ve had pretty good success on this trip with Priceline. We got a great deal at the Valley River Inn in Eugene, OR (a 3.5 star property for only $89.98). I also try to make conversation during check-in if I have good rapport with the front desk agent. This agent was particularly talkative and interested in our huge road trip. He upgraded our room to a suite overlooking the river - it pays to be nice!
Hotels.com - I’ve never really used it that much, but I found some good low prices on it; plus, you get a night free after 10 nights, so that’s another reason to use it. We ended up staying extra nights at the Stargazer Inn in Monterey, CA because we only paid $58.99 per night - it was such a great deal! Even though the room was small, it was very clean, and there was an incredible pool and hot tub!
Hotels Tonight app - I don’t use this app often, but I will compare just to see how it stacks up. In Palm Springs, CA, hotels can be quite expensive, but I was able to find The Monroe - a charming retro hotel just north of downtown for $104. The rooms were newly renovated, and the pool and spa area was very nice!
Airbnb - during this trip, we’ve found some great spots on Airbnb. In Portland and Seattle, we stayed in great areas of the city for around $1000 for eight nights. Our best deal, however, has been in downtown Phoenix. We’ve only paid $2600 for two months for a two-bedroom condo with access to two pools and two spas. It’s been the perfect place to work, write, and relax, and we’re only a short walk from downtown and the light rail.
The hotel’s website - very rarely, you’ll find that the hotel rates on their website are equal to or better than on the discount travel sites. It happens infrequently, but if I can book with the hotel, I feel like there’s a better possibility of an upgrade. The Pacific Reef Hotel in Gold Beach, OR is small, quaint property steps to the beach. With beautiful sunsets and an indoor spa, the property was cozy and the price was right ($75.07) by booking on the hotel’s website.
Use reward points when you need to - when hotels have been quite pricey, I’ve resorted to searching using my Chase Sapphire Reserve, and I’ve had great success. I booked two nights at the Kings Inn near downtown San Diego for free with my points! The hotel was so charming (retro, vintage, mid-century modern), with two restaurants on site, as well as free parking!
Find good distractions on those long, lonely stretches of road. While the coasts are pretty well populated, the wide open spaces in the middle of the country can be daunting, with significant distances between cities. Don’t get me wrong, these wide open spaces can be awe-inspiring, but they can also be incredibly boring. As much as I love singing along to music, sometimes I need another way to stay engaged. So, consider immersing yourself in some good books. I downloaded a number of books to keep us company in the car, and we ultimately chose Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. In audiobook format, it was really long! We enjoyed it from Denver, to Portland, to Seattle, to San Francisco. Ultimately (and perhaps poetically), we finished the book in Monterey, where the television series was filmed. We even watched the series and spotted places we recognized from our drive. However, the story will be synonymous with our iconic road trip!
Post on social media when you’re in random places because you just don’t know who else might be there too!
Jimbo had friends from Australia passing through Phoenix, so we had breakfast with them. It had been 10 years since he last saw them!
I saw a post of some friends from my time at University of Georgia who posted about being in Monterey - I had no clue they were there! It was great to see them with their three kids (and one on the way) after over 10 years.
I posted on Facebook after having a little fender bender, looking for a body shop in Phoenix. A great friend from my undergraduate time at Berry College wrote that her brother works at a body shop in Phoenix! He helped me out, and I was able to reconnect with my friend after nearly 16 years!
Look for fun restaurants and sample the local cuisine! I could probably go on forever about the places I’ve eaten over the past five months. While some of my other blog posts talk about specifics, you should really try everything that you can. I do all I can to research places to eat because I want every meal to be awesome and delicious. However, some meals are just memorable because of the backdrop or the company, so some of my most memorable meals were the ones that were the most simple. Here are my top seven meals:
Seattle - The Pink Door - about 10 years ago, my friend Rob and I stumbled on this restaurant, and since then, Rob (who lives in Washington) goes every year for his birthday. Rob, Jimbo, and I went and had such a phenomenal meal. The restaurant has incredible views of Puget Sound and an eclectic decor, but the food is what makes it so memorable! We had mussels in a rich, decadent broth to begin, but the Lasagna Pink Door (our main course) is unlike any pasta dish I’ve ever had, and it is scrumptious. Eat there!
Portland - Cameo Cafe East - this is one of the weirdest places I’ve ever eaten. It’s a diner with the most outlandish decor, and the food is a fusion of typical diner and Korean food. I had Sue Gee’s Pindaettok (a Korean word that means pancake, according to their menu). It was a pancake with veggies, rices, and the most amazing spices. I’ve never had an experience like it, and I’d love to go again!
Eureka - Subway - yes, the sandwich place. It’s not fine dining by any means, but we ordered foot long sandwiches to have a picnic in the Redwoods. After driving south on US 101, we stopped at a picnic area called Elk Meadows. The sun was shining, and we had the entire picnic area to ourselves. Eating in such a beautiful setting made the experience so memorable, and one of my favorite meals on the trip.
San Francisco - some close friends of Jimbo live in San Francisco, and they cooked dinner for us while we were in the city. Roast chicken, roast beef, a huge arugula salad, and cheesecake dessert truly gave us a taste of home. While the food was delicious, it was the opportunity to spend time with friends that made it so memorable.
Long Beach - Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House Restaurant - this fusion restaurant fused Korean and Mexican cuisines so inventively. The nachos with bulgogi and jalapeno was one of the most flavorful dishes I’ve ever eaten!
Monterey - Trader Joe’s - we were so tired of eating out, and we just wanted something simple. I picked up a kale salad and Hatch Chile Macaroni and Cheese, and it was delicious. My microwaved mac ‘n cheese was one of the best meals I’ve had. Plus, we ate it in our little hotel room, so there was something almost home-like about being there. I loved it.
Las Vegas - Naked City Pizza Shop - I found this place because the Food Network show Diners Drive-ins and Dives was filmed here. It did not disappoint! Located in a dark dive bar, there was just a window with one guy working on the pizza. We each had a slice of pepperoni, a slice of chicken, bacon, ranch, and some garlic cheese knots. I think I ate pounds (yes, pounds) of cheese, and it was heavenly! I can’t recommend it enough - my mouth is watering at the thought of eating there again!
Engage with the locals and tell them what you’re doing. They love hearing about it! I’ve told plenty of friends that I’ve seen along the way about this crazy cross-country adventure, but there are also lots of other strangers who I’ve met and told. One particularly memorable experience was in Marina, California with some women who were working at a Subway (so, we’ve only eaten at Subway twice, but it must create good memories for me!). They were just making friendly conversation when I told them about our trip. They were in awe that we were driving around the country with no plan whatsoever. While they admitted to be a bit envious, they also gave us tips for places we should see along the way. Be open to chatting, and put good vibes out there. I think you get good vibes in return.
Journal about your trip. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Driving around the USA is one of the most dynamic and exciting trips you could ever take. Seeing the American flag flying high over incredibly diverse landscapes: desert, Hollywood, the French Quarter, Pikes Peak, a massive Texas car dealership...I’m amazed that this is one huge dynamic country. Write about your experiences, and while some details might seem mundane, I’m sure that you’ll look back on all aspects, good and bad, and learn something about yourself.
So, those are my tips for your Great American Road Trip. It has been an adventure, and I would trade nothing for this experience that has allowed me to embrace and immerse myself in this beautiful, diverse country. I hope you’ll love it as much as I have.
