The road trip is one of the quintessential symbols of the
American Dream. It’s all about the freedom of the open road, and it can make
for one of the most memorable and satisfying travel experiences of your life.
Don’t take our word for it: just think about how many coming-of-age movies
feature a road trip improving peoples’ lives.
A United States road trip is an amazing opportunity to
discover the unique beauty of the country but also to get a chance to see all
the sights that make America so famous. But if you’re going to get the most out
of your time in the States, it’s worth planning ahead and doing a lot of
research.
So, with that in mind, we’ve created a beginners guide to
planning the ultimate journey across this fabled nation. And to start off:
probably the most important thing to remember is that you need to drive on the
right side of the road (or the wrong
side, if you’re feeling patriotic).
What about Route 66?
When you think about a US road trip, you might be tempted by
the legendary Route 66. Route 66 is probably the ultimate cliché in American
driving, and it can provide you with a tantalising taste of real American
living and sprawling stretches of country roads. But if you’re hoping to do a
little traditional sight-seeing on your road trip, then Route 66 probably isn’t
the best option for you.
The reality is that Route 66 doesn’t actually exist anymore.
While you can still drive along the route itself, the famed road has been
broken down into a number of highways and interstates with bland names. You
start or finish your trip in Los Angeles or Chicago, which are obvious
hotspots, but beyond that, the route doesn’t offer much in the way of
impressive cities, and you will find yourself on seemingly endless miles of
uninteresting, scenery-free roads.
Coast vs. Coast
If Route 66 doesn’t sound like the best option for you, then
you might be more suited to a road trip along the East or West Coast of the
country. Both Coasts offer a more varied travelling experience with impressive
views, sandy beaches and cosmopolitan cities lining up on both sides.
The West Coast promises the sun and sand of Los Angeles, the
flamboyance of San Francisco and the downright glitz of Hollywood. You’ll also
be able to enjoy the Giant Redwood forests of California, gamble in the
super-casinos of Las Vegas or just relax in chilled-out Seattle. But the East
Coast is just as appealing, with the historic national capital Washington D.C.,
the beaches and theme parks of Florida and the Big Apple itself: New York City.
A road trip on either coast will mean a crash course (excuse
the pun) in American culture and an unforgettable experience you’ll remember
forever.
The little details
It would be impossible to give a full, detailed guide to
planning a US road trip in one article – there are simply too many
possibilities offered to the adventurous traveller. But there are a few tips
that stay consistent no matter what you plan to do.
While it might seem like a cheaper option at first, you
should save yourself the nightmarish complexity of buying and insuring a car,
and instead go for the option of renting for the duration of your stay.
Usefully, most of the large rental firms will allow you to pick up your car in
one location and to return it to one of their garages somewhere completely
different. So if you drive from New York to Miami, you don’t have to worry
about a return journey to get the car back!
Cheap accommodation is plentiful in the US, with basic but
perfectly adequate motels ubiquitous across the States. You can save yourself a
lot of money by simply using your smartphone, tablet or an internet café to
book your next accommodation the day before you’re due to arrive. Last minute
discounts can really make a difference in the cost of your road trip.
And finally, remember that America is a huge place with a
lot of wonderful things to experience. Keep an open mind and there’s no doubt
you’ll find yourself doing something amazing that you had never even considered
a possibility before.
