America has more than 4 million miles of roads, all of them begging to be explored. Flying to your vacation spot is fine, but when you buckle up and hit the road, the journey becomes the destination. America features nearly every type of climate and environment on Earth. So how can you experience the ultimate American journey on blacktop? Here is our summer road trip checklist. Be sure to check these boxes before you head out to enjoy some quality time as the Summer rolls in.
Vehicle
If you have the right car, any drive can be an adventure. Since this is one of those “ultimate” articles, we’re exchanging a real-life budget for a fictional one. Anything goes.
There are several factors to consider when choosing the ultimate road trip car, but the most important is that it must be fun to drive. Remember, you’ll be on the road for hours upon hours, so it’s easy to get bored... Unless you’re driving something awesome. So that means a manual transmission, plenty of power on tap, and probably rear-wheel-drive, so you can get a bit loose on those twisty mountain roads.
Then comes comfort. You’ll want breathable seats, ice-cold AC (if this is the ultimate summer road trip checklist), or a nice, warm heater for winter trips. Audio quality can also go into this category. Whether you plan to rock out to an artisan Spotify playlist, or you’ve queued up a bunch of podcasts and audiobooks to keep your brain engaged, you’ll want to be able to hear it all.
However, sometimes a road trip can be about challenging yourself, pushing your own limits whether you’re driving a luxury car or an old hot rod. So feel free to chuck the Comfort category out the crank-down window if you're up for the challenge of running the two-lane blacktop in a no-frills classic. A few days on the road in a Meyers Manx or MGB GT will build character.
Reliability is also crucial. Getting your car towed back home from three states away is no fun. Drive something with proven reliability and make sure it’s properly serviced ahead of time. Check your tire pressure, including your spare tire, and always pack your jumper cables
Space will be important, depending on the size of your party. People should be able to stretch out a bit, and you’ll need room to lug their luggage and other road trip essentials
All factors considered, if money’s no object, we recommend the Cadillac CTS-V wagon for larger groups. With excellent driving dynamics, comfort in spades, and a six-speed manual, the CTS-V is perfect for a double-yellow quest.
If it’s just one or two people, though, how about the classic BMW E30 M3? Aggressively tackle mountain roads while still soaking up the joys of air conditioning and a great stereo.
Whatever you’re driving, equip it with the right set of tires. Winter and summer compounds are specialized to offer the best grip and durability per climate. If you’re hitting multiple temperature zones, however, you'll probably want the most versatile all-season tire you can find. We can help you with that.
Route
Remember, the point of a road trip, as opposed to air travel, is to enjoy the drive. Yes, the most enjoyable routes will take longer, but that’s okay. We recommend staying as far away from cities as possible. Try to drive around them, using state highways if you must, to avoid the clog and congestion that happens when a bunch of texters start cruising in the passing lane. Nothing kills a cross-country road trip like commuter traffic.
State and county roads can also offer more twisty corners and higher-speed turns. And, of course, you’ll see more neat little VFW posts and kitschy gas stations on the state highways.
Be careful about dirt roads. They can lead to some amazing places, but be prepared to turn around if they get too rutted, unless you have a vehicle that can handle them. It’s easy to get stranded with a broken axle because a “rural lane” turned into a cow path/river.
Destinations
There’s more to see in this great nation than you’ll ever have time for, but we recommend that you check out the nature sites first. There are good restaurants and interesting museums in every city. But there’s only one Grand Canyon, Pikes Peak, Yellowstone, Acadia... You get the idea.
Nature sites also force you to get out of the car and hike for a while. Driving can be exhausting, but it’s even worse when you never get any exercise.
Skip the tourist traps. You’re on vacation and the clock is ticking. You’ll never forget your first sight of Multnomah Falls in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, but the World’s Largest Ball of Glue isn’t worth your time.
Food
When sitting down to eat, try to hit the local spots. For instance, Kansas City has the best barbecue in the world, but you won’t experience it if you just eat at Cheddar’s and Applebees all the time. You have to zero in on Joe’s Kansas City BBQ, which is in a gas station.
Choosing the right in-car food can also be tricky. Don’t eat anything with sauce. You can’t risk spilling that deliciousness all over your upholstery. Greasy fast food can be okay, but only if you have a forest’s worth of napkins on hand. You don’t want your car smelling like a Burger King grease trap.
You also want to avoid snacks that will actively destroy your mouth. See, on long trips, you’ll start to eat automatically, so you won’t stop when you’re full, or when your stomach starts to hurt, or when your dentist would be ashamed of you. You’ll just keep going. It’s part of the experience. Sugary foods can be abrasive to your mouth tissues, and a legion of canker sores is sure to bring any road trip down a couple of notches.
Salty snacks can be a great alternative, but remember that those wasabi peas and cheddar pretzels will make you thirsty, have plenty of drinks and plan your bathroom breaks accordingly.
As for drinks, don’t overdo it on caffeine. Not only because it will add pit stops, but because it can make you a little crazy, and nobody needs that on the road. Most importantly, it’s a good idea to just stay hydrated.
That said, keep an eye out for locally-produced sodas and snacks. Anyone who has ever visited Kentucky and tasted the greatness of Double Cola’s Ski knows exactly what we mean.
Finally, throw away your trash every time you stop. It will cut back on the smell and everyone will feel a bit better for it.
The Most Important Car Part
As the old saying goes, the car's most crucial part is the nut behind the wheel. (That's you, bucko.) Travel, even in this glorious age of the automobile, is physically exhausting. So be sure to look after yourself out on that blacktop river. Try to get plenty of rest the night before and during the trip. If you need an extra hour or two of sleep, get it before you leave.
There are little things, too. Take a minute to stretch every time you stop. Rotate drivers when you need to. Wear sunglasses. (During the day. Not at night. That's not healthy.)
Most of all, have fun! If you get behind on your travel itinerary, don't stress out. Just relax, take in the sights, and enjoy the journey.
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