Ever wanted to take life on the road but don’t know how to get started? Even more so are you looking to go alone and take your dog with you? Here is the step-by-step guide that helped me get started and hopefully will be valuable for you too! A few months ago, I decided I didn’t want to be tied down to one location, there is so much world to see so let’s start in our home country! I set a goal of visiting all 50 states in 2022. It took a few weeks to plan my desired route but I’m excited to share my tips and suggestions with the world.
- Don’t wait until someone can go with you
- Don’t wait until the gas prices drop
- Don’t wait until [insert excuse here]
Just go! If you keep making excuses you’ll never go. Just try it, if anything you can always go back to your hometown, it’s ok if you end up not liking the journey. My point here is… take baby steps just drive to one destination then the next destination and see how you feel. Before you know it you’ll be at the tippy top of the United States far from home (unless you currently live in the tippy top then obviously the botty bottom) thinking my oh my how time flies!
The beginning of this blog will be about how to plan a cross-country road trip and I will include free templates for you! Toward the end of this blog will be the furry section, meaning I will let you know what you need to do before taking your dog on a trip with you.
Step 1. Screenshot a USA map and draw your designated route
This may sound ridiculous but grab your phone and search for a map of the United States and either screenshot it or print it. Next just draw your desired route. Where are you starting and where would you like to end? This serves the same purpose as a vision board, if you can visualize your goal you’ll be more motivated to continue this journey. It doesn’t have to be perfect, you will adjust it later in Step 5.
For example, I started in West Texas in January 2022 and I didn’t want to go through Texas because I've been to every major city in Texas and also it would have taken me forever to get out of that state! I also wanted to take in consideration the weather. I wanted to avoid harsh snow conditions and decided I would go up to New Mexico and Colorado then make my way East and stay in the South for a while then be up North by Spring. Don’t judge my route, this was based on plans I had to visit family and other personal reasons so it may not work for everyone.
Step 2. Pick the cities that you MUST see
Simply off the top of your head, write down the cities or top stops that you must without question visit. If you have absolutely no clue, don’t worry, I’ll be posting different blogs about each state based on my solo venture! In the meantime, here are some popular ideas based on top tourist destinations in the states.
Step 3. Transportation
Do you have a reliable vehicle? Do you want to buy a van to live in? A camper? I guess it depends if you do decide to go alone or whom you want to take with you. I chose to drive the sedan I bought in 2020 since I rarely used it these past few years. I started my journey at 9k miles! So far it has been extremely reliable. Since I wasn’t taking anyone other than my dog, I decided this was ok. I’m 5’2, so should I decide to sleep in my car, it wouldn’t be super uncomfortable.
Here is a checklist I recommend for the vehicle you choose to drive. I’ll write a separate blog post explaining each one later.
⏹️ Get car serviced (oil change and tire rotation)
⏹️ Get your windows tinted
⏹️ Get a dashcam
⏹️ Get a toll pass (EZ Pass)
⏹️ Get good insurance with roadside assistance
Step 4. Calculate Your Timeframe
How much time do you have for this journey? Are you quitting your job but hope to find a new job soon? Do you work remote and have no timeframe? I am lucky enough to work remote on a job I love! However, since I have a lot of work to do, it would be exhausting for me to be in a new state every other day. I decided a week in each state would be the best for me, meaning I set a goal of a year timeframe to finish this trip. Nobody is rushing me, this is just an idea for myself but I am well aware that anything can happen and I can adjust as needed. Don’t force a timeline though, be spontaneous, if the weather is too bad… stay in one place a little longer. If you get sick, get some rest, nobody is pressuring you to finish. Take your time to enjoy YOUR journey.
Step 5. Calculate Miles
From your starting point calculate the miles to your first destination. Let me tell you why this was important for me and why it may be helpful for you. Again, I work a full-time remote job and I drive solo, so I know I would be absolutely exhausted if I were to drive more than 5 hours at a time (and even that is pushing it). I know this is definitely a struggle in the west of the map and you may have to drive more than 5 hours there but at least you’ll be prepared for it. This way I made a spreadsheet to plan my full route and I won’t have to worry about it during my trip. I just drive and worry about work and adventure!! Take a day to calculate miles in Google Maps. Open Google Maps and choose a starting destination and an end destination, look at the miles and the hours. If it is too much you are willing to drive then see if there is a city halfway that you could stop in and write that city down too.
Here is a sample screenshot of my destinations and here is the free template so that all you need to do is input your own cities.
Step 6. Save locations on a map folder
Google maps has this great feature where you can save your destinations in a “folder” and reference them at any time. Other maps do too but this is my favorite and I’ll explain why in another post.
Choose your top spots and save them in your maps folder so that you can later share with a loved one or simply so that you know what's nearby and what you must see.
Step 7. Accommodations
For those of you that have decided it is best to live in your vehicle, great! That seems to be the most cost-efficient option and you get to meet other camper people. Here are some suggested apps to finding places to park your vehicle and spend the night.
⏹️ FreeRoam
⏹️ iExit
For those of us that decided that living in our vehicle is not an option for whatever the case may be, we know we have to look at hotels, vacation rentals, hostels, etc. If you are traveling with your pet be mindful that hotels and vacation rentals tend to have extra pet fees. Here are a few of my favorite options that are pet-friendly.
⏹️ Red Roof Inn (best price and pet-friendly)
⏹️ Airbnb (they have an option in the "Who's coming" section to choose pet)
⏹️ Marriott Hotels (the app has a filter to include only pet-friendly hotels)
Step 8. Budget
Now you are ready to budget. This is near the last step in the process because once you plan everything and are excited and motivated you’ll do anything to make it happen. Whereas if you did this first, you might get discouraged. I’m no financial advisor but I do know you have one life so don’t limit yourself in experiences. I will share my free template for planning your road trip budget. Now of course I’m not suggesting making poor financial decisions. If you don’t have a job this may not be for you. Or maybe it is, lots of people backpack their way across the world but I can’t suggest that because I have no experience in that area. However, if you have done this, please share with me! I’d love to know how you made that possible and your thoughts.
Step 9. Plan for your dog
Some of us have a fur baby that we can’t leave behind. Make sure you take good care of him and are thinking of their health first. Here is a checklist of things to do before you bring your dog with you.
⏹️ Visit their veterinarian and ensure they are healthy and up to date on their vaccines
⏹️ Download the Bring Fido app (to check out pet friendly places! Detailed blog coming soon.)
⏹️ Buy a dog seat belt/harness for safety
⏹️ Buy a booster seat (for the tiny doggos)
⏹️ Take a water and food bowl
⏹️ Take 2-3 of their favorite toys
⏹️ Pack their meds (allergy, heartworm, flea, etc.)
⏹️ Pack their treats!
⏹️ Check out my road trip essentials for more packing ideas
Step 10. Be Spontaneous?
Now you have your route! You are ready to take this journey but that doesn’t mean you have to have a full itinerary for everything. I tend to plan what I’m going to do in the next state just a few days before I take the drive. I simply save a few locations I want to see on my Map as you see in Step 5 and I go as I please. If you’re wondering about Hawaii and Alaska, I left my car at a relative’s house and flew from there. I didn’t invite my dog to Hawaii because it was a long flight but I’ll provide more on this in a separate blog. Anyway, enjoy the journey!
