Tips for an Amazing Road Trip in the USA

Getting a Vehicle Fit for the Journey

The first thing you must prepare when planning a road trip is the vehicle you’re going to use, after all, you´ll be depending on it for the whole trip.

So, the first thing you should do is to make sure to have a vehicle that’s up to the task. This means that the car you’re going to use must be hardy, well maintained, and above all, comfortable as you’re going to spend a lot of time in the car.

Now, you’d think that one would need to own an expensive car, but the truth is that you can make awesome road trips even if you don’t own a car. How? Well here’s the first tip:

Instead of using your own, you can rent a car, this way you´ll always have a well-maintained vehicle that’s up to the task and you won’t be limited by the car you have. You even get to choose the kind of vehicle that best suits your trip.

For example, if you’re traveling with a lot of people you may choose a van or mini-van. If you’re traveling solo then you may choose a smaller more cost-effective car, if you´re crossing harsher roads you can choose an SUV.

Now, renting a car may seem difficult at first, but it’s quite simple if you know where to search, so up next we´ll see some of the sites that will help you when it comes to renting a car.

Miles Car Rental Trustpilot score: 4.8 / 5

Viajemos.com Trustpilot score: 4.8 / 5

If you have a little bit more experience with car rentals then perhaps this is the best company for you, as they have partnerships with many of the most renowned companies such as Alamo, Dollar, and Thrifty. They’re also acclaimed by their customers for their low prices and the clear explanations of their deals.

Priceline Trustpilot score:  4.1 / 5

This one offers other vacationing services in addition to car rentals. They have a big focus on their app which is always changing and improving to best suit the needs of their customers. Their car catalog is quite varied and most customers report their site to be fast and efficient with a decent enough response time.

CarRentals Trustpilot score:   4.1 / 5

CarRentals offers a diverse catalog of cars to choose from and they also provide you with clear information on what each of their car types offers, and what kind of car would be better for each trip. They have a couple of overseas locations and are regarded by their customers as easy, fast, and overall efficient.

Rentalcars Trustpilot score:   1.3 / 5

If you’re planning on taking road trips in faraway countries then this one is for you, as it’s one of the most intranational-focused rental car companies. On their site, you can see the price in a variety of currencies from all over the world. Customers report them to be efficient, easy to use, and with lots of accessibility features.

Tips for the Journey

Now that we have a good way to get a vehicle for the trip, we should further discuss some tips involving the journey itself.

Do some research about the journey you’re going to take: A well-informed traveler will always go far, so make sure to know a couple of important facts about your destinations before hitting the road. You don’t need to make a 300-page report about your journey, but knowing things like the weather at your destination and the possible road stops that you may find on the way, can be crucial.

Nothing is worse than getting hungry or thirsty in the middle of nowhere, so pack some snacks and plenty of water just in case. If you’re crossing desert roads such as those in Nevada, bring extra water.

Charge your phone the night before, and bring your charger with you. Let’s not kid ourselves, chances are high that you’ll be using an app for navigation, so be sure that your phone is at full battery.

If you’re the driver, make sure to be well-rested, and make as many stops as you need to, if the trip involves more than one day be sure to include at least a couple of roadside motels on your travel plan. This is a safety tip more than anything else, a well-rested driver is scientifically proven to be less prone to accidents, so remember to keep well-rested or to allow the driver to rest as much as possible.