As the end of June arrives, many of us can’t wait to indulge in that time-honored tradition we’ve spent months feverishly working toward: the summer vacation. If you’re looking for a fun, economical and meaningful adventure without having to board an airplane, please allow me to extol the benefits of the road trip.
Road trips are a great way to travel because they give you the opportunity to really experience the journey and see things that you would miss if you were traveling by airplane. The other big advantage of road trips is the utter freedom — from crowds, claustrophobic airplane cabins, and that overall feeling of anxiety many experience when traveling high in the sky. It’s just you, your car and the road — with nothing but new places and experiences waiting right beyond the next mile marker. Now is the time to cue up — and crank up —
Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” in your mind’s soundtrack.
Here are a few links to resources that can help you plan your road trip this summer as well as ideas for some of the best road trips America has to offer:
- Sold on the idea of a summer road trip but not sure where to begin? Read “Road Trip Planning 101” from SmarterTravel.com for some great tips to get you started on the road (trip) to happiness.
- Gas prices may be decreasing, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch how much gas you’ll be guzzling during your next trip. Cost to Drive has a nifty tool that calculates your approximate gas costs based on your mileage and the kind of car you’re driving.
- Road-tripping by RV might just be the best way to travel, allowing you to take all the comforts of home on the road with you. The “Road Tripper Blog” offers some excellent advice for planning an RV trip as well as ideas for great RV drives.
- Speaking of historic road trips, America's many national historic trails offer rich opportunities to take long drives through the country's heritage. Here are just a few of the best historic trails that are best experienced by car.
- Texas has many road trip opportunities for heritage and cultural travelers — where else can you find rugged mountains, sweeping plains, majestic green hills and pristine coasts all in one state? Read “The Road Trip Destination Guide” to get a little inspiration for your next Texas road trip.
Enjoy your summer vacation!
KariKari Rippetoe is the Marketing Manager at Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Photo Credit: More Scenes from an Unintended Road Trip, Flickr, jayRaz