How to Road Trip Alone? 10 Key Questions Answered

This is our “how-to” post for planning and taking a great road trip alone. Ten of the most common questions are answered below. There's also a section on EV road tripping and another for how to build pure joy into your road trip.

A solo road trip is a special experience. The freedom is amazing. Make your plan. Break your plan. It's all up to you. What you do, how long you drive, how far you go, when you stop… it is all up to you.

Solo road tripping also requires a bit more of you than a shared road trip. You do all the driving and planning as well as prepping the car. But I believe it is all worthwhile. I've taken dozens of road trips in Canada, the US, and Europe. My shortest was a weekend. My longest was 5 months. On these many trips, I've learned a few things about how to plan, pack, navigate, stay safe, and have fun.

Once you've read below about preparing for a road trip, check out How to Plan a Road Trip: Route Planning, Scheduling & Budgeting and these posts on specific road trips.

Your Road Trip Questions Answered

Whether you're planning to drive across country alone or across a province or state, if long-distance driving is something you enjoy, and the idea of going your own sweet way is appealing, here’s the rest of what you need to know to prepare for a long drive by yourself.

1. How many hours should I drive in a day?

I can drive up to 10 hours in a day, but not two days in a row. And, on a long drive, I have to get out and stretch every two hours or so. Other people have a limit of three or four hours in a day. You know yourself best, so set your limits according to your personal abilities and desires.

To plan your trip, you need to know how many days you have, how long you can drive each day, what distance you can cover, how many breaks you need, and whether driving at night is an option. All these factors must be considered to get the road trip you want. If your capacity is shorter than your desired trip, then either the distance of the trip or the time you have to take must be adjusted.

2. Should I have a theme for my road trip?

I suggest choosing a theme for your road trip. In France, it was history for me. I wanted to see the Bayeux Tapestry and also Juno Beach where the Canadians landed on D-Day. In Arizona, it was landscapes. The Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Monument Valley–could those landscapes from old western movies truly be real? Driving around Lake Ontario, I was visiting wineries. Every road trip I take alone has some sort of focus. Know what yours is and identify the places you just have to get to. Use this information as you plan your route.

3. What's the perfect pace for a road trip alone?

Getting the pace right is a big part of every trip's success. I've found that, generally, I need to average three days per destination. It can be longer at one and shorter at another, but three on average. If I have four destinations, I need twelve days for the trip. I might be able to get away with ten but it's important not to squeeze too much into too few days. If you do, you'll miss lots and find that you spend all your time driving, rather than experiencing destinations. I also don't plan to drive too far on any one day. I try to aim for five hours a day. Even though I'm not typically an early riser, I like to set out early in the morning. I'm up at 6:00 am and away by 6:30 am to beat the traffic and arrive at my destination by noon.

4. What are the best tools for planning a road trip?

Naturally, I start with Google Maps as I can plan the trip with a visual of my major destinations and get a good sense of the time between them. From there, I can build out my itinerary. In this post I explain in detail how to plan a road trip using Google maps. But I don't just use Google Maps. I also like road atlases for planning as they give me a bigger picture of my trip. For recording my trip, a road atlas with my route highlighted makes a great souvenir. Here's an atlas for North America and another for Europe.

5. Should I book my accommodation in advance or on the road?

I recommend booking a hotel in advance unless you are going off season and not going places that tend to fill up. Use your AAA or CAA card to get discounts on some hotels. Check out this post for more suggestions for saving on hotels and other travel expenses: How to Cut Travel Costs with Memberships You Already Have. If you'll be RVing or camping, read Solo Camping: Tent Camping, Safety, and the RV Option.

6. Do I need insurance for a road trip?

1. Personal Travel Insurance. If you're road tripping in your home country, this may not be important. If you're planning a road trip outside your country, get travel insurance. Depending on the coverage you buy, it can reimburse the cost of doctor fees, medical examinations, medication costs, and even hotel accommodations. Possibly more importantly, it may cover the cost of getting someone you love to your bedside during a medical emergency or return you to your home if that’s necessary. For details, read Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers: How to Make Sure You’re Protected.
2. Roadside Assistance. Whether you run your battery down (as I did in Maine), lock your key in the car, get a flat tire, or worse, it's great to have roadside assistance on your side. If you have AAA or CAA, you'll be fine in North America. If you don't have it, it's likely a good investment for a long road trip alone, and it's not expensive.
3. Rental Car Insurance. If you’re renting a car for your road trip (read How to Save Money on Car Rentals: What You Need to Know Now), check with your insurance company and credit cards first to find out what kind of coverage you already have through them. If you rent a low-end vehicle on a credit card that offers coverage, you should be okay. If, however, you upgrade, your credit card insurance may not cover the more expensive vehicle. It's important to get the details right. If you've determined that your current coverage is not adequate for your rental car, here are the questions you need to ask the rental agency:

• How much does it cost?
• What type of collision coverage is offered and what is included?
• Who is insured under the coverage?
• Is there a deductible associated with the coverage?
• Is there anything that could possibly void the insurance coverage for the rental car?
• Is roadside assistance available as part of the plan?
• What steps need to be taken if you get into an accident?

7. What should I pack for a solo road trip?

8. How do I do all the navigation and driving myself?

Navigation when you're on the road alone can be a bit of a challenge. I use Google Maps, however, it chews through a lot of data. Depending on where you are, it could be expensive. In addition, I use the paper map or atlas I bought to plan the trip. I will also use the compass on my phone if I feel lost as it confirms my direction. It's also helpful to know that in the United States:

• two-digit Interstates often go directly through cities while three-digit Interstates go around them
• odd-numbered highways run north to south and even-numbered ones run east to west

9. What needs to be done to my car to prepare for a road trip?

Have your car tuned up and inspected at least a week before you leave. This will give you time for any repairs that are required. Car Talk recommends the following items be checked. You can click on any of them to go to the Car Talk site for details that are specifically for summer trips.

• The Cooling System
• The Tires
• Steering and Suspension
• Change the Oil
• Air Conditioning System
• Check the Tranny

On a winter road trip? Read Solo Winter Road Trip: 40 Tips for Driving with Skill and Confidence.

10. Do I need to stay in touch while I'm away?

It's really a good idea to let someone at home know your route, when you leave, and when you arrive at your destinations. A quick text message will do. If you have Wi-Fi (McDonald's and coffee shops are always good bets for free Wi-Fi), use any messenger system or send a quick email. That's all it takes. 

Extra Tips for an Electric Vehicle Road Trip

Taking a road trip alone with an electric car not only gives you the freedom of the road but also freedom from the carbon footprint of a gas vehicle. While the range of travel for EVs continues to increase, there is still the issue that charging stations are not as readily available as gas stations.

1. How do I find fast EV charging stations for road trips?

Not all charging stations are created equal. Fast chargers will make your road trip easier. Where to find them? ChargeHub boasts a network of 89,000 charging stations with an in-app payment system. Also note, EVs will lose power faster in colder weather than warmer. Keep that in mind for winter road trips and be conservative in your range estimations.

2. How does road tripping in an EV affect my plan and pace?

You can't charge an EV in five minutes like you can fill up a gas-powered vehicle. It takes time to charge and you'll need to plan for that. Plugshare has a map of hotels with charging stations.

Increase Your Solo Road Trip Fun

1. How do I have a stress-free road trip alone?

Start your drive early in the morning. You'll be less tired and more alert. The roads will also have less traffic, making the drive more enjoyable. You'll arrive in daylight with time to find your accommodation if you haven't already booked it.

• When you're driving, make sure your doors are locked and (need I say this?) you're wearing your seat belt.
• Be mindful of where you park your car. Try to park near an entrance to a mall or hotel. The lot may be busy when you arrive but if it's empty when you leave you won't enjoy a long walk across a vacant parking lot.
• If your trip takes you along roads with little traffic, consider getting a full size spare tire rather than a donut tire that can only go a short distance. You can get an affordable, decent quality spare tire at a used tire store.

2. The best playlist for a road trip?

There are definitely times to listen to local radio, but chances are you'll get bored of it and, possibly, be out of range of a station. Whether your playlist includes audio books, music (you may want to get Spotify), lectures, or all three, be prepared with what will keep you happy, interested, and alert as you explore on your road trip alone. Check out our Solo Road Trip Playlist.

3. How do I plan a road trip to enjoy small routes and small towns?

Slow down, save on gas, and enjoy the scenery and the scene. On my trip through the southwest United States, I listened to KGHR 91.3 Native Radio. Listening to this station, I learned what was going on in Tuba City, what the Indigenous people care about, the values they hold, and much more. It's a wonderful aspect of travel that is most easily enjoyed on a road trip. Hungry for lunch? Look for the diner in a small town and you're sure to get some local flavor from the people as well as the food. Sometimes a local museum is the one that you'll find yourself telling people about years later. Don't overlook what may appear to be small experiences as they may be the most memorable.

14 Great Road Trips: All Solo Traveler Tested

• Here are 14 Great Solo Road Trips: All Solo Traveler Tested.
• Here's a link to our road trip category with tips and itineraries from us and readers around the world.
• Planning a road trip in Europe? You'll need this: Driving Tips for Europe: Essential Rules You Need to Know.