The US and Canada are two of the largest countries in the world. This means two things: there’s a near-infinite number of things to explore, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. Whilst a road trip is the activity of driving, that’s not all you want to be doing for days on end. For that reason, a road trip across North America needs to have some careful planning involved.
Begin with National Parks
One of the main reasons for exploring North America is due to the stunning nature and scenery. But, there’s a broad range of climates and landscapes to see depending on where you are, so it’s wise to browse the national parks USA and Canada to see which sticks out to you. And, when deciding on your favourite, base the trip around this specific point of interest. Or, if you’re smart, you could find two or three that are fairly close to each other.
Choose a city or two
Whilst we tend to look at the states and provinces when looking at a map, cities can differ vastly even inside the same state. So, a bit like with the national parks, try and pick out one or two that you want to see. When you travel to Canada you have the luxury of having most of the major cities in very close proximity. But, some people just want to see live music in New Orleans, or a live show in Vegas. And, unless you have a lot of time and enjoy driving, you shouldn’t expect to see both New Orleans and Vancouver for example – it’s a 41-hour drive.
Less is more
The main take away here is to try and plan to see less than your instincts tell you. That way you can really take your time, stopping off at diners and motels. Often it’s the small-town stops that are the most memorable, particularly with many big cities feeling the same these days. Yet, you can’t really plan for these small stops, because they’re small on the map. Nobody is talking about them online. Yet, they’re hidden gems. Besides a couple of big must-sees, you should enjoy some spontaneity along the way.
Best time of year to go
The best time of year generally speaking will be spring and fall, as these are off-peak seasons that may have milder weather. But, it depends if you’re heading to texas and Florida or Washington and Canada. When heading up north, closer to summer will be more comfortable, and in the south, avoiding tornado season (spring) and blistering hot summer is ideal.
General road trip tips
Below are a summation of some more tips to consider
- Share your driving with someone else to give you rests
- Expect a breakdown and pack accordingly, such as car chargers and jumper cables
- Take regular driving breaks and stop at large stores to save money on food
- Download all the useful driving apps, such car park locations and traffic updates
- Put together the perfect driving playlist
