It might be the middle of winter, but we’re already thinking of summer—and nothing says summer like a road trip! Why? Let us count the ways.
1. Because America Is Beautiful
We live in one of the most amazing countries in the world—from sea to shining sea! Think East Coast delights from the Catskills to the historic wonders of our nation’s capital, Virginia, Massachusetts and the rest of New England… down the coast to the Carolinas, Florida… Think Gulf Coast beaches, southern charm, Texas-sized treats… And we haven’t even talked about the Great Plains or the Great Southwest! The Pacific Northwest, the California coastline… America IS Beautiful! It’s also chock-full of unique towns, fun roadside attractions (The Thing!!) and one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants. Flying in and flying out is excellent, but being a summer road trip brings you up close and personal with much you won’t want to miss.
Prada in Marfa, TX (Photo by Shelby Cohron on Unsplash)
2. Because You Want To Explore A National Park
Think of this as an extension of Reason Number 1: with 58 National Parks scattered the length and breadth of our great country, there’s bound to be one that strikes your fancy. Summertime is a busy time for most-visited parks like Sequoia National Park, Arches National Park and Joshua Tree National Park—not to mention the uber-famous Yellowstone National Park—but there are plenty of others that are off-the-beaten-path and just as impressive (and less packed). If you take a summer road trip down the coast of Florida, for example, follow the Overseas Highway all the way to Key West, find a place to stay and take a ferry out to the Dry Tortugas National Park. The turquoise water is enough to take your breath away, and the history isn’t too shabby, either. On the other side of the nation, try the North Cascades National Park in Washington State. Just three hours from Seattle, this pristine spot combines glaciers, mountains and streams with amazing biodiversity and offers car, boat and RV camping.
Sequoia National Park (Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash)
3. Because You Haven’t Felt That “Open-Road Feeling” In A While
We won’t say “never,” but when was the last time you had a wide-open highway before you and a wide-open highway behind you? There’s nothing like the open road to give you that sense of freedom from all your worries and cares. Grab your bag, grab a friend, grab some snacks and a map (trust us, paper maps are so much more fun when on the road) and get out and grab an adventure!
4. You Need To Catch Up With Those You Love
Bonding on a summer road trip is an age-old rite of passage. Your mom, your sister, your brother, your uncle, your grandparent, your child… Heck, bring on the entire family (just don’t strap grandma to the roof!) With electronics and work sucking up such large chunks of our time, a wireless road trip is perfect for getting conversations going with people you only see on your smartphone screen—and you can always catch up with email when you get to your motel. That is if you even want to! Do you see enough of your family? Ask your best friend to join you. You know, the one you only see once a month—if that. Reminisce about old times and get ready to create new memories. It’s a priceless opportunity!
5. You’ve Seen All The Movies
Who doesn’t have a favorite road trip movie? Of course, some endings leave a little to be desired, but hey, THEY HAD A GREAT TIME GETTING THERE! The music, the food, the road stops, the very cool sunglasses and scarves flowing in the wind… ‘Nuff said.
6. You Want To Vacation, But You’re On A Tight Budget
Even though gasoline prices have gone up and down and who knows where they will go, it’s still a good deal to fill up your tank. Planning a visit out-of-state via the highways and byways saves you money on the cost of plane tickets and a rental car, and you can even save on restaurants by packing your own food, beverages and snacks. Think it will take you more than a day to get to where you’re going? Consider stopping at a campsite instead of a hotel—you’ll save even more! Or… take your RV: it’s the ultimate hotel on wheels that gets you anywhere you want to go.
7. You Want Your Facebook, Twitter, TickTock and Instagram Accounts To Be The Envy Of All Your Friends
We live in the era of social media, so sure, why not? A few fun reels, a ton of awesome shots and clips of you car-dancing to your road trip playlist… The sky’s the limit! Create an online travel journal of your summer road trip and share your experience while saving it for posterity.
