How to Plan a Road Trip for the Western United States

Go sightseeing while cruising in a car

One of the best ways to travel the Western United States is in a car. To explore some of the best cities in the United States, plan a road trip with friends or family. Traveling from city to city on the open road is a great way to spend quality time with some of your favorite people, while taking in the incredible sights along the way. When going on a road trip, you have control over the entire excursion. By planning your journey in advance you will minimize traveling stress, and just enjoy visiting the Western part of the country.

Things You'll Need

• Car
• Food
• Clothes
• Music
• Games
• Map
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Decide how long you want to travel.

2. Chose which cities and states in the Western United States you want to visit.

3. Allot how many days you will spend in each city.

4. View a map and decide on the most logical route---whether you are traveling north to south, east to west. Make sure you can stop in each city you wish to visit along the way.

5. Decide which cities you will spend the night in, and for how long. Make hotel reservations in each of those cities in advance of your departure.

6. Rent a car for the journey if you don't have your own. Make the car reservation in advance of your departure and determine how much the rental will cost for the days you will be en route. Since you are traveling in the Western part of the United States, public transportation is not widely accessible.

7. If you are taking your own car on the road trip, get it serviced before departing. Go to your local mechanic to have fluids and tires checked. Also, get an oil change and an overall car inspection.

8. Pack a bag for the excursion, including various clothing for the climate changes. Some basics include a swimsuit, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts and a heavy rain jacket. Also, remember to pack sandals for the south, and some hiking boots for the north.

9. Plan which activities you will take part in while visiting each city. Some ideas include hiking the Grand Canyon, visiting the Northern California Redwoods, exploring Hollywood or skiing in Colorado.

10. Since you will be in the car for extended periods of time, bring along some healthy food for the journey, so you don't have to eat a lot of fast foods. Most importantly, bring a lot of bottled water.

11. Bring plenty of entertainment for the road trip, such as car games and music. The radio won't be available in certain areas, so load up the iPod and CDs.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to print out reservation confirmations before leaving.

• Make sure to budget all expenses so you aren't surprised by unexpected costs.

• Remember to account for the cost of gas.

• Make sure you know where gas stations are located on your route.

• Make sure you have your driver's license and car registration handy.

• Bring an electronic GPS if you have one.

• If the driver gets tired, make sure to pull over and switch drivers, or rest at a safe rest stop.

• Write down a lot of lists, including a list of cities, states and a checklist of items to bring.

• Bring a travel guide book.

References

• Travel Guides