how I plan a trip

Half the time I scrap my plan. Half the time it doesn’t work. Half the time new things come up--and most of the time, my interests change course entirely.

It’s hard to make a plan and stick to it. Your plan is there as an ideal blueprint in that current moment. One of my biggest mistakes when I first started traveling was overplanning. Sure, having an exact, detailed plan of everywhere you want to go, the specific dates, and a solid idea of where you’ll camp can ease some of those first-time jitters. However, you may find it easier and more enjoyable to go with the flow because, naturally, a lot will change.

I use Roadtrippers to plan my trips. The site makes it easy to organize specific destinations, add dates, notes, and share your plan.

Step 1: List

Make a list of the places you want to visit. Anything top of your list? A must-do? Make those a priority.

Once I figure out where I want to go, I start to look at places on the way from destination to destination. I look at places of interest that failed to make my must-see list and check to see how out of the way including them would be. Personally, anything 6-8 hours off track isn’t a big deal. I’m so accustomed to venturing all over that a long drive doesn’t bother me much and tends to add a couple of days at most.

Step 2: Dates

When traveling solo, my last concern was the date I would be somewhere. However, if there’s a specific date you have a permit to backpack or hike somewhere or friends you are trying to plan with, setting a date will help you stay on track--this will also give you a better idea of how long you can be in places leading up to your plans.

Traveling with a partner does require more planning and date setting. Operating on different schedules and having differing needs requires more planning to ensure every destination can be possible.

Step 3: Notes

If I don’t write something down, it’s almost like the thought never existed. I take notes of campgrounds I like, hikes I plan to do, and recommendations others have shared with me. The notes section of my phone is a mess. If I think to do it, I’ll add my specific note in Roadtrippers.

Additionally, it’s always good to share your plan with someone. I try to remember to share my campsites, planned hikes, and when I’ll be in the next city with my mom. Anything can happen, and it’s a good rule of thumb to let someone know the general location of where you are and where you plan to be.

Tip: When planning trips spanning long distances and timeframes, I prefer to separate my trip into chunks, that way it is easier to digest. I will plan my midwest travel separate from my West coast travels, so visuals are less cluttered.