There’s nothing quite like a road trip – hitting the open road and visiting places you’ve never been to is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But, mapping out your route and booking all your hotels ahead of time is important to make sure you have the most fun-filled, safe, and stress-free trip possible.
One of my favorite road trips (that I’ve taken more times than I can count) is driving from Austin to Big Bend National Park. Watching the landscape morph from urban sprawl to breathtakingly beautiful, wide-open desert always makes me feel distinctly alive, in the best way possible.
For me, on trips like this planning is not just about finding hotels along my route. It’s a step-by-step process.
Plan where you want to stop, from local attractions to restaurants. Secure all your lodging reservations, and consider different accommodation options if there are no hotels, like motels and bed-and-breakfasts.
Using KAYAK's travel tools, like the Trip Calculator and the mobile app, is the perfect way to do this while taking advantage of loyalty programs and discounts. With the app, you can also access your travel plans offline.
Let's dive in.
Plan ahead for a smooth journey
When it comes to road-tripping, nailing the correct mixture of planning and spontaneity is key.
You know your destination, but figuring out your route and where you’ll stop will save you a lot of time (and stress).
To plan the best route, try not to spend too many hours driving per day – it’s more fun if you can stop to see things along the way.
If you have ample vacation time, plan on driving a maximum of five or six hours per day.
In terms of where to stay, consider small-to-mid-sized towns if affordability is a concern, and opt for cities if your primary goal is to stay near attractions and restaurants.
Book your accommodation
Once you’ve figured out your route, it’s time to get booking, especially if you’ll be driving during peak travel season or in popular tourist areas.
Some hotels, motels, and campgrounds can sell out months in advance, leaving you without a place to sleep.
Take it from me – I’ve made the mistake on road trips (more times than I care to admit here) of not reserving hotels, only to show up somewhere and have to sleep in my car for the night.
To avoid this, make sure you confirm all your reservations ahead of time. A month is likely fine for small-scale destinations, but for road trips through more popular regions, book three or four months ahead of time.
Discover local attractions
When you’re planning the places you want to stay, this is also a good time to fill in your stops in each town. Do some research and jot down the destinations you want to stop at.
For instance, on my road trip from Austin to Big Bend, I always stop for coffee and tacos in Fredericksburg, check out art galleries in Marfa, and stay at my favorite bed-and-breakfast in Marathon before venturing on to the park.
I also always pack a cooler with water and snacks, since there aren’t a ton of restaurants to stop at in between Fredericksburg and Marfa – and I like saving myself for dinner in Marfa, which has a surprisingly good culinary scene considering it’s in the middle of the West Texas desert.
Pack smart
This brings up another key point, always have a cooler to keep your snacks and drinks cold between meal stops, just in case you end up somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of food options.
You should also pack all the essentials for your trip so you don’t have to make any unnecessary stops. For example, a basic first-aid kit, jumper cables, a spare tire, and a charger for your phone.
Packing smart helps avoid unnecessary stops and ensures you have the smoothest road trip possible.
Utilize KAYAK tools
If you need help mapping out your route and booking the best places to stay, KAYAK has the most helpful tools you can use.
KAYAK’s Map helps you find accommodations close to your route. You can then read reviews to see which hotel best suits you. Sign up for Price Alert to know when hotel prices change for your destination, and receive customized alerts for your road trip locations and travel dates.
Another tool that comes in handy when preparing for a road trip is KAYAK’s Trip Calculator, which helps estimate your travel budget.
On that note, always give yourself a budget before you leave, so you have a realistic idea of what you’ll be spending, and you won’t run the risk of running out of funds on the road.
Check for amenities and services in hotels along your route
When it comes to finding the best hotels along the route, it’s crucial to have a list of amenities and services that are important to you.
For example, if you’re traveling with kids, you might want to check if the hotel is family-friendly. If you need to get some work done during your trip, high-speed Wi-Fi (and maybe a business center, or at least an in-room desk) is a must-have.
Other amenities to consider looking for include free parking, proximity to attractions you want to see, flexible check-in and check-out times, laundry facilities, and dining options that are on-site or nearby.
If you’re traveling with pets, check that your hotel allows furry friends. Some pet-friendly hotels allow dogs and cats to stay for free or for a small fee.
In your hotel search, use KAYAK's filters to determine which hotels have the amenities and services that suit your needs.
You can select "Freebies" such as free internet and free parking, "Amenities" such as pet-friendly or "Style" of a hotel such as family.
Trust me it will save you a bunch of time and energy.
Leverage KAYAK mobile
To take as much stress out of your trip as possible, plan to use a travel app that helps you search hundreds of travel sites at once, see your travel plans offline, and enjoy access to exclusive mobile-only deals.
KAYAK’s all-in-one Mobile App allows you to do all of this and more.
Another feature of this tool is the ability to save searches to your “Wishlist”. This way you can get alerts on when to book the best price.
Consider alternate accommodation options
So, what should you do if there are no hotels along the route? Or if you haven’t booked far enough i advance? You’ve got a few options in this case (and it never hurts to have a backup plan anyway).
Motels and bed-and-breakfasts are great alternatives to hotels. Or for a good budget-friendly option, campgrounds are readily available in most places.
Motels
You will see lots of motels along highways, making them very convenient for road-trippers. Just keep in mind that most motels are no-frills, with little to no amenities.
Still, they’re usually cheap and often have free or discounted parking. If you’ll be gone for a long stretch of time, staying at motels can really help you save money.
Seek out well-known chains with good reviews, as these often have the best standards for cleanliness and hospitality.
B&Bs
Bed-and-breakfasts are another good option when you’re on the road. These are generally houses or otherwise small lodging establishments that offer a home-cooked breakfast with the cost of the room.
The biggest benefit of staying at a bed-and-breakfast is the emphasis on personalized service. Expect a warm welcome from staff who are generally more than happy to provide local recommendations.
Campgrounds
Finally, campgrounds can be convenient and cheap if you are up for it. The best strategy in this case is to have researched campgrounds near where you want to visit or you can ask locals once you are there.
If you want to stay the night in a campground, make sure that this is allowed, that the area is safe and that you can leave any time you need.
Conclusion
Planning the perfect road trip involves work. Rather than just showing up in a place and hoping to find a hotel, it’s best to map out your route and book hotels in advance. For the best way to book hotels and plan the best trip, use tools like KAYAK’s Trip Calculator, Hotel Map, the search filters, and the mobile app.
Looking to rent a car? Check out KAYAK’s car rental guide to learn all you need to know about finding the best rental price and understand different insurance options.
If you enjoyed this article, check out the road trip guide and find out more tips and hacks useful for your next trip.
