Teaching women how to take their first solo road trip is one of the greatest joys of my life. Seriously, road trips are my favorite way to travel. I have seen over 40 of the 50 US states by car and I am here to pass on all of that knowledge. I want all women to know that they too can road trip alone as a female. The following are my top 7 topics for a solo road trip. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Gas: Your Best and Worst Friend
There are so many nuances to gas when it comes to road trips. Typically this is one of the bigger parts of any road trip budget. When it comes to budgeting for gas it really depends on where you are goings. If you plan to be in the northeast or you are traveling up the west coast then you can expect to pay more. If you are in the deep south and parts of the southwest then you can expect for gas to be cheaper.
I wrote a post about gas tips that you can find here. If you are planning on being in the mountains, in very hot temperatures, or plan on putting the pedal to the metal then you are going to want to budget extra money. Traveling up and down mountain hills is going to suck your gas up. If you are in Arizona in the peak of summer than you can expect your gas to evaporate. Make sure you are planning for this.
My biggest tip is to alway be aware of your surroundings. If you are going to be in a super isolated area then you want to plan for this. You don’t want to be in rural Colorado with less than ten miles left and no cell service. I know, because I have done it. Luckily a nice local found me. By found me, I mean that I was waving down strangers.
Renting or Driving You Own
This is a big decision and it can greatly affect your budget. If you are renting then you shouldn’t have to worry about your tires, oil changes, getting your car ready and what not. You can also get a fuel efficient car that could save you big on your gas budget.
On the other hand. If you can’t find a deal, and you are planning on traveling long term, then you can end up spending quite a bit of money. If you are going to be on the road for several weeks then you probably want to bring your own car. Whatever you will save in gas in maintenance will be eaten up in rental fees.
Stay Hydrated
This is my biggest safety tip. You should make sure that you have good old water with you no matter where you are going or what else you are drinking. It is super easy to get dehydrated while out on the road. You might be driving though very dry areas like the southwest. Altitude, weather, time of day, diet changes, all of that will effect your hydration.
I always make sure that I carry two things regarding water on every road trip. This includes a reusable water bottle, and a couple of plastic water bottles. I always have water bottles in the back of my car. This is applicable even if I am not on a road trip.
This ensures that no matter what happens during my trip, I will be able to get some water. Being hydrated is a great way to avoid altitude sickness, catching a bug, and becoming dehydrated while drinking.
Safety
I always travel with a weapon. This usually includes my little bat which doubles as a flash light (the blind them and beat them method) and a couple of knives. I will keep a smaller knife in my middle console. I will also keep a larger knife in the pocket at the back of my seat.
There are other safety tips that I often give to women and you can find those here. The short list includes monitoring my drinks, always taking a taxi/ ride share at night, not taking short cuts, and having a check in buddy. Fun face: I don’t actually drink alcohol when I travel alone. This way if I start to feel funny, I know something is up.
Stretching Your Budget
There are plenty of ways that you can try to stretch your budget on a solo road trip. One of those ways is to stay in Airbnb instead of in a hotel. If you are looking for a coupon code, you can find mine right here. If you are willing to pay for the membership, then you can also make the attempt to try out trusted house sitters. This way you can stay somewhere for free in exchange for watching the host’s pets.
You can also keep some money in your pocket by making some of your meals instead of eating out. Try to limit the amount of spending that you do at convenience stores. I also recommend that you make sure that you avoid getting your gas in isolated areas of the country because you might spend up to a dollar more than you would in the city/ populated areas.
Know Your Limits:
I have spent up to 22 days on the road. It took me years to be able to work up to that though. I always suggest that people start small when it comes to learning their limits for a solo road trip. You don’t want to plan to be driving ten hours a day for a week only to realize that you can’t spend more than 4 hours in the car without being miserable.
If you are new to a solo road trip then you should probably start with maybe a weekend trip or something local. Try to drive 3-4 hours away and see how you feel. When you get comfortable with that, then you can branch out. I know that I can do 6-7 hours in the car and be fine. I know that anything over 8 hours makes me pretty miserable.
When you know your limits you can better construct a trip where you can enjoy yourself. Any person that is hitting the road is going to get tired after weeks on the road. If you are doing a long trip then I suggest shorter distances between locations. This way the stress of driving doesn’t damper the thrill of the trip.
Cash is King
No matter what country you are traveling in, you need to be carrying cash on you. This is definitely the case when you are on a solo road trip. You never know when you will run into a toll or restaurant where you can’t use a card. If this is the case, then you are going to want to make sure that you have some cash.
I will make sure that I have some cash in my wallet but will keep a majority of my cash hidden in my car. This way, I don’t have to worry about being in a situation where I can’t get what I need. Also, there are some instances where you are in a place where you don’t want to use your card. Let’s be honest, there are sketch restaurants and people everywhere.
There you have it! My guide to a solo road trip as a female traveler. You can find my other post about a solo female road trip here. You can also find my list of road trip essentials right here. There is also my guide to long road trips right here. Travel safe my friends!