Plan Your Route: Where to Travel on Your Epic American Road Trip

By Shilo Urban, intrepid world traveler.

Dreaming about your upcoming road trip? Planning your route is part of the fun, whether you want to cruise up the East Coast in a campervan or explore the West Coast in an RV. Enjoying the ride is easy, but deciding which route to take can be difficult – especially when you want to go everywhere!

Ask yourself these questions to help narrow it down:

• What is your budget?
   
• What season will you be traveling, and how might the weather affect your trip?
   
• How much time do you have?
   
• Do you prefer a fast-paced trip that covers a lot of ground, or a slower adventure that focuses on one or two regions?
   
• What highlights are you most excited about experiencing on your trip? Put these in order of priority to figure out what’s really important to you:
  • Spectacular natural scenery
  • Buzzing big cities
  • Charming small towns
  • Beautiful beaches
  • Snow-capped mountains
  • Desert wilderness
  • Amazing wildlife
  • Quirky roadside stops
  • Outdoor adventures
  • Nightlife/thrills
  • Culture/history

Experience Epic National Parks

Immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of America at awe-inspiring National Parks. Drop your jaw peering over the rim of the Grand Canyon. See ancient sequoia trees and towering waterfalls at Yosemite. Cruise through the surreal landscape of Death Valley and camp near gushing geysers at Yellowstone. Feel free and embrace the outdoors in America’s vast wilderness.

5 Fantastic Road Trips: Our Favorite Routes

Southwest’s Best: Los Angeles to Las Vegas via the Grand Canyon
Season: Year-round
Time: 7-14 days
Best for: Nightlife/thrills, deserts, and spectacular natural scenery

Pacific Coast Highway: Los Angeles to San Francisco via the California Coast
Season: Spring through fall
Time: 7-10 days
Best for: Beaches, wildlife, and spectacular natural scenery

New England Adventure: New York City to Montreal via Boston
Season: Late spring through fall
Time: 7-12+ days
Best for: Culture/history, charming small towns, nightlife/thrills

Pacific Northwest Explorer: Portland to Seattle via Olympic National Park
Season: Spring through fall
Time: 7-14 days
Best for: Outdoor adventures, snow-capped mountains, and natural scenery

Historic Route 66: Chicago to Los Angeles via the Southwest
Season: Year-round
Time: 10-21 days
Best for: Quirky roadside stops, small towns, natural scenery, culture/history

Discover more great road trips on Bakpak's website, including quick trips, popular routes, and cross-country adventures.

Road Trip Planning Tools: Websites and Apps

Find just what you’re looking for, including total route planners, offbeat attractions, cool restaurants, services, and maps.

• Rand McNally TripMaker: One of the best route planning sites, TripMaker provides an estimate of miles, time, and fuel cost for your trip.
   
• Good Sam’s Club Trip Routing tool
   
• Campground Information and Bookings
  
  • Campground Reservations - Reserve America
  • Campground images
  • Free campsites
  • Good Sam’s Club RV Park Listings
  • Good Sam’s Club RV Top 100 RV Parks
     
• National Parks information
   
• California State Parks information
   
• Gasbuddy: Find the cheapest places to refuel.
   
• Maps.Me: Download detailed maps of your destination to use offline when you’re heading off the beaten track.
   
• iExit: Discover which services are available at upcoming highway exits, including gas stations, restaurants, and rest areas.
   
• Waze: Get the lowdown from locals on driving conditions: traffic, construction, and speed traps.
   
• Along the Way: Track down anything you need along the way, including supermarkets, drug stores, restrooms, and coffee shops.
   
• Roadfood: Find authentic regional eats (no chains) along highways and in small towns and cities.

Need more help? Get a Quote from Bakpak Dave for friendly, expert advice on booking a RV, Motorhome or campervan for your next USA road trip adventure.