The Joys of a Road Trip

Cruise control: on. That’s always one indication of a road trip, regardless of if the destination is 2 hours away or 12 hours away. From driving through rolling hills and mountain ranges through the Mountain West to the rolling meadows of Kentucky and Tennessee and the long stretches of the national highway system — like I-35 or Route 66 — to rounding the spokes of city highways, a road trip can inspire and lead you to locations that you never thought you end up in.

Why do people the nation-over love road trips? It’s not just that you have the freedom and flexibility to go wherever you want, but also it’s cost effective and allows for people to have a sense of adventure.

Flexibility

Do you stop along your route a lot for bodily relief or picking up snacks or for gas or for the quirky roadside attraction? Not a problem! One of the benefits of driving by automobile is that you have your planning and agenda of where to stop or when to keep driving is all your own volition.

Regardless of if you have a certain time to get to your destination or if you have hours upon hours to drive the open roads, there’s something special about knowing your schedule is up to you and only you.

Mindfulness and Mental and Emotional Benefits

Your brain has to be switched on to the nth degree because, as a driver, you’re barreling forward at 70mph on asphalt. However, there’s something that mentally helps you as you drive for hours on end. There’s time to think, time to brainstorm, time to reflect, time to dream. 

Plus, as RoadTripSoul has mentioned, you need to set down your phone as you’re driving, allowing you to expand utilizing your brain rather than constantly scrolling and having that “brain rot” or "doom scroll" to happen.

If you have another individual or you’re traveling with a full car, it’s helpful to further those relationships by having conversations or by playing car games. Let’s face it, who hasn’t played the License Plate game or I Spy while driving? 

Having that time to mindfully put into practice how to drive and ensure that you and your passengers are safe is something to remember is beneficial… and not stressful.

Adventure and Discovery

Although you can arrive at an airport or train station to then travel to your (possibly more rugged) destination, having a car is helpful in cutting out the middle man in that scenario. That’s a great thing, and one of the benefits of a car: you can drive wherever you want, including to the place you need to be going — and then some.

For many, a road trip of any length is one of the most thrilling and freeing experiences, allowing people to let go of some inhibitions and, maybe, say goodbye to some set schedules or checklist items. If there’s a kitschy tourist site off the side of a road, that’s the joy of a road trip. You can pull off at that exit and go for a little jaunt, possibly even pop to a local restaurant or bar. 

What’s more, the flexibility in road trips means that you can drive up the mountain or head to the lake or the headwaters of a river and have a picnic, read a book, enjoy the outdoors, for as long or short as you’d like. If a storm’s rolling in, it’s easy to throw everything in the trunk or backseat and head back home, to a hotel, or your destination for that day.

Cost Savings

Another one of the biggest road trip benefits that many espouse in comparison to planes or trains is the cost savings associated with car travel. A budget friendly road trip, regardless of the distance, usually comes to mind when it comes to the finances of the trip, specifically gas prices. However, it’s not just cost savings with gas prices (versus train or plane tickets… plus cabs, if you require one, to get to the station).

Other cost savings could include bringing your own food on a road trip rather than stopping off at fast food restaurants or eating at a sit-down restaurant. Furthermore, and what’s maybe even more fun for the whole road trip crew, bring your own food and, instead of just eating in a car, stop off at a roadside attraction or rest stop and have a picnic on a wooden table. Quaint but lovely.

So yes, there are many benefits to road trips, especially with there being flexibility in road trips, but many other advantages. Although some may enjoy a train trip or prefer plane travel, if you’re thinking about adventuring out on a road trip, it might as well be the right time now.