Road Trip in the USA: Our Best Tips
On the road to Monument Valley
Last update: June 2026
The US is THE country for road tripping. Land of legendary roads, huge distances and open spaces, some say you havenāt lived until you have experienced a road trip in the US. Weāre sharing a few tips for a road trip in the USA to help you get ready if you are a road trip newbie.
Find a rental car for your road trip:
Find a place to stay along the way:
What are some tips for a road trip in the USA? Short answer
The US is one of the few places where a road trip is genuinely the best way to see the country, and this guide covers the practical side of making it work: what to have in the car, how to handle distances that are always longer than they look on a map, rental car basics for non-Americans, the co-pilot rules that keep friendships intact, and why a flexible itinerary beats both over-planning and winging it entirely. Built from dozens of US road trips, this is the kind of advice that saves you from finding out the hard way that the next gas station is 200 miles away.
1. Make sure you have all the basics
For a hassle-free road trip in the USA, there are a few things you should make sure to have before getting on the road. These include a cell phone with a car charger, which will be helpful to call road assistance if needed but also to locate hotels, tourist attractions or gas stations. This is especially valid in a country like the US, with great distances between cities in less populated states like Montana or Washington! Fortunately, main roads have signs indicating the last gas station in 300 miles, for example, but if you want to hit the back roads youāll be grateful to have your phone with you!
I find American roads to be really well indicated, and itās quite easy to drive around, even in large cities. However, you might want to bring a GPS and make sure maps are up-to-date. In some remote places like Alaskan country roads, GPS coverage doesnāt work, but you wonāt need it anyway.
Make sure your ID documents are up-to-date and at hand, including your driving license (youāll need an international one if youāre not American), ID card or passport.
Road controls are quite common, especially near the Canadian and Mexican border. Just smile, answer the questions honestly and do what the officer says, and youāll be fine.
Did you know?
With 120 gas pumps, Buc-ee's Sevierville location, in Tennessee, is the worldās largest gas station.
Oh, and donāt go in. Donāt trust the friendly beaver.
Youāll end up eating way too much and spending all your money, because itās like a department store/restaurant in there. Only in America!
Another basic for any road trip is music. Prepare some cool playlists in advance and get ready to sing! There are tons of road trip songs suggestions online. Some personal favorites: Into the Wild and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty soundtracks. They just fit perfectly!
Finally, get some human fuel: beef jerky, coffee and candy bars are almost compulsory! In some states like California, youāll see lots of fruit sellers along the road. Perfect for a healthy and local snack!
2. Stop when you get tired
Most American roads are in excellent conditions, cars are comfortable, and you might be tempted to drive many hours without stopping. Stay on the safe side, stop regularly for coffee and exercising, and when you start to feel tired. Unless youāre camping, you might not be able to find many hotels or motels depending on where you are, so donāt wait until the next oneā¦ which might be in 200 miles!
Most American motels are really nice and usually include breakfast for a decent price. Even if youāre camping, you might consider alternating with motels to get good nights of sleep from time to time.
Donāt worry about food
As a European, I didnāt grow up with food readily available 24/7. But in the US, worry not: there will always be a fast food chain in the next 5 miles ā except in less populated states like Montana or Alaska.
Here at Waffle House!
3. Choose your ideal co-pilot
If you are not on your own, share the driving and pick the right co-pilot! What does it mean? Well, the perfect co-pilot should keep you awake but should also allow you to concentrate on the road and enjoy a bit of silence! Personally, I canāt stop singing and yelling when I see beautiful landscapes, and I know this gets on Jakeās nerves!
Co-pilots should also be good with maps and orientation (Iāve traveled with people who hesitate between their left and right), and give you some heads up of the right direction to take. There is nothing more frustrating than somebody shouting you to ātuuuuuurn here!!!ā, when it is already too late.
Finally, your ideal co-pilot will gather some tourist information before the trip and use a travel guide along the way to spot the attractions to see, the best restaurants, etc. This, I can do!
4. Check your car before you go (or before you rent it)
Before you hit the road, make sure to have your car checked. This will save you a lot of potential hassle and expenses during your trip! Check your insurance to make sure youāre covered in each state you plan to visit, especially if you come from another country.
In Alaska, the car rental company warned us about moose and bear jams: when cars stopped to watch wildlife!
If youāre renting a car, make sure you know how it works before you leave the rental agency. Donāt be afraid to ask the staff to show you. American cars, for example, are quite different from European cars, as most are equipped with automatic transmission.
If youāre renting a camper van, youāll definitely need somebody to show you everything before getting started. Check and film the car, and report any unmarked damage before leaving.
Bear in mind that most rental agencies will require an extra fee for coverage if youāre planning to visit Mexico or Canada. Do inform them in advance to avoid unnecessary trouble later on.
5. Have things at hand
If youāre not very organized, get a tidy co-pilot. Although your car will probably get dirty with all these cool unpaved roads and muddy hikes, it doesnāt mean that it should be a mess. To save time and make the most of your trip, try to have everything at hand and assign a place for food, another one for clothes, etc. Avoid large suitcases, which take a lot of space in the car boot and are not very handy, and prefer backpacks.
Driving in the Everglades: watch out for aligators!
If youāre camping, space will most likely be a challenge, and you donāt want to leave visible things in the car, as potential thieves will deduce that your trunk is full. Choose a tent which can easily be folded and get an inflatable mattress. Try to identify whatās really essential (do you really need camping chairs and a folding table?). If you havenāt thought about it, you can hide many things underneath the seats!
Penguin tip:
Keep a few basics at hand like a swimsuit, a rain jacket and hiking boots, so you can enjoy every interesting spot along the way!
6. Have a flexible plan for your road trip in the USA
Finally, have a flexible plan. Try to find the right balance between planning every detail and travel randomly with no plan at all. If your time is limited, youāll want to plan your global itinerary to make the most of your trip, while allowing some extra time and flexibility for a bit of adventure along the way. Youāll most likely find special places, meet cool people, and itās nice to allow yourself to stay a bit longer!
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Here is my personal Thanksgiving playlist, which I think also works well for a US trip:
I hope these few tips will allow you to get ready for the road trip of your life. And remember, āLife is a hiiighwayā!
Finally, explore all our USA Travel Guides here.
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Looking for cool road trips ideas?
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āļø Into the Wild: Alaska Travel Guide
