Planning the Perfect Road Trip

Road trips have become one of the best ways to see America, but planning one can be really difficult. With 48 states to choose from, it's hard to remember all of the places and activities available. Below are some tips for making your trip one to remember.

Get A National Park Pass
A national park or two is sure to pop up on any road trip list of sights to see, but if you take a look at the parks available and decide to visit quite a few, buying an annual park pass could actually save you some money. The National Park Pass not only gives the cardholder access to all of the national parks throughout the country, but it also provides a discount on camping fees and free entry for those who travel in the same vehicle! Parks of interest include Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Everglades National Park. The pass is $80, but for those with permanent disabilities it's free and for seniors it's only $10.

Unique Places
Any long road trip can be boring, but there are plenty of interesting places to stop at along the way for little or no cost. Ghost towns can always be interesting and although most of them aren't that scary, they're interesting historical sites. Shoe trees are also fun places to stop along the way, there is one off of Highway 50, the Loneliest Highway in America. Even if you find yourself lacking a pair of shoes to toss up, seeing them is pretty interesting, each one has it's own distinctive story to tell. Roadside attractions can also be entertaining places to stop, usually a small fee is charged, but the memories of seeing the largest ball of yarn can be irreplaceable. Also, try finding free places like the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Common Places
When planning a trip it's easy to forget the small, common places that we simply don't think of including. Sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Chinatown in San Francisco can often be overlooked if the road trip is geared toward more outdoor experiences. However, these places are the ones that are fun to have visited when you're back at home watching movies and see one of these commonly featured landmarks.

State Parks
If you're going to be spending a lot of time in a certain state, the state parks may be a good place to visit. They often have locations that really embody the true nature of the state. Florida has great state parks like Myakka River State Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and Florida Caverns State Park. Like national parks, state parks usually have great places to camp and this can give a nice break to your credit card or check book if you've already spent a lot of money on your trip.

Road trips have become an American tradition and there is so much to see and do that it's a shame to miss out on any of the spendor of such a great country. So while planning a road trip, take your time, these are memories you'll treasure for the rest of your life!