10 Reasons Why You Should Take That Solo Road Trip
Have you ever wanted to just get in your car and take a road trip all by yourself? Ever wanted to just escape the world for a bit and drive somewhere you’ve never been? Ever since I moved to California, I’ve always wanted to take a solo road trip up the coast and see where I end up. I’ve done a couple mini ones, but want to eventually do a big one where I just drive and drive until I’m content.
Everyone should take a solo road trip at least once in their lives, and I’m going to give you 10 reasons as to why it’ll be one of the best decisions you ever make. It’s time we stop talking about it and just do it!
1. It’s so liberating because you are in charge of everything!
Where do you want to go? What do you want to do when you get there? Where do you want to stop along the way? On your solo road trip you get to make all of the decisions. There is no one with you to influence the decisions you make. You can drive up the California coast and straight into Canada if you want to. You can stop and eat at that diner you saw off the highway. You can go to that used bookstore in the middle of that tiny town. You can end your night at that touristy bar that you’re family would have wanted to avoid. Ultimately, you are in charge and you control everything about this solo road trip. The ball is always in your court and that can be so freeing.
2. You can go as fast or as slow as you want
When we travel with others there’s always a deadline. Someone needs to be back for work or someone just can’t be away from home for too long. When you embark on a solo road trip, that isn’t the case. You are the only one you have to worry about so you can take your time. Maybe you want to escape the world for a couple weeks or even a couple months. Maybe you just want to be gone for three to four days. Either way, you have full control of your timeframe and no one can tell you when it’s time to go home. You can take a much or as little time as you want to see all the beauty that your solo road trip has to offer.
3. You are solely in charge of the driving playlist
I know that my music tastes are quite different from the people I would normally take a trip with, so oftentimes my music doesn’t get played on the trips. That wouldn’t be the case on a solo road trip. When you decide to take your solo road trip, you are allowed to play whatever music you want the entire time. And you are allowed to sing every song as loud as you want and as many times as you want. So roll those windows down and sing along loudly to your throwback Disney playlist as you make your way to your final destination.
4. It gives you the chance to be just with yourself; no stress, no distractions
Sometimes we can get caught up in a lot of different things where we’re just at home. There’s work, bills, family, friends, and maintaining an active life that all affect how we live. Once you hop in your car for that long-awaited solo road trip those things will fade away. You’ll just be alone with yourself, traveling to a place you want to see, and doing all the things you want to do. A solo road trip gives you the opportunity to just forget the pressures that come from your daily life for a little while. Don’t worry, they’ll be waiting for you when you get back, so take the time to enjoy your trip away from them.
5. You can ask for directions whenever you want or need to
Sometimes we can get lost, especially if we decide to spontaneously stray from the beaten path while on our solo road trip. So, if you need to or you want to ask for directions, there’s no one stopping you! You can literally pull over at a gas station and ask the clerk for some help getting you back to the highway if you need to. Because you will be traveling solo, there won’t be someone in the car saying over and over again that they can get you back to the highway without asking for help. Sometimes you would rather ask for directions, and on your solo road trip, you can do just that.
6. All the car snacks are yours
You won’t have to share any of your snacks! Whether it’s the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that you brought with you from home or it’s the bag of beef jerky and energy drink that you got at your last gas station stop, they are all yours. There is no one in the car with you on your solo road trip that you have to share your car snacks with. Also, you can buy and bring whatever snacks you want! Moms not there to tell you that bag of chips is unhealthy. And your gluten-free best friend isn’t there to substitute all the bread with something else. All the snacks are yours and yours only.
7. You can stop and take as many photos as you want
As your driving along, I’m sure there are going to be some things you’ll want to take pictures of. While on your solo road trip, you can stop off and take as many photos as you like and no one can tell you otherwise. See a cool mountain landscape? Pullover and take a picture of it. See a beautiful desert sunset on your longest stretch of road? Definitely, pull over and take a picture of it. Come upon an old-looking building that would be perfect for your old-timey photo collection? You pull over and take a photo of it. There’s no one to say “let’s just keep going.” You can make as many photo stops as you would like.
8. You have complete financial control
A trip needs finances, and you have complete control over what your budget will be and how you’ll spend your money. Whether you decide that you want to stay at a cute Airbnb, book yourself a room at a hotel, or create a cozy bed in your car, again you get to make that choice. Let’s say one day you want to eat at a swanky spot in the town your passing through and the next night you just feel like grabbing something quick from a fast food joint. You can spend your money how you want to when you are on a solo road trip. You won’t have to adjust your budget to fit the needs of your companions, because you won’t have any.
9. You deserve it!
We’ve all gone through quite the year, and I don’t think there’s a better time to embark on a solo road trip. You’ve survived some pretty big challenges and you deserve to take some time off for yourself. Don’t try to convince yourself that you don’t deserve to go on that solo road trip that you’ve always wanted to, because you do. We all do. So start planning now and when the time comes for you to venture out on your own, pack up your car, turn on the tunes, and go to the places you’ve always wanted to and do the things you have yet to.
10. You’ll fall in love with the world and yourself
On your solo road trip, you’ll see beautiful things. You’ll travel to places you’ve probably never been, you’ll meet incredible people along the way, and you’ll become better in tune with yourself. This trip will give you the opportunity to fall in love with the world. It will also give you the opportunity to fall in or re-in love with yourself. You’ll discover all that the world has to offer and the beauty that it holds, all while discovering that you’re resilient, capable of handling adversity, and able to take care of yourself. What’s better than that?
