Why Road Trips are Better Than Flying

Road trips are a great way to save money and spend valuable time with your friends or family. Whether you are visiting family for the holidays or going on a fun adventure with friends, road trips are often the better way to create valuable memories and genuinely enjoy the experience. The following discussion highlights why road trips are better than flying when traveling in the United States. 

Reasons to consider road trips instead of flying

In addition to an overall better experience, road trips are better than flying as they can save you money and allow you the freedom to bring anything you want and plan every detail of your trip. This is, of course, in addition to minimizing the risk of contracting COVID-19 and not having to go through the stringent COVID-19 restrictions that airlines have implemented. 

Save money

You can save a significant amount of money by driving instead of flying if you are traveling with three or more people. Plane tickets can be expensive, in addition to the additional costs for excess luggage, food and beverages and entertainment. Flying typically involves paying for overnight parking, rental cars and more as well. On the other hand, the cost of driving is far less expensive than the total cost of plane tickets and additional expenses. In fact, many are able to save several hundred dollars when choosing to road trip instead of fly. 

Bring anything you want

You can bring anything you want with you on road trips. This includes additional luggage, home-made snacks and even your dog. Unless you pay the high additional charges for luggage, you are limited to very little of your belongings when flying. Of course, you should plan ahead to ensure you pack in an organized manner, overpacking is always better than not being able to bring anything that you need or want when traveling. Whether you want to bring your dog to the beach on vacation or bring the golf clubs on a family trip, road tripping gives you the freedom to pack as you desire.

Improve the overall experience

Nature has so much to offer, and you can miss so much of it when flying over it rather than driving. In addition, airports are rarely a fun experience. They are typically overcrowded and feel more formal than they do fun. Road trips, however, are a blast. You can listen to podcasts, create a playlist, plan your route to see fun destinations and take breaks to eat whenever you desire, all while spending time with family or friends. 

Tailor your trip your way

Airlines stick to a strict schedule. The pressure to arrive on time and not miss your flight can damper the entire experience. When going on a road trip instead, you have much more flexibility, thus reducing the pressure to meet every scheduled stop and allowing everyone to have a less stressful experience. As mentioned, you can also plan to stop at fun destination points, such as your family’s favorite restaurant, a cool museum or a state park. 

Create memories with family and friends

The memories you can create during a road trip simply cannot be matched when flying. Driving presents far more fun adventure opportunities and the ability to take more photos. Road trips are a way for you and your family and friends to spend a lot of quality time together. These fun memories are certain to last for a long time, far longer than the memories of sitting in an airport for hours due to a delayed flight. 

Road trips are better because you reduce the risk of COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has made travel more challenging. States have taken action to restrict or discourage travel, making it more challenging to find a flight to your destination. In addition, many airlines have restricted the number of passengers they allow on flights and have had to enforce strict safety measures (i.e. wearing masks for the entire duration of the flight) to ensure everyone is safe during each flight.

Driving can be a more comfortable and less worrisome experience as you are traveling with people you know and do not have the same level of risk as you may have on a flight. While, of course, you should still take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, many prefer to road trip instead of fly during the pandemic to make the trip safer. 

Tips to improve your road trip experience 

Road trips are often better than flying, but it is important to properly plan your trip ahead of time to ensure the best experience possible. This should include establishing your budget by calculating your expenses for gas, food and lodging along the way. 

Entertainment while in the car should also be planned ahead, especially if you have children that are traveling with you. This may include creating playlists for the car, choosing movies to play in the backseat deciding on fun stops to make along the way. If you plan to watch movies on your laptop or tablet, be sure that you fully charge your devices ahead of time, unless you have a portable charger to bring with you. 

You should also make sure your car is in the ideal condition for a road trip as well. This should include an oil change (if due for your next one), checking all of the lights on the vehicle (headlights, taillights, etc.) and inspecting the tires. Be sure to also carry a spare and all of the necessary tools to change your tire. If there are any issues with the headlights or taillights, then you may need to have them cleaned or replaced prior to departing on your road trip. 

Final Thoughts

Flying may seem like the easy option, but it often turns out more complicated than it is worth. On the other hand, many who choose to road trip enjoy their experience far more than they anticipated. While there are times when flying may be more appropriate, the typical trip with your family or friends is often more memorable when traveled by road.