How to Plan a Bucket List Road Trip
For many wanderlust travelers, the classic American road trip is the destination itself–a journey that personifies the American landscape, making it an important character in our life story.
But road trips need not be defined by gas station food, questionable hotels, or overnight rentals with disappointing views. In fact, road travel can be anything from a rugged adventure to a luxury experience.
An RV rental supplies road-trippers with both the vehicle and the destination. Worldwide Nate says of his bucket list RV trip, “The RV experience was fun because of the freedom it offers to go and sleep where you want. It was a different way of living because you're off the grid but still have the amenities of a home or a hotel in one vehicle.”
Stay comfortable in an RV’s cozy confines. Tuck into a hot meal made fresh in your own kitchen. Sink into a clean bed at night. And never stay anywhere without a good view again.
Ready to plan your bucket list road trip? Grab a pen and paper, make yourself a cup of coffee–let’s get planning. No better time than a brand new year to make plans for the future you wish to see.
Love antiquing at rural brocantes, thrift stores, flea markets, and vintage fairs? Hop in an RV and hit all the best collector venues in each state.
Have a love for baseball? Travel to see games in all 30 MLB stadiums and savor the local flavors along the way: a Skyline Chili dog in Philly, or a Chicago Dog at Wrigley Field, just to name a few.
Fancy yourself a history buff? Travel deeper into the country and learn more about the beginnings of the land you call home.
Have you always wanted to learn to ride a horse on a real Montana ranch? Or maybe you’ve been dreaming of sailing the sweeping surface of Lake Michigan? Maybe you’ve never lived near snow, and mastering a course on cross-country skis is a challenge that excites you.
Consider the things you’ve always wanted to learn, but never felt like you had the time. Add these experiences, classes, or lessons to your bucket list.
As you get older, it’s easy to forget your lofty childhood dreams. But those dreams are still there, along with your inner child. Get back in touch with this childlike curiosity and wonder.
Were you always spooked, yet fascinated, by Alcatraz island as a kid? Hop in the RV and head to San Francisco.
Maybe your child self dreamt about drinking all the world’s Coca-Cola flavors at the Atlanta headquarters. Sample them all and pop some in the RV fridge to enjoy later.
Or have you always wanted to get lost in the world’s largest corn maze in Illinois? Head to the midwest during harvest season and camp in America’s heartland.
Memories are closely linked to our senses. The fresh scent of evergreens, fir, and cedar dripping in morning dew smells like the Pacific Northwest. The honeyed taste of the first Georgia peach pie of the season tastes like summer. The synchronized fireflies lighting up Appalachian forests in June look like magic. Wild wolves calling over the Alaskan tundra sound haunting, yet beautiful.
Bucket list items don’t have to be monumental to be memorable. When we slow down and tune into our senses, the simplest act can be noteworthy; whether that’s eating a meal, enjoying a fire, or listening to the natural world around us.
Traveling to see musicians is nothing new. It’s fun to follow your favorite bands and artists as they tour the country. The term “roadie” is slang for a stagehand or crew member on tour, always there at every stop to set up and help the tour go smoothly. Think about what you could be a “roadie” for, metaphorically speaking. Chase solar eclipses. Attend every bluegrass festival on the eastern seaboard. Follow the monarch’s migration. There are so many annual events to get excited about.
Do you have a family history you’ve always wanted to uncover, a culture you’re longing to get in touch with? Plan a road trip around reconnecting with distant family. Or visit a location profound to your lineage. Consider revisiting someone who made a big difference in your life to tell them how much their influence meant to you.
It can be intimidating to look at a long list of things to do and feel paralyzed. But a bucket list shouldn’t leave you waiting for “the right time” to do it all. Nor should you feel pressed to tick everything off in one weekend. Rather, this list is a long journey; things to do over the course of a lifetime.
Break up your list into achievable trips. Group your seasonal items together. If your bucket list includes “learn to surf in the Atlantic” and “feast on freshly caught lobster,” then a road trip to Maine in the summer will get you there. Or, consider organizing your list according to things you wish to do before you’re 30, 40, 50, etc.
So you’ve made your list. Now what? Visualize yourself taking that bucket list road trip to keep you motivated and intent on achieving your goals. Browse rental RV’s and favorite the rigs you can see yourself cruising down the highway in. Place your bucket list somewhere you see every day, so you are reminded of all the adventures passed and the ones still to come. As you check off items from your list, add more!
Though Nate has ticked off his “visit all 50 states,” bucket list, there are still places he wants to see: “Zion and Sedona are high on my list, and those areas are incredibly remote, so visiting in an RV makes sense. It is on my adult spring break bucket list!”
Embarking on your bucket list road trip is the easiest and most exciting part. Here’s Nate’s advice for RVers curious about renting an RV for their first road trip: “I would tell them to check out Good Sam RV Rentals to get the experience without the financial commitment of buying an RV. We can test out to see if they're about that RV life. If they aren't, at least they tried something new, and if they love it, then spread the word!”
It may take many trips to tackle your bucket list. Consider setting aside several weeks per year to take these road trips. Book your recreational vehicle on a recurring basis so you never skip a trip. Revisit and rework your bucket list as your interests and priorities change.
Pull up to your destination, park, and step right into the adventures you’ve planned. No further commute necessary.
