Traveling 101 | 5 Steps For Planning A Solo Road Trip

Have you ever wanted to go exploring on your own? Completely disconnected from the world and feel truly...alone. I'm not talking about the kind of lonely feelings of being singled out or forgotten, I'm just talking about the ability to be comfortable and happy with yourself while being by yourself.

I decided to accomplish one of the "scarier" things on my bucket list last year by going on a Road trip to Yellowstone all by myself. It was something that I have always wanted to do but never really had the push to do it. The opportunity came and I decided to take it. Now I just had to figure out how I was actually going to go!

STEP 1 - DECIDE TO GO >>> It's really that simple. Pick somewhere you've been wanting to go and say "This year, I'm going to take a solo road trip too..." It's as simple as that. If you want to do go then go. If you know other people that have gone to that same place ask them where they stayed and what the did while they were there. Get a few ideas of what's out there and get excited!

STEP 2 - PICK YOUR DATES >>>  Figure out what days you can take off of work and how many days you want to spend there. There can be a lot of factors that go into what weekend/weekdays you pick. If you wanted to be super thorough you could find some local websites and look for fun events you could attend! It's always wise to double check weather patterns as well, that can help you decide on the clothes you need to pack.

STEP 3 - SET YOUR BUDGET >>> It was roughly a 1,000 mile round trip drive for me to get to Yellowstone. I used maps and gas prices to calculate how much I would spend on gas. I budgeted out roughly $10 per meal, but also included a few granola bars, bagels and bananas that I would keep in a cooler as road trip snacks or breakfast. I looked into park admission prices and entertainment options as well as set aside a price for souvenirs. Once I had my price, I began saving each paycheck a portion to go directly towards Yellowstone, so the day that I actually left, I had what I needed!

STEP 4 - BOOK IT! >>> Book the flight! Book the AirBNB! Click yes and get psyched to go! If this is something that you've always wanted to do and it's something that makes you happy, then why not go? The hardest part is over, know you get have an adventure to look forward too!

STEP 5 - EMOTIONS >>> So, now that the "paperwork" side is over, let's get to the nitty gritty details. Are you looking to get away or looking to find something? For me, this trip was meant to prove to myself that I was smart, brave and capable of being on my own. I have felt very dependent on others my whole life. I depended on others to make me happy, to make feel beautiful, but I was sick of it. I wanted the freedom and the confidence that I could set my mind to anything and accomplish what I had been dreaming of. Of course my family was worried and I called back to home every day, but it was an experience that I will always cherish.

Thanks for Reading

Love, Nick