Planning a road trip can be an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming if you have multiple stops along the way. Mapping out your route ahead of time can save you time, money, and stress. In this tutorial, we’ll go over the steps to map a road trip with multiple stops using different tools.
Step 1: Decide on Your Route
The first step in mapping out your road trip is deciding on your route. You’ll want to consider factors such as distance, time, and attractions along the way.
Make a list of all the places you want to visit and then plot them on a map to see the most efficient route. You can use Google Maps or other mapping tools like Roadtrippers or MapQuest.
Using Google Maps:
To use Google Maps to plot your route:
- Open Google Maps
- Click on “Directions”
- Enter your starting location and first destination
- Click “Add Destination” for each additional stop on your trip
- The map will automatically adjust to show you the most efficient route
Using Roadtrippers:
Roadtrippers is a great tool for planning road trips as it lets you add multiple destinations and plan out an itinerary for each day of your trip.
- Create an account on Roadtrippers.com
- Add your starting location and first destination
- Click “Add Stop” for each additional stop on your trip
- You can customize the duration of each stop and even add hotel reservations or other activities to your itinerary.
Step 2: Determine Driving Time and Distance
Once you have your route planned out, it’s important to determine the driving time and distance between each stop. This will help you plan how long you’ll want to spend at each location and how much time you’ll need to get from one destination to the next.
Using Google Maps:
To determine driving time and distance using Google Maps:
- Enter your starting location and first destination
- Click “Directions”
- The estimated driving time and distance will be displayed on the left-hand side of the map
- Repeat this process for each additional stop on your trip
Using Roadtrippers:
Roadtrippers also provides estimated driving times and distances for each leg of your trip.
- Click on a stop in your itinerary
- The estimated driving time and distance will be displayed
- You can adjust the estimated time spent at each stop to get a more accurate estimate of your total trip duration.
Step 3: Plan Your Stops
Now that you have your route planned out and know how long it will take to get from one destination to the next, it’s time to plan out your stops. You’ll want to consider things like where you’ll stay, where you’ll eat, and what activities or attractions are nearby.
Using TripAdvisor:
TripAdvisor is a great resource for finding hotels, restaurants, and attractions along your route.
- Enter the city or town you’ll be stopping in
- Select “Hotels”, “Restaurants”, or “Things To Do” depending on what type of stop you’re looking for
- You can filter your search results by price, rating, and distance from your route
- Read reviews from other travelers to help you make the best decisions for your trip
Step 4: Finalize Your Itinerary
Once you have all of your stops planned out, it’s time to finalize your itinerary. Make sure to allow enough time at each stop to fully enjoy the experience, but also be realistic about how much driving you can handle in a day. Be sure to include rest stops and meal breaks in your itinerary.
Using Excel:
Excel is a great tool for organizing all of the information you’ve gathered and creating a detailed itinerary.
- Create a new spreadsheet
- List each stop on your trip in order
- Add columns for driving time, distance, estimated arrival time, hotel reservations, restaurant reservations, and activities or attractions at each stop
- You can also use conditional formatting to color-code different parts of your itinerary.
Conclusion:
Mapping out a road trip with multiple stops can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and planning it can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following these steps and using tools like Google Maps, Roadtrippers, TripAdvisor, and Excel you can create an organized and efficient itinerary that allows you to fully enjoy all of the amazing sights and experiences along the way.