Iconic “Great American” Road Trip Planning, but 5 Ways to Make it Sustainable

Buckle up, road trip season is upon us. Now more than ever, there are more Americans choosing domestic vacations, traveling by car and visiting places within the US that they’ve yet to explore. A road trip is the quintessential journey through the “lower 48” and beyond. I’ve drove tens of thousands of miles over the years, in Canada, Greece, Cuba, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Morocco, Oman and along the east and west coast of the US. Here are a few vital tips and tricks for road trip planning, the sustainable way. 

1. Packed & Prepared

Make sure you are prepared before you hit the road. Planning for a road trip can still have spontaneous elements, but also with a little thought in advance. Have the feeling of that impulsive getaway and be prepared.

Be sure you have the things you need to be mindful on the road, just like you would at home. You don’t have the same restrictions you may find with baggage fees and luggage requirements like on a flight. Use that to your advantage. Pack items you know you’ll use that you can reuse and bring them with you.

Take advantage of the fact that you have a vehicle at your disposal for storage. While that doesn’t necessarily mean pack the car to the brim, come prepared with items you’ll use when on a road trip. Some items you can bring and reuse would be:

• Cups
• Cutlery
• Water Bottles
• Coffee Mugs
• Straws (bamboo or steel)
• Cloth Napkins

These are all some simple items that can move from the kitchen to the car to avoid single-use plastics or throw away alternatives. It is easy to ask for things like napkins or straws not to be included in a take out order. Buy or bring a large jug of water and then use your own cups to stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary bottles. I treat myself to something like an iced tea and buy a glass bottle that I can repurpose later.

Having a quick packing guide depending on the trip is helpful way to make your road trip planning is as pain free as possible. Knowing what to bring for a vacation to the beach, or a camping trip to the mountains can lessen the likelihood you’ll forget an essential item and be forced to buy something unsustainable in a pinch. Remember, being more mindful with waste doesn’t have to be glamorous, it means using what you have first.

2. Respect Where you Visit

Many road trips coincide with outdoor activities. Whether that looks like a drive to a National Park, or a scenic route up the coastline, we need to be conscious of the places we visit.

If you’re staying in nature, planning to camp or hike, be sure to pack out whatever you brought in. Follow the Leave No Trace principles of dealing with waste, respecting wildlife and nature. Recreate responsibly. That means bringing your waste with you, finding the appropriate places to deposit trash, recycling and compost.

Not in your home state? Litterless has a list of places where you can put your compostable waste if you can’t compost in your own backyard. Save recycling and then deposit it when you know it has a better chance of actually being salvaged. Recycling programs are far from perfect, but Earth911 has a database that will tell you where in North America you can recycle, and what materials can be reclaimed. Look for ways to recycle while on the road in Australia or the UK, each have their own site that will locate where to drop off reusable waste.

Know where you’re traveling. Native Land Digital is a site and app where, by entering a location, can find what native lands we are occupying. It’s important to learn about the history of the land we are driving over. Native Land Digital gives us the opportunity to reconnect with history of colonialism within our country, and how it still appears in present day.

Organizations like the Outdoor Alliance or Recreate Responsibly have great resources that will help road trippers navigate ways to be respectful while visiting our outdoor spaces.

3. Pick Your Transportation Wisely

If you’re renting a car, make sure it gets efficient mileage per gallon. If you can, try an electric or hybrid car and use sites like Plug Share or Plug in America to find charging stations for vehicles. Google has inserted the ability to find EV charging stations on their maps, and there are several phone apps that make finding these EV charging locations easy. You can plot charging breaks along your journey with ease.

Companies like Hertz have a Green Traveler Collection, which are more eco friendly rentals. Often, I have used Enterprise because of their sustainability commitment. If you aren’t able to find a more fuel efficient vehicle available, they have an option to carbon offset.

Can’t take a long trip and want a quick getaway? In some cities you can utilize a carshare program to find an alternative from traditional car rentals. Companies like Zipcar or Turo are found in many metropolitan cities throughout the world.

If you have your own transportation, be sure it is road ready. This includes having the appropriate insurances, inspections & emissions tests depending on where your car is registered. If your vehicle meets road requirements, another part of road trip planning is preparing for any mechanical issues.

Low tire pressure can lead to a flat tire, but it also effects your mileage per gallon, which is bad for your carbon footprint and your wallet. Free Pump has a site where you can find places to put air in your tires for FREE. Check your PSI (pound per square inch, basically measuring pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to a one square inch area). You can usually find your tire’s PSI on a sticker on the side your car door along with the owner’s manual. PSI is a United States measurement, so find a conversion if you’re driving in foreign countries, or if you’re visiting the US and need conversion to your own standards. For other tips on how to make your car it’s most efficient, you can read the Fuel Economy Manual for ideas.

4. Make Your Stops Count

When planning a road trip, the stops along the way are equally as exciting as the journey. Are you choosing locally owned restaurants to spend your money while in the towns you pass through? Are you picking eco-friendly accommodations, like smaller guesthouses or hotels that are avoiding greenwashing practices and being environmentally conscious?

Select accommodations that are environmentally friendly, locally owned and that support ethical or sustainable practices. Finding a place to “sleep green” may take a little more forethought than just getting off the next exit and stopping at the next hotel. Having a route planned out ahead of time with some alternatives and back up plans is key when deciding where to stay. Book eco-friendly accommodations in advance with a list of a few other options in case your itinerary changes. Learning about how to acknowledge things like “greenwashing” and finding reliable platforms for booking accommodations will help for long term planning and avoiding eco-travel errors that will be helpful tips and tricks for future travel.

Find locally owned places to eat and keep your money in the local economy where you’re visiting. Skip the national chains if possible, although it can sometimes be unavoidable when on a road trip. With a little planning and packing your own snacks, you can curate a list of locally owned and operated eateries. Doing a little research by looking for the destination’s local food blogs or local foodie instagram accounts can be a good starting point. Apps like EatOkra, Yelp or Open Table are all great resources to do a little more digging for a locally owned establishment. Lastly, see if there is a food tour at one of the stops along your road trip. Food tours are a perfect way to familiarize yourself with a town, find out where the locals go to eat, and get a taste of regional specialties.

Useful Apps & Sites to have handy while on the road:

• Waze for navigation & Maps.Me for offline mapping needs
• iExit for a gas station, rest stop finder or GasBuddy for fuel deals
• Roadtrippers for scenic stops and insider tips or Roadside America
• Spotify, Apple Music or Pandora for driving music
• Hipcamp or iOverlander to find outdoor accommodations like RV, or camping
• REI National Park Trail Guide for hiking and trekking planning
• Recreation.gov for all things National Park info
• My Radar for comprehensive weather reporting
• Night Sky for evening stargazing
• Parkme to locate great parking spots wherever you may stop

5. Plan Your Journey Mindfully

Being more mindful with your road trip means while road trip planning should leave room for spontaneity, making a route that is more direct saves on vehicle mileage, saves on carbon emissions as well as fuel usage. Take the unpredictable

Leaving your house or apartment for an extended period of time, then ensure you aren’t using electricity unnecessarily by unplugging electronics before you leave. Adjust your thermostat a little higher in the summer, lower in the winter if no one will be home to avoid wasting resources for heating and air conditioning.

Calculate your carbon footprint. This can be a confusing task. If you really want to one up your sustainability, you can always opt to offset your carbon footprint when planning a road trip. There are a few companies that will create a calculation for you. Nat Geo had a great article that explains offsetting and how you can incorporate it into your sustainable travels.

Wherever we decide to go, it’s imperative to make sure we are doing it the most conscientious way possible. This is in order for others to enjoy the same spaces and places. Happy Road Trip Planning!!