adminA USA road trip is a once in a lifetime thing for many families. But this dream is not cheap at all. You’ll find some general travel tips in this article. Here are a few extra tips that will help you to make the most out of your journey.
Best time to travel
Would you like to visit Arizona and Utah? Then spring is the most pleasant season to go. We traveled during the summer months, and it was incredibly hot! We can handle heat pretty well, but even for us, it was almost too much. One drawback of traveling in spring is that parks like Yosemite may still be covered in snow. The Tioga Pass is also likely to be closed. If you’re traveling in the summer like us, focus on cooler cities. Cities like San Francisco offer wonderfully refreshing weather. Parks like Sequoia and Yosemite are also ideal for longer hikes in the summer. This advice does not apply on Hawaii. The islands have a tropical climate and can be visited all year round. If you don’t like the heath, a road trip in South Africa is probably a better idea, it is winter over there during summer months!
Save money
Some quick win tips on your USA road trip:
- Take a National Park annual pass. This is a good idea if you plan to visit three or more parks. The price in 2024 is $80. This is for a vehicle and a family. It saves you a lot of money! You can use it at every park except Monument Valley.
- Like ice cream? Take one at the visitor center of the national parks, the scoops are huge!
- Take more time than we did, maybe three months instead of three weeks will give you enough time. Don’t forget, slow travel is always cheaper than rushing from one highlight to the other!
Stay connected
What is an eSim?
This is one of the very handy tips when you travel in general, not only to the USA on a road trip. Traditional SIM cards for your mobile devices are physical cards. A Sim card is inserted into a device to establish a connection with a specific mobile network. However, eSim, short for embedded SIM, takes a different approach. It is a small chip that is already integrated into a device. This eliminates the need for a physical card.
Why is this interesting for travelers?
With an eSIM, the days of juggling multiple physical SIM cards when you arrive at your destination are long gone. Users can now activate and switch between multiple mobile networks without the need for a physical swap. This eliminates the hassle of carrying multiple devices or dealing with incompatible networks when traveling. Plus, you can keep using your own number, which is a huge advantage!
Which eSim provider is the best one for travelers?
Nomad, Airalo and Holafly are the ones that get the most positive reviews from users. I tried Holafly in New York, Mexico and recently in Hawaii and I had zero problems. Easy to install, and with this eSim I stayed connected in all populated areas. I install the eSim the day before we leave and ensure I stay connected with eSim throughout the trip. I activate it as soon as we arrive. Then, I turn my own mobile data off.
Want to know more about eSims? You’ll read all about it in this article!
Important tips: do not forget these things when you go on a USA road trip
Credit card
Don’t forget to activate your credit card if you come from Europe! A credit card is essential almost everywhere in the USA, from gas stations to hotels. Make sure to have a working credit card and a backup if possible.
US Plug Adapter
Don’t forget that the US uses a different plug type (Type A/B). A power bank and car charger are also convenient for charging on the road.
Insurance Documents and Driver’s License
If you’re renting a car, ensure your insurance and driver’s license are in order. We have a one-year insurance policy with Allianz. This is very convenient if you travel often. It’s more economical than taking out a new insurance policy for each trip. Unfortunately, we have had to use the insurance a few times already. Yes, even during our road trip in the USA. Each time, we received excellent assistance. It’s also helpful to have all rental documents printed out.
Water and Snacks
Especially in national parks and desert regions, it’s important to have enough water and food. Plan for at least 3 liters of water per person per day if you’re hiking. At one of the hikes a ranger made us turn around and go back because we did not have brought enough supplies.
Want to know what we always bring with us? Read more about it here.
Want more USA inspiration? You’ll find all articles here!
