6 Tips for Planning Road Trip Pit Stops

6 Tips for Planning Road Trip Pit Stops

Pit stops provide extra fun on trips, break up the monotony of the drive and invite a welcome stretching of the legs while on a road trip! We thread them throughout all of our road trips. Here are a few tips to help you more easily add them to yours:

• Familiarize: Familiarize yourself with your route. Look for towns and cities that are not far off of your route and scout to see if there is something of interest to see.
• Nature Preserves and National Parks: We have been surprised with how many nature sites we have found to explore that are not too far off of planned routes. This is how we discovered Cuyahoga Valley National Park as a perfect stopping point en route from Chicago to Philadelphia. Nature preserves provide spots to stretch your legs, enjoy fresh air and have a picnic lunch. Often, we can find ones that are free. 
• Favorite Spots: What are your favorite places to explore? Do you love coffeehouses or interesting donuts or chocolate shops or antique shops or quirky art? Check for them along route to provide options for stopping.
• Budget Time: Don't forget to consider your goals in timing. Choose your pit stops based on how much time you realistically have. You do not want to plan to visit a museum if you only have about 30 minutes to stretch your legs. If you only have a short time, stopping at a spot like a coffee shop or tea shop may be a better option. 
• Map It Out: I like to map out options along our route ahead of time. If I have a map showing where there are potential stops and an accompanying list, I can chose places on the fly depending on how we are on time for the day. If we are passing through a town, I may have a list of a couple of spots to choose from. If we decide to stop, I can choose according to time available.
• Build in Rest for Drivers: If necessary, build in rest for drivers. If my husband is the primary driver, we will often build in a museum visit for my daughter and I. This will give him an opportunity to take a nap, rest up a bit, sit with a cup of coffee while we are at the museum. When I drive, I like to have a longer lunch as opposed to a quick stop. 

Happy Travels!