As Brian and I venture through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, we ease into the nostalgia of the good ol’ fashioned road trip. Four states, ten days, and a blur of grasslands and rolling hills invite us to appreciate the space between destinations, rather than rushing through the drive.
We take our time cruising the long stretches of highway, passing small-town exits and median rest stops. It isn’t a glamorous drive, but there is a beautiful simplicity nonetheless—if not for its expansive landscapes, then for its steady rhythm.
Being on the road allows us to travel the distance and feel the mileage. We have the freedom to stop and go as we wish. Yet a successful multi-state road trip doesn’t happen just because we pack our bags and fill the tank; success exists in how we manage our adventures behind the scenes while we’re on the go.
Essential Tips for a Seamless Road Trip
Planned flexibility is how we generally roll through life. We prepare for circumstances and outcomes in flexible ways. A successful road trip isn’t so much about luck as it is being ready to go and ready to pivot if needed. Here’s our go-to gear for hitting the road:
Pocket-Sized Productivity
Connectivity is non-negotiable when we hit the road! Typically, I drive while Brian works from the passenger seat. A dedicated Wi-Fi hotspot keeps Brian logged in and productive wherever the highway takes us. It turns our car into a convenient mobile office.
Google Maps and Cell Coverage Planning
Before we hit the road, we decide if we’re able to take the backroads. If remote work is on the table, Brian and I will plan to travel more populated routes using Google Maps and a quick signal check. It’s a small step that prioritizes the workday and keeps us from losing connection in the middle of nowhere.
One Toll Transponder, Multiple States
Multi-state road tripping means multiple toll systems. Our portable SunPass Pro toll transponder keeps us moving without worrying about pay-by-plate upcharges or administrative fees. This $15 device allows for seamless toll payments in 24 states!
Instead of dealing with separate toll accounts or surprise invoices in the mail, we can stay focused on the road ahead. The Sunpass Pro is a tiny travel companion that simplifies our drives, freeing up more mental space to simply enjoy the ride.
Our DIY Road Trip Cooler
A simple insulated bag with frozen water bottles keeps our snacks fresh and our food budget in check. From packing some leftovers from home to grocery shopping along the way, our little DIY cooler helps us enjoy the trip without overspending on pricey meals out.
If we were staying in places with full kitchens the entire trip, we would have brought along our super sturdy 70 quart cooler! While it might seem like overkill to some, we love it for the independence it creates. Packing our own food and even having the ability to easily store groceries or leftovers on-the-go allows us to venture whenever and wherever we want to go!
The Libby App for Free Downloadable Audiobooks
Music on the open highway is great, but sometimes, you just want to settle into a good story. We love using our library card for free audiobooks from Libby. From solid thrillers to immersive non-fictions, like Mary Roach’s Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers or Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain, audiobooks offer a fun escape that keeps us entertained during long drives.
Warehouse Club Gas Stops and GasBuddy Backup
Fuel is one of the biggest costs on a road trip. Warehouse memberships through Costco or Sam’s Club help us consistently refuel at lower prices across multiple states. When one isn’t nearby, we pull up GasBuddy to compare gas prices around us.
Intentional Local Stops Along the Way
A multi-state road trip offers more to experience than gas stations and hotel rooms. Brian and I like to appreciate each stop for what it is, inclusive of work, travel, budgeting, and memories all rolled into one experience. We don’t want to simply pass through; we want to enjoy the city for what it has, even if just for a day. From state parks and nature preserves to local breweries and architecture, we filled our days with intentional stops as we drove (and worked) from city to city.
Strategic Overnight Stays
We’re not fixated on every detail of our road trip, but we do plan a stopping point each day. Knowing where we’re headed and where we’re sleeping eliminates last-minute scrambling. I know plenty of people, particularly those who travel more frequently, are completely fine seeing where they end up at the end of the night before booking accommodations. Brian and I can be pretty flexible, but that’s a bit too loosey-goosey for us!
A Flexible “Adventure List”
Before a trip, I like to jot down a few highlights along our route: hiking trails, restaurants, or cool attractions worth exploring. It’s not a must-do itinerary, just a loose collection of possibilities. They become potential outlines for Plans A, B, C, and so on. If you know me, you know I wholeheartedly appreciate a few backup ideas just in case.
When we find ourselves with extra time in a city or a sudden change of plans, that little list becomes a source of direction. Instead of scrambling to figure out what to do next, we already have a few options waiting to explore.
Multi-State Adventures
This road trip wasn’t meant for a single destination. It was intended to be an experience, an adventure of quiet kinship between myself and the pavement below, a moment to disconnect from the noise and spend some time together.
Brian and I hit a few bumps along the way, like lack of sleep, work stress, and the weight of things beyond our control. And yet, it was the steady pace of the drive and the gentle progress we made from one city to the next that kept us exploring day after day. Ten days, four states, and so many miles.
These tools kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes, even when our own gas tanks ran low. Logistics aren’t the most exciting part of a road trip, but they can mean the difference between a rushed roller coaster of a time and a present, easygoing adventure.
What’s one tool or travel trick you rely on to make your multi-state road trips run a little smoother?
2 Responses
One thing that you haven’t mentioned is the psychological training that you’re building by taking these adventures.. You state that you don’t get anxious about plans changing by forces beyond your control; congratulations…that’s a great attitude. Most of life is finding that an ability to seamlessly or minimally adjust expectations or directions can lead to a more satisfying nights sleep. Matthew 6:27 teaches us that worrying cannot add a single hour to one’s life.
Oh how I wish I could recall that verse when the ground around me starts to shake. I guess it takes that training I mentioned earlier.
I really appreciate you pointing that out—thank you. You’re right about the “training” aspect of it all. I’m sure there are some people out there who naturally let things roll off their backs, but I’ve had to work on that over time.
Sometimes life just goes sideways…plans fall apart or don’t happen at all. That verse is such a simple truth, and yet so easy to forget when things feel shaky! I’m right there with you in trying to remember that when it counts.