Road Trip Ideas: 100+ Things to Do to Make Your Next Trip Memorable
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Do you want to plan an amazing road trip? When others hear about the trips I plan, they often ask how I find so many interesting things to do in the places I visit. For example, on my last week-long solo road trip, I tried some amazing local restaurants, hunted petroglyphs, tooled around Taos, New Mexico, on a bicycle wearing cowboy boots, and found out what my spirit animal was. It was an AMAZING trip with a wide variety of experiences–but it did take some creativity, some road trip ideas, some brainstorming, and some research to plan that trip out.
This post will provide over 100 ideas inspire your own creativity and and to help you plan your own memorable road trip!
How to Make a Road Trip Memorable
A limited budget is no excuse for not planning a road trip you will love! Planning a road trip that’s perfect for YOU takes a little bit of creativity and it might take a lot of research, but there are so many options out there for things to do that don’t necessarily cost an arm and a leg. You could plan an entire trip around something you love (like planning a Yoga-Themed Road Trip) or you could do a variety of types of activities at each stop on your trip.
When I plan a road trip, I start out researching “things to do” in a particular city, but that generally comes up with similar suggestions in each city: the zoo, a couple of museums, and a park. For example, let’s say I was planning a road trip stop in Dallas, TX. Here’s what Google suggests as “things to do” while in Dallas:
If an arboretum, a museum, and an aquarium sound like an AMAZING way to spend your time, then do that! But for me, I tend to take the Anthony Bourdain approach to travel and look for unique and interesting things to do along the trip that I will look back on as either new experiences or amazing examples of experiences I already love. So the last time I drove through Dallas, I stayed in a hiker’s hostel, I tried some yummy coffee, I took an amazing yoga class, and then I went to the alleged alien gravesite where I happened to run into a local giving a group of friends a tour and he talked about growing up in the area hearing about the Space Man:
This was the PERFECT road trip stop for me–I got some caffeine, I got some exercise, and I got some quirky culture. None of these things appeared on the list of Google’s suggested “things to do in Dallas.” Is this the perfect Dallas day for you? Possibly not, which means you can either do what Google suggests, or plan your own perfect road trip stops for yourself.
100+ Road Trip Ideas
This list has over 100 general suggestions of things to do on road trips–it doesn’t name specific locations, just suggests things you COULD do while on the road. It’s up to you take these ideas and use them in your own road trip agenda to find amazing ways to make your next road trip memorable. Either scroll through the list and look for the things that pique your interest, or jump to a particular section. If something stands out, look into the options for exploring that opportunity in the places you’re going. You’re much more likely to discover AMAZING things using this method rather than just googling for other people’s ideas.
The list is broken into 11 types of ideas (click on a link to jump to that section):
- Artsy Ideas
- Boozy Ideas
- Classic Ideas
- Cultural Ideas
- Ideas on Cutting Loose
- Food Ideas
- Musical Ideas
- Outdoorsy Ideas
- Spiritual Ideas
- Sport Ideas
- Unique Ideas
Artsy Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sketch or paint a local vista or landscape | $ | Make sure to pack a notebook and pencils or watercolors! |
| 2 | Go to a local art store and buy the first thing that appeals to you | $ | |
| 3 | Collect things for a scrap book or travel journal | $ | |
| 4 | Collect sand to make a trip mason jar when you get home | $ | Layer the sand in a mason jar when you get home to create strata representing your trip |
| 5 | Take pictures of local street art | $ | |
| 6 | Take a walking tour of murals | $ | |
| 7 | Create a bullet journal page for the city | $ | |
| 8 | Go for a walk and take 30 black-and-white photos along the way | $ | |
| 9 | Buy an Instax camera and take 1 photo of each place you stop | $$$ | Buy on Amazon. |
| 10 | Take a guided photography class | $$$$ |
Boozy Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Go to a local brewery or distillery for a tour | $ | |
| 12 | Try to find a bartender who makes "the best" of your favorite cocktail or mixed drink in the state | $$ | |
| 13 | Go wine tasting | $$ | |
| 14 | Take a whiskey tasting class | $$ | |
| 15 | Try a cocktail that was invented in the city you're in | $$ |
Classic Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Send someone (or yourself!) a postcard | $ | |
| 17 | Take a walking tour (either guided or self-guided) | $ | |
| 18 | Go to an art gallery | $ | |
| 19 | Take a selfie in front of a local landmark | $ | |
| 20 | Go to a location that is historically relevant | $ | |
| 21 | Go to a museum | $$ | |
| 22 | Go shopping and buy a t-shirt with the name of the place you're traveling | $$ | Wear the shirt the day after you buy it. |
| 23 | Go to a zoo | $$ |
Cultural Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Go to a coffee shop and ask the barista for a recommendation of somewhere to go | $ | |
| 25 | Buy and read the local newspaper | $ | |
| 26 | Go on a photo scavenger hunt | $ | |
| 27 | Take public transportation | $ | |
| 28 | Go to a location that was made famous by a film or book | $ | |
| 29 | Pick a famous person from the place you're visiting and read their entire Wikipedia page | $ | |
| 30 | Visit a ghost town | $ | |
| 31 | Recreate a famous photograph that was taken in the place you're visiting | $ | |
| 32 | Visit a building or location that's rumored to be haunted | $ | |
| 33 | Strike up a conversation with a stranger | $ | |
| 34 | Perform a random act of kindness | $ | |
| 35 | Drop a coin into a fountain and make a wish | $ | |
| 36 | Attend a local festival | $$ | |
| 37 | Go to a gun range | $$ | |
| 38 | Go to a book shop and buy a book set in the place you're in | $$ | |
| 39 | Go bowling | $$ | |
| 40 | Go to a movie at a famous movie theater | $$ | Consider Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles (or the Paramount in Abilene, Texas!) |
| 41 | Go to an arcade | $$ | |
| 42 | Go to a comedy club or improv club | $$ | Consider supporting amateurs as well as professionals |
| 43 | Take a cemetary or catacomb tour | $$ | |
| 44 | Buy a piece of art from a local artist or craftsman | $$$ | |
| 45 | Get a tattoo to commemorate your trip | $$$ | |
| 46 | Get a henna tattoo | $$$ |
Cutting Loose on Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Go to a race track and bet $10 on the horse with your favorite name | $ | |
| 48 | Go to a casino and play a single hand of a game you've never played before | $ | |
| 49 | Go dancing | $ | |
| 50 | Attend a live show | $$ | |
| 51 | Go play bingo at a bingo hall | $$ | I use the term "cutting loose" loosely here haha! |
Food Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | Go to a farmer's market and buy local food for road trip snacks | $ | |
| 53 | Support a food truck | $ | |
| 54 | Go to a local dairy farm or cheese tasting room | $ | |
| 55 | Try a local restaurant chain you've never had before like Whataburger in Texas or In'n'Out in California | $ | |
| 56 | Buy a bag of coffee beans for when you get home | $$ | |
| 57 | Go to brunch and order the most indulgent thing on the menu | $$ | |
| 58 | Try a restaurant famous for local cuisine | $$ | Need ideas on what to eat? Check out this list of regional foods. |
| 59 | Visit a bar or restaurant featured by Anthony Bourdain | $$ | |
| 60 | Go to a restaurant featured on a Food Network tv show | $$ | TV Food Maps is a great resource for this. |
| 61 | Get fondue | $$$ | |
| 62 | Take a cooking class on local cuisine | $$$$ |
Music Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | Take a musical instrument and find somewhere to play for a while | $ | |
| 64 | Put together a playlist of music set or written in the place you're visiting | $ | |
| 65 | Go to a concert | $$$ | |
| 66 | Go to a music festival | $$$ |
Outdoorsy Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | Go to a local swimming hole or ceynote | $ | |
| 68 | Go for a hike | $ | |
| 69 | Go to an observatory to look at the stars | $ | |
| 70 | Go for a walk in a park | $ | |
| 71 | Go on a picnic | $ | |
| 72 | Walk on the beach and see who can collect the prettiest shell | $ | |
| 73 | Collect flowers to dry and press | $ | |
| 74 | Go geocaching | $ | |
| 75 | Find a peaceful place to read a book | $ | |
| 76 | Go for a bike ride | $ | Many cities offer bike rentals now |
| 77 | Explore ancient ruins or go petroglyph hunting | $ | |
| 78 | Go rock climbing (or rock scrambling) | $ | |
| 79 | Watch turtles or alligators hatch | $ | |
| 80 | Walk on a famous trail like El Camino Real or Route 66 | $ | |
| 81 | Visit a volcano | $ | |
| 82 | Float in a salt lake | $ | |
| 83 | Go kayaking or canoing | $$ | |
| 84 | Go horseback riding | $$ | |
| 85 | Go sledding or snow innertubing | $$ | |
| 86 | Rent a surfboard or boogie board and play in the waves | $$ | |
| 87 | Take a cave tour | $$ | |
| 88 | Go whale watching | $$ | |
| 89 | Relax in natural hot springs | $$ | |
| 90 | Rent a convertible and go for a scenic drive with the top down | $$$ | |
| 91 | Go white water rafting | $$$ | |
| 92 | Hire a local guide to take you fishing | $$$ | |
| 93 | Go zip lininig | $$$ | |
| 94 | Go snowboarding or skiing | $$$$ | |
| 95 | Play a round of golf | $$$$ | |
| 96 | Hire a sailboat to go for a pleasure cruise | $$$$ | |
| 97 | Go for a hot air balloon ride | $$$$ | |
| 98 | Go scuba diving or snorkeling | $$$$ | |
| 99 | Take a scenic helicopter ride | $$$$ | |
| 100 | Swim with dolphins (or whale sharks, or manatees, or otters) | $$$$ | |
| 101 | Go sky diving | $$$$ |
Spiritual Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | Go to a silent retreat | $ | |
| 103 | Attend a local church service | $ | |
| 104 | Visit a hindu temple | $ | |
| 105 | Attend a call to prayer at a mosque | $ | |
| 106 | Go to mass at a Catholic church | $ | |
| 107 | Take a yoga class | $$ | You could even plan a whole Yoga Road Trip. |
| 108 | Have your Tarot cards read | $$ | |
| 109 | Take part in a sweat lodge | $$$ | |
| 110 | Get a spiritual cleansing from a shaman | $$$ |
Sports Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | Go to a high school game and root for the home team | $ | |
| 111 | Watch the local sports team play at a pub and cheer them on with the other patrons | $ | |
| 112 | Go to a local minor league sporting event | $$ | |
| 113 | Tour a local sporting arena | $$$ | |
| 114 | Go to a professional sporting event | $$$$ |
Unique Ideas for Your Next Road Trip
| # | Idea | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | Play Sneaky Cards. | $ | Buy on Amazon. |
| 116 | Download the Third Party app and attend a random Facebook event near you. | $ | Download on iTunes. |
| 117 | Join a flash mob. | $ | |
| 118 | Ask a random local where their favorite place in town is and then go to it, no matter what they say | $$$ | |
| 119 | Stay in a unique Airbnb (like a tipi or converted school bus) | $$ | |
| 120 | Take break from your car and hop on a round-trip train ride to somewhere interesting | $$$ |
Want more travel guides?
Check out the other Road Trip Soul guides that are available. Hover over a heart to see the location name, then click the “Guides” link to see everything I’ve written about that place.
