Going On A Solo Road Trip? Stay Safe With These Road Trip Safety Tips.

Personally, I prefer traveling to a destination via the wide open road. I get to see things. Roadside attractions, cruising along winding mountainous roads, crossing wide rivers on bridges high enough for a barge to pass under, driving through cities making a mental note to spend time in each one, and smiling at those drivers passing me up cause apparently driving 76 in a 70 MPH zone isn’t fast enough.

I’m at my joyful best when I am on a road trip. Just me, a bunch of downloaded podcasts, and when I’m sick of that, my U2 playlist. A solo road trip is my definition of freedom. 

With that, road trip safety is of the utmost importance for everyone, but especially for us ladies who road trip solo. I asked for road trip safety tips from my Facebook followers. All who responded are seasoned road trippers and had great advice.

Solo road trip ideas

If you haven’t already planned where you’d like to go on a solo road trip, well, I can tell you the sky is the limit. My road trip followers have road tripped all over the United States. All you need to do is pick a destination and begin planning.

For some inspiration, check out my latest road trip destination.

Planning a solo road trip

There are some things you should do before you leave home in order to ensure a safe solo road trip. 

Make sure your roadside assistance membership is up to date. If you do not have any kind of roadside assistance, I would highly suggest signing up. As fellow travel writer Sage from Everyday Wanderer says, “Even if you can rebuild a car engine on your own MacGyver style, I still recommend have a roadside assistance option available to you”.

Most people choose AAA, which is based by region. I have Good Sam because it makes the most sense for me since I also tow my camper. I did a ton of research before I signed up. Determine which company and package are right for you. 

It’s comforting knowing that I have a backup. I know how to change a tire, and everyone should know and practice changing a tire, but honestly, the older I get, the harder it is to even lift a tire, much less being able to loosen the lug nuts in order to change one.

With a roadside assistance package, you often get perks, like hotel and restaurant discounts. If you travel a lot, that membership can pay for itself in a short amount of time.

Make sure you get your vehicle in for a checkup before your trip. Check that fluid levels, belts, and everything else are ready to go. Check your tires and be sure you inflate them to the right pressure right before you leave. 

Share your travel plans with a few family and friends. One very useful tool I have with IPhone is Share My Location. I have it set to share my location with my husband Rick so he can follow me when I am on the road. 

Let me share a little story about my last road trip.

I was on my way home from Gulf Shores. It was nighttime, and I had to fill up with gas and a restroom break. I stopped at a busy gas station, filled up and drove the car to the front of the station to go inside. I came out of the station and started up the GPS on my phone. I had seen a missed call and a text from Rick. I called him back, and he was in a mini panic cause on the map that he was following along with, it showed I had stopped in the middle of nowhere. Prior to this, every time I stopped, he could see exactly where I stopped and what was around it. It clearly showed why I was stopping. 

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He was worried something had happened to me since he had seen me stopped in the middle of nowhere. I reassured him I was fine, just stopped for gas. I took a picture of the gas station front to make him feel better. It was a scary moment for him, and he was clearly upset. Add to that, that I didn’t see his text or call until I was back in my car. It may have been just a few moments, but it was enough for him to be worried. For whatever reason, the whole area I was in was not showing up on the map. It was the first and last time that happened on this trip. 

I actually was very thankful that he was following my trip. I felt an extra level of security.

To set this up (IPhone) in your settings go to Privacy and Security, then Location Services, then Share My Location, turn it on and then select from your contacts who you’d like to add. The person/s selected can check your location by selecting you through their contacts and hit your icon. Your location will come up on a map. If you’d like to stop sharing, go to their contact profile and, at the bottom, you can select Stop Sharing My Location. 

Solo road trip essentials

Preparation is the key to safety on a road trip. These are things to have in your vehicle for that trip. 

• First Aid kit
• Blanket 
• Ice Melt (winter)
• Container of sand or kitty litter (winter)
• Small Shovel
• Portable car battery jumping/charging device/tire pump like this one
• Tire pressure gauge
• Disposable face masks
• A Multitool
• Plenty of snacks
• A refillable insulated drink container with straw
• A gallon or two of water to refill your drink container
• Extra jumper cables
• Car jack
• Extra cell phone charger
• Your favorite podcasts/audio books/music downloaded

Trust your gut and posting on social media

Our intuition is our best safety tool. I heard this again and again in the answers from my road tripping followers. If a location or a situation has you feeling uncomfortable, just get out. I always stop at busy gas stations in busy areas and try my best to be off the road late at night. Avoid rest stops in desolate areas.

This also applies when we check into hotels during our road trip. Vanessa of One Delightful Life, says, “be aware of your surroundings when checking into your hotel room”. Vanessa also shares that she never shares her location on social media while she’s there. As travel writers, we often have to share things we are doing on social media, but most of us will post our activities a day behind or when we get home.

 

How often should you stop on a solo road trip?

My friend Joan, whose blog is Gramcracker Crumbs and is an avid road tripper, offers this advice. “Stop for a restroom break before you need it,” which is great advice. I have found myself in the middle of a slow-moving road construction traffic jam while needing to stop for a potty break. Luckily, I could get off at an exit that had a gas station early enough before it became an uncomfortable situation.

 She also adds that you should never let your gas tank run down.

 I usually will refill when my tank is half empty. I will also fill up before I check into a hotel for the night, so I don’t need to do that first thing in the morning. Don’t forget to move your purse from the passenger seat while you are pumping gas, or lock your car (don’t forget to take out the keys).

I typically stop every couple of hours to stretch my legs. Also, a great thing is to deviate from the interstate and find things to stop and see along the route. This will help with what I call “interstate hypnosis” and keep the road trip boredom at bay.

General solo road trip safety tips

Here are some other solo road trip tips.

Another important tip is to show an air of confidence. Look people in the eye, keep your head up, and don’t appear vulnerable. Walk like you have a purpose and a clear destination in mind. 

Always lock your car doors, no matter how quickly you will return to your vehicle. Lock your doors when you are inside your car. 

Book your hotels in advance if you can. Stick with one or two reputable chain hotels. Check your roadside assistance provider for discounts or become a member of AARP if you qualify. They clump together the chain hotels right off the highway in a high traffic area. This way you know the price ahead of time. My last road trip I just drove until I wanted to stop. I ended up paying way more for a crappy hotel than I would normally (thank goodness the bed was comfy, but the coffee maker didn’t work), and I didn’t feel like finding a cheaper option. After that, I booked my next night from my phone in my car so I knew what to expect. 

Use the chain lock or safety latch on your hotel room door. Be cautious about walking around after dark. This goes back to trusting your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, DON’T DO IT! 

I hope this guide gave you some great tips on how to stay safe on a solo road trip. You shouldn’t let fear stop you from taking that long solo road trip. Armed with these tips from some of the most seasoned solo road trippers I know, including myself, you can take on the big, wide open road. 

Thank you to Jessica, Diane, Linda, Kimberly, and Vanessa, Sage, Shelly, and Joan for your road trip safety tips!

If you want to skip the hotels on your next road trip, consider car camping!