Whenever I’m planning a spontaneous road trip alone as a woman, there are several things that are going through my mind each time. I know what you’re thinking now: Planning a spontaneous trip? Isn’t that kind of contradicting, Anna? Yes, I know, it sounds super contradicting, however, especially if you’re going on a road trip alone as a woman, you want to be prepared for every situation. For one, planning a spontaneous road trip sounds kind of funny to say, after all, aren’t they supposed to be spontaneous and without planning?
Yes and no, there’s an art to go on spontaneous road trips alone – let me show you.
Every now and then, I’ll get this nagging sensation in the bottom of my stomach, usually, just before I start making compulsive decisions like booking a trip or doing the up-and-go thing. You know, this like this feeling you get when you’re on a roller coaster and it’s about to reach the peak, just before it starts to fall and send adrenaline rushing through your veins. That sensation of excitement that tells you you’re going to have a great time and you start to become restless because you don’t want to wait any longer – like you’re sitting on ants!
Read These 3 Tips On How To Stay Safe While Going On A Road Trip
I get it, you just want to go without having to think of anything else, however..
..whether you decide to take a spontaneous solo road trip the next weekend or as soon as you wake up, it doesn’t really matter when you decide to travel – just have it prepped and ready to go. I found this to be the easiest and best way to go about things, that way I don’t have to try to think of 10 things before I go – doing regular road tripping and you’ll still forget stuff.
#1 Going On A Spontaneous Road Trip Alone As A Woman – How To Protect Yourself On A Road Trip
One of the biggest things I learned when going on a spontaneous road trip alone as a woman is to make sure you’re protected at all cost and at all times. This is the kind of stuff you want to have ready to go, consider having a road trip essentials weekend bag that you never unpack unless you’re replenishing/renewing things.
Protecting yourself on a road trip, especially if you’re alone, starts with packing all the essentials that you may need and I’m not talking about hygiene or clothes. Whether you’re going on a solo road trip lasting for a day or one lasting for several days or even weeks – there are some things that are important to keep in mind.
This is the less adventurous part of going on a spontaneous road trip by yourself, it also doesn’t mean that you need to write down every single detail – but having a general idea of what you want to do and where you want to go is crucial. Even more so, sharing it with a friend or family member, so they know where you are just in case something happens.
Here’s some of the essentials that you should keep with you in your car before you leave:
- Drivers license
- Proof of insurance (both car and your own)
- Copy of your passport
- Copy of important medical records – think of allergies
- First aid kit
- Any medications
- Copies of your credit card
- Sharing your location with a close friend or family member, just in case something happens
The last one is even more important because you don’t know whether you’re going to get into an accident or something even worse. As a woman traveling on your own, it’s also important to keep all the risks in mind, that’s what’s going to keep you save.
One of my favorite apps is Life360 as it not only alerts your family/friends where you currently are, but it can even detect crashes and alarm the police and hospitals close by – this can be a real game changer! Just keep in mind, for the accident detection and alert system to dispatch emergency services, you’ll have to get the pro version that’s currently at $9.99/month (or $99/yr).
Especially useful if you consider visiting any national parks and want to ensure that the GPS still pings off of you.
Curious about this app and other must-have apps when traveling on your own? Check out my article here!
#2 Dangers Of Driving Cross Country Alone To Keep In Mind When Going On A (Spontaneous) Solo Road Trip
#2 Dangers Of Driving Cross Country Alone To Keep In Mind When Going On A (Spontaneous) Solo Road TripWhile the above essentials are to pack no matter the length of your solo road trip, there are some others to consider depending on the length of your trip. Especially if you consider driving cross country alone, there are some more things that I’d recommend just in case:
- Wet baby wipes
- The she-pee female urinal thing – life saving!
- Toilette paper
- Flash light
- Pepper spray – check these cute colors!
- Self protection & survival kit – also includes a flashlight!
- Extensive first aid kit – while it’s important to have the basic one with you, make sure to pack an extensive one with you if you’re driving cross country
- Gas can – in case you run out of gas and have to walk to get some, only store it while you’re on a trip though – not long term!
- Tire repair kit – believe me, it’s so much easier to fix than you think. Clip the 20% off on this one!
- Plenty of water
Check out these 7 things that I can’t live without on my trips!
Besides the Life360 app, having the Noonlight app is also a must. The difference here is that the Noon app is specifically for when you’re alone somewhere and want to notify emergency services. A really cool feature of this app is that you can also use it when you’re in an Uber/Lyft and you’re not feeling safe – it specifically has a feature for this to alert the police where you’re at silently. Having the panic button to send emergency help is free, however, if you want to be more prepared and have more discreet safety features such as the Uber/Lyft function, it’d cost $4.99/m, while if you want to have full protection incl. crash protection, it costs $9.99/m.
A huge benefit of Noonlight over Life360 is that if you don’t have any friends and family that you want to have alerted, it’s ok too and it will still protect you.
Want to check out different apps to make sure you have the right one? Check here! – coming soon!
#3 Have A General Plan, Even On A Spontaneous Road Trip Alone
Another important thing to remember when planning a road trip alone is to make a plan. This doesn’t mean that you have to write down every single detail; it means that you have an idea of what you want to do and where you want to go. Without any sort of plan, it can be difficult navigating your way through unfamiliar territory and even finding places that interest you.
Be spontaneous, be adventurous, enjoy life, and make the most out of it.
One of the biggest lessons I learned before I go on a solo road trip (or even with other people) is always check and make sure I have a general idea of what I want to do. It’s about making experiences and getting to know things that you didn’t even know about. Living a life full of surprises and ensuring you make the most out of it.
Here are 3 of my favorite travel apps that have helped me discover some once in a lifetime experiences:
GetYourGuide To Experience Something New On Your Solo Road Trip
GetYourGuideOne of the major benefits of this app/website is that you are bale to escape the tourist traps while finding the hidden gems that are really worth visiting. Certainly, if you want to see something specific, add that to your list, but from experience, make sure to also have some of the hidden gems on your to-do list when traveling just in case you’ll be completely underwhelmed.
The great thing with this app is that it’ll not only have the big sightseeing attractions, but also the gems, so you can create an itinerary as well as book your trips on there!
Tip: Make a folder in your phone specifically for travel apps, so you can find them much easier.
Culture Trip – A Gem On Any Solo Road Trip
Similarly to GetYourGuide, this app/website is specific for tours and guides – meaning, someone has already made an itinerary that you can steal and make your own! Save your faves and make your own from different ones.
You can create, book, and plan on this app – make sure to add it to your must travel apps. A perfect addition for a spontaneous road trip alone!
Want to make sure you have all the travel apps that you need to make your road trips unforgettable? Check my article on these here!
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Self-Therapy
The Gratitude Journal : 5 Minute Journal a Day for More Happiness, Positivity, Affirmation, Productivity, Mindfulness & Self CareWithLocals – This Hidden Gem For Big Cities
This app is relatively new, so it won’t have guides in every big city, however it’s worth checking especially if you decide to go abroad and want to make authentic experiences with locals.
No worries, all locals that are offering their services on this app are thoroughly vetted and background checked, so in case you decide to go to a cooking class in someone’s home, you can feel assured that you’re safe.
Lastly, don’t forget about spontaneity! Even if everything is planned out in advance, sometimes things happen along the way that force you change your plans – which can actually be fun! Just keep in mind that spontaneity also comes with risks, so use caution when deciding whether or not to go off the beaten path.
Some Last Thoughts
Some Last ThoughtsNo matter how spontaneous you want your road trip to be, always have some sort of plan, especially when it comes to safety. Female solo travels are especially to be taken more serious because more can happen – so be prepared. Have an idea of what towns to hit on your road trip and communicate it with friends and family if you won’t want to use any apps to keep track of your location.
Bring enough supplies to last you a while, just in case something happens – you never know on a road trip. I’ve learned to better be over prepared than underprepared, especially if you’re going on your own. This also includes plenty of water and non-perishable food.
Lastly, no matter how much you travel on your own, a solo road trip can get tough. If you’re not used to it, it’s even worse and you may feel lonely at times or you just have to depend on yourself. Take a deep breath and then take it on.
This is something I will address on one of my upcoming articles, so make sure not to miss it!
No matter what – have fun and enjoy the experience.
XO,
Anna
P.S. If you want to make sure you won’t miss any more travel tips, then I want to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, so you’ll know as soon as I will drop a new article!
Anna is a traveler, blogger, and entrepreneur who can’t keep herself still. She’s always on the move, whether working hard on a new passion project or exploring a new city as a part-time digital nomad. Dare to keep up? Check out The Tatted Nomad for everything digital nomad, social media marketing, mental health, and travel (and to see her latest addition, Novah, her service dog and travel companion). As a psychotherapist (to be) she also offers insights about your mental health related questions – anything you see that isn’t covered but you have questions about? Let her know!
