I love a good road trip. We used to take them a lot as a family when I was growing up and back and forth from South Florida to East Tennessee when I was in high school and college. I think probably one of the things I miss most about living in the states is having my own car, which is kind of ironic because one of the things I love most about being in Spain is not needing a car. That said, there is something empowering and freeing about being able to just get up and go wherever you feel like. No flights and airport drama, no train schedules, just you behind the wheel making every decision for yourself. 

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I took a really great road trip in 2018, when I moved from Nashville to my parents’ house in Florida. Nobody could make the drive with me, so I turned a 14 -15 hour drive into a road trip stopping several places I’d never been before. I also knew I wasn’t going to have the opportunity to do it for awhile, so I really wanted to make the most of my time and check some cities off my bucket list. 

One thing I’ve noticed in Spain is that road trips don’t seem to be as popular here. Even on social media, the people I do see taking road trips in Europe tend to be Americans. So, for all my European friends and as a PSA to the world, here are five reasons to take a road trip.

1. Bonding Time

No matter how long or short your road trip is, it’s near impossible to be in a car with another person and not get to talking. There’s something about the vast expanse of the open road that allows you to be free. I’ve had some deep conversations and incredible heart-to-hearts on road trips. Even on solo road trips, that alone time can be bonding with yourself. I’ve had some pretty deep revelations and realizations while driving by myself. When it’s just you and the road you can really open your mind and allow yourself to think. Maybe you’ll even get some great ideas!

2. Travel at Your Own Pace

Sure, you probably have some kind of schedule to stick to, but taking a road instead of another means of transportation allows you the freedom to go at your own pace. See a sign for something cool a couple miles ahead? Take that exit and check it out. You can take as many detours as you want! There’ve been at least three times I can think of where I saw a gorgeous lookout point that was a little off my path, but I had to go see it! (And I don’t regret stopping!)

3. Experience the Smaller Details

Even with all the highway travel we do, I find that taking a road trip forces us to see more than our final destination. You might have to drive through several tiny towns to get to a bigger one. Your drive might take you through the outskirts of a major city, something you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Even once at your destination, driving yourself around gives you control to see every corner. Those smaller details about a place can sometimes be the best, most charming ones!

4. Make Lasting Memories

Some of the most memorable parts of trips I’ve taken with friends and family have been on the car ride to the destination. There was that time we jammed to Backstreet Boys on our way to one of my college spring break trips. Or how my sisters and I used to pile in the back of the family Suburban and watch A Knight’s Tale during those really long drives. On another trip, we got stuck in a torrential downpour where the car was barely moving and we were all freaking out. Admittedly that was stressful in the moment but it’s funny now! Each trip will have tons of quiet moments that might turn into inside jokes, funny stories or just beautiful memories of feeling free. You don’t get that in a plane.

5. The Music

While I’m not going to say I take road trips as a chance to listen to music, I will say it’s the first thing I get excited about! Immediately after deciding to take a road trip I start thinking of the playlist. Before streaming music and unlimited wifi, we had to put real thought into these things. Were you going to bring every CD you owned? No! So we made mix CDs. Remember that Backstreet Boys jam sesh I mentioned? I still have that CD and there’s definitely some Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and N*SYNC on there too. Even with Spotify, I love to create a road trip playlist, tailor it to where we’re going, who I’m with, and then adding to it along the way.

There are obviously several other reasons to take a road trip and there are tons of different types of road trips. Then there’s the question: how long does a car trip have to be to be considered a road trip? I’d love feedback on that!

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