Road trips can be extremely fun when you arrive at your destination. But what about the times when you’re not close to where you’re stopping, or you need a break from the monotony of driving?
The good news is that there are many things you can do when on the road, and pit stops along the way can make the journey just as fun as the destinations you’re planning to stop at. Let’s take a look.
Farmers Markets
A good farmers’ market is the fastest way to get a good feel for wherever you are. The entire operation will display the local produce, the food stalls will share with you the foods on offer and types of businesses you can expect to find, and it’ll give you a much better idea of the local area.
For the most part, farmers’ markets generally tend to run on weekend mornings, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. But they don’t always appear in guidebooks, so you need to do your research ahead of time to get it right, so you can stop by and have a look at what is on offer as you pass through or before you move on from a place.
State Parks
State parks are always worth stopping for. They’re also worth driving a little out of your way for, too. American state parks are well-maintained, genuinely spectacular locations, and are usually less crowded than the national parks adjacent to them. You don’t even need a full day if you can’t spare it; a few hours, a quick hike to stretch your legs, or just taking in the views can be more than enough before you get back on your way.
For added effect, try to find a full hook-up RV site close to a state park so you can extend your visit if you wish and break up the day more easily.
Small Town Main Streets
When you’re driving long stretches of road, the small towns scattered along the way will likely have some gems worth exploring more than just passing by.
Again, researching your route can be highly beneficial here. You need to look for small towns that have a main street filled with the best type of independent businesses, such as a diner, hardware store, barbershop, etc rather than retail chain businesses. These can be a great way to see different aspects of life and how other people live. Plus, these small towns can often give you that Hallmark movie feeling.
Roadside Natural Attractions
What we mean by this is the natural landscape of the country that’s often sitting adjacent to the main highways you’ll likely be traveling on. Think rock formations, waterfalls, river viewpoints, and canyon overlooks, etc.
Most of these don’t require a fee; you can pull over where it’s safe or take a short detour for a closer look. But they’re the perfect place to stop for a short while and take in the beauty of nature around you. Try using apps like Atlas Obscura and RoadTrippers to find spots like this that users have added descriptions to see what is worth stopping for.
