The Ultimate Guide to the Great American Road Trip from MIAMI

The Ultimate Guide to the Great American Road Trip from MIAMIJordan Hinsch

Yes, it's possible to take a road trip from Miami. Is it common? No way.

I don't know why it took so long to post a recap of my 2018 road trip, but here it is! I'm not saying you should go out and do this tomorrow. Not everyone has that sort of flexibility or time off from work. Also, not everyone can accomplish what I did in 18 days.

Having said that, this trip was life-changing and downright incredible. My 2018 Great American Road Trip began in Miami, Florida.

Stats and Facts

• 18 days
• 7,844 miles
• 18 states
• 10 National Parks
• 40+ stops
• One oil change
• Zero ounces of caffeine
• Pulled over once (no ticket)

Road Trip Tips

Plan well

• I pride myself on being able to get a lot done in a short period of time. No, I'm not just showing up to Yosemite and taking a picture of Nevada Falls to say that I was there. I'm going on multiple hikes, going to bed late, waking up early every day to maximize my time.

Pack Well

• One of the most important aspects of perfecting your road trip experience is packing properly. It's easy to forget important items. To get some ideas for a road trip packing list, click here.

Drive at night if you have a travel buddy

• I did this trip completely solo, so driving at night was not safe. It's highly recommended that you drive at night if that's an option for you.

If you aren't camping, book your lodging the day of your stay

• There's nothing worse than booking a hotel only to not make it because of car trouble or some other reason. Be a bit spontaneous and book your stay the day of. Unless there is limited availability in an area, I'm booking my hotel within 6 hours of my arrival.

Use the Quarter Tank Rule

• As soon as your fuel level is down to 1/4 tank, stop at the next gas station. I ran out of gas on a road trip and it is not fun. It can put a severe delay on your plans. Even if you have AAA, they won't be able to get to you for at least a few hours maybe even longer depending how rural the area is.
• Why 1/4 tank? Ensure you have enough gas to make it to the next gas station. The closest option may be 75 miles away, you never know.

The Ultimate Guide to the Great American Road Trip from MIAMIJordan Hinsch

Curious about that cool map? It's from Roadtrippers. You'll need it to plan your trip.

Itinerary

Day 1

1) Miami, Florida

2) Tallahassee, Florida (overnight)

Day 2

3) Mobile, Alabama - USS Alabama

4) Biloxi, Mississippi

5) Houston, Texas (overnight)

Day 3

6) San Antonio, Texas - The Alamo

7) Carlsbad, New Mexico (overnight)

Day 4

8) Carlsbad Caverns National Park

9) Alamogordo, New Mexico - White Sands National Monument

10) Tucson, Arizona (overnight)

Day 5

11) Twentynine Palms, California - Joshua Tree National Park

12) Palm Springs, California (overnight)

Sunset at Joshua Tree National ParkJordan Hinsch

Day 6

13) Riverside, California - to buy spare camera batteries!

14) Yosemite Valley, California - Yosemite National Park (overnight) *Stayed at Ahwahnee Hotel

Day 7

More Yosemite!

15) Mammoth Lakes, California

16) Furnace Creek, California (overnight)

Day 8

17) Death Valley National Park

18) Boulder City, Nevada - The Hoover Dam

19) Overton, Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park

20) Las Vegas, Nevada (overnight)

Death Valley National ParkJordan Hinsch

Day 9

21) Springdale, Utah - Zion National Park

22) Bryce Canyon, Utah (overnight)

Day 10

23) Bryce Canyon National Park

24) Red Canyon, Utah

25) Page, Arizona - Antelope Canyon

26) Grand Canyon Village, Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park

Day 11

More Grand Canyon! Helicopter

27) Monument Valley

28) Four Corners Monument

29) Telluride, Colorado (overnight)

Day 12

30) Montrose, Colorado - Black Canyon National Park

31) Aspen, Colorado (overnight)

Day 13

32) Colorado Springs, Colorado - Pikes Peak

33) Denver, Colorado (overnight)

Day 14

34) St. Louis, Missouri (overnight)

Day 15

35) Brownsville, Kentucky - Mammoth Cave National Park

36) Nashville, Tennessee (overnight)

Day 16

37) Manchester, Tennessee - Bonnaroo Music Festival

38) Nashville, Tennessee (overnight)

Day 17

39) Stone Mountain, Georgia

40) Ocala, Florida (overnight)

Day 18

41) Williston, Florida - Devils Den Springs

42) Miami, Florida - HOME

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