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Getting Started with Roadtrippers

Start by entering your starting point and destination. You’ll be offered two planning options:

Autopilot ON: Let Roadtrippers’ AI-powered trip planner suggest stops, lodging, and routes. (Available to Premium members only; a free trial is available.)

Autopilot OFF: Manually build your trip using the interactive map and suggested waypoints.

Once your route appears, you can click and drag the route to different roads or add custom waypoints to adjust it. Roadtrippers will show driving hours, mileage, and fuel estimates—you can even tweak your vehicle’s fuel efficiency to customize cost predictions.

Adding Stops to Your Trip

Click “+ Add to Trip” or use the (+) icon to enter cities, addresses, or attractions. Roadtrippers will organize your route in the most efficient order, but you can manually rearrange stops however you like.

Near the top of your itinerary, you’ll see mileage, drive time, and fuel cost estimates. If you aren’t planning a round-trip, remember to factor in your return journey!

Explore Tab: Discover Along the Way

This can be used to filter the map by categories and find places to add to your trip. There are two parts to the Explore tab: searching for places and browsing categories.

Categories– One of our favorite parts of a road trip is discovering new places along the way, and this feature will help you find some new places to check out by using the categories to explore places on the map. Whether you want to look for quirky attractions, want to find a place to spend the night or a place to grab a meal, you can use categories to find all the best spots near your route or near your current location. Places on Roadtrippers are assigned categories, making it easy to discover and find new places.

If you’re using the website, you can browse categories in the Explore tab. The Explore tab is the first option in the tool dock on the left of your screen.

If you’re using the app, you can browse categories from the map view by tapping the Search & Explore bar at the top of the map.

You can browse categories with or without a trip loaded on the map. If you explore with a trip loaded, Roadtrippers will look for places within a radius of your route. If you explore without a trip loaded, Roadtrippers will look for places in the location in view on the map.

Search– If you already know some of the places you’ll be visiting, you can use the search tab to add those to your trip. Search is best used when you know the name of a place, such as Monument Valley. Categories are best for discovering types of places along your route.

Pro Tip: Zoom in to reveal more options! Roadtrippers limits the visible pins based on your zoom level to avoid clutter.

Waypoints and Filters

Use the toolbar to select popular categories like:

-Food & Drink

-Camping & RV Parks

-Outdoors & Recreation

-Attractions & Culture

You can refine these categories with filters (price, type, rating) and narrow your results to a set radius off your route (5–30 miles).

Roadtrippers Autopilot: Let AI Do the Planning

Available with Premium membership, Autopilot helps plan your trip based on: Travel dates, Daily drive limits, Vehicle type, Group size, Accommodation & food preferences and Activity Interests. Answer a few simple questions and Autopilot builds your itinerary—complete with stops, stays, and suggested eateries.

Just Browsing? No Problem!

You don’t need a trip planned to explore. Use the “Explore Destination” option on the homepage to browse any area. Pick a location, zoom around the map, and check out nearby attractions using category filters.

Getting Started is Easy

Getting started with Roadtrippers is easy, starting with a 7-day free trial. During the trial period you’ll have access to all the features of our highest membership level, Roadtrippers Premium. This trial membership can be used across all platforms and on multiple devices. If you start a trial on our website, you can install the Roadtrippers mobile app on your phone and access the same great features in both places – just make sure you’re logged into the same account across devices.

After the trial period you will have your choice of 3 memberships:

Basic ($35.99/year): Great for short trips

Pro ($49.99/year): Includes 5 saved trips and up to 50 stops per trip

Premium ($59.99/year): Full access to Autopilot, filters, and longer trips

* To sign up for Roadtrippers, use this link and the referral code BTR5QTP for a $5 discount!

Final Thoughts

Not only can Roadtrippers help you plan that trip you’ve been wanting to take but it will give you great ideas for even more places to visit! I like the fact that you can put in filters to fit what you’re looking for. For us, the important things are the quirky places to stop or scenic places, so this is very helpful. Once you get your perfect trip itinerary, remember to review and confirm details about your trip such as visiting hours, booking availability, pet restrictions, and road closures before you hit the road.

We want to pass on tips and information that we learn along the way to help planning your trip easier and less stressful. We hope to inspire you to find your adventure, have fun and make lots of memories. Safe travels and happy Roadtripping!

The post Roadtrippers: Plan the Ultimate Road Trip with Ease appeared first on scenicroutetravelers.com.

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1. Get a Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection

If your vehicle has shown signs of wear recently, consider bringing it to a mechanic for a quick checkup before you go. Even if your car is in good condition, it’s still wise to run through a home maintenance checklist to make sure it’s ready for the journey:

• Check the Tire Treads: Look for any bulges, uneven wear, or other visible issues.
• Check Tire Pressure: Ensure each tire is at the recommended pressure, refer to your car manual for specifics.
• Consider Your Oil Change Timeline: Make sure it’s not due soon and consider topping up if needed.
• Top Off Fluids: Check wiper fluid and keep extra with you. Check your wipers too. We leave in the dry desert and we have to change ours every 6-9 months because of the sun.

2. Start with a Clean, Organized Car

Having a clean car makes a big difference for your comfort. Remove clutter, vacuum the interior, wipe down surfaces, and clean the windows. You’ll appreciate a tidy car as the miles roll by, and it’s easier to stay organized if you start that way.

3. Pack Essential Vehicle Supplies

Every vehicle should have a few basics, not just for road trips but for everyday travel. Make sure you have:

• License, Registration, and Insurance Cards: Keep these documents in an accessible spot.
• Spare Tire & Tools: Along with the spare tire, double-check you have a jack and lug wrench, and refresh yourself on how to change a tire if needed.
• Jumper Cables or Jump-Start Kit: If your battery is low, a jump-start kit can be a lifesaver until you can replace it.
• Manual Tire Pressure Gauge: Handy to check tire pressure anytime.
• 12v Tire Pump and Patch Kit: These are helpful for minor tire issues that may arise.
• Flashlight or Headlamp: A must-have if you encounter car issues after dark.
• Roadside Assistance Kit: Reflective vests, flares, and rain ponchos are helpful for roadside repairs, safety is always a priority. This kit has everything you need and maybe more, but I like to be on the safe side, so we got this one for our trips.
• Sunshade & Blanket: Keep a sunshade to keep your car cool, and a blanket in case of chilly waits for assistance.

4. Glove Box Essentials

The glove box is perfect for a few must-haves:

• Napkins and Tissues: Handy for spills and small messes.
• Extra Toilet Paper: In case you need it at rest stops.
• Hand Sanitizer & Trash Bags: Essential for quick cleanups and disposal of wrappers. If you have the space, a small garbage can is a great idea so that nothing falls out of the trash bag.

5. Keep Things Organized

Staying organized makes a road trip smoother and keeps the car pleasant for everyone:

• Over-the-Seat Organizers: These can store snacks, maps, and essentials within easy reach. This organizer is a little longer than the one in the picture, but it has large pockets and one that will even hold a touch screen tablet if you have kids in the back.
• Packing Cubes & Duffel Bags: Ideal for packing and grabbing items for overnight stops.
• Storage Bins: Great for snacks, games, and other loose items.
• Roof Cargo Box (Optional): This can free up space and make the car feel less crowded.

6. Navigation and Electronics Prep

With much of our navigation done digitally, make sure you have both online and offline navigation options:

• Road Atlas or Paper Maps: Essential for areas with no service.
• Offline Maps: Download maps on apps like Google Maps or Maps.me to have directions even without Wi-Fi.
• Hands-Free Phone Mount: For easily following directions.
• USB Cords and Small Inverter: Keep dedicated USB cords in the car for charging, and consider an inverter for charging larger electronics.
• Road Trip Apps: Download apps for route planning, trails, or sightseeing stops.

7. Plan Your Route & Stops

One of the best parts of a road trip is the freedom, but it’s still helpful to plan a general itinerary. Researching stops ahead of time helps you avoid missing unique attractions, scenic views, and restaurants along the way. You don’t want to miss that great diner or beautiful lake that was just a few miles off of the road you’re traveling. If you need help with planning your travels, go to Roadtrippers. If you enter this code: BTR5QTP you will save $5.

8. Safety and Insurance

Don’t forget to check your insurance details:

• Roadside Assistance: Make sure you have a plan for breakdowns or other roadside emergencies.
• Travel & Health Insurance: If you’re traveling out of state or abroad, double-check your coverage to avoid unexpected medical expenses. We like Faye insurance, check them out here if interested. They cover everything you need when traveling. If you’re not sure if you need insurance or how to figure out what you might need read on blog on navigating travel insurance.

A bit of planning before your road trip can make the journey much smoother and more enjoyable. With your car in great shape and packed with essentials, you’re ready to explore the open road! This is a pretty comprehensive list, but it’s good for anytime you travel weather going on a camping trip or just driving from city to city it will keep you safe and prepared for anything unexpected.

We hope to help you plan your trip so that you can enjoy yourself on your trip. We give tips about things we’ve learned along the way to help you make the most of your vacation. Go out and find your adventure and make memories to look back on. Even if you take a day trip near home, you never know what you might discover! Have fun and stay Safe!

The post Pre-Road Trip Checklist: Essential Prep for a Smooth Journey appeared first on scenicroutetravelers.com.