It’s no secret that America is a country filled to the brim with wonder and beauty. From the stunning forests and hidden natural wonders all the way to the quirky tourist spots and massive culturally enriched cities, America is truly a place that can only be fully appreciated in its entirety. This is why the American road trip remains to be one of the most popular trips in the entire world. Starting in California and ending on the East Coast, the American road trip can include any and all states, visit countless tourist spots or none at all, and still be the most amazing journey of a lifetime.
However, as with any big adventure, the way that you prepare can either make or break the entire experience. With this being said, the team at FlipRide have worked hard to provide our amazing readers with the ultimate preparation outline for an amazing road trip across America. Through this, we hope you can prepare for this adventure in style, ensure that nothing goes wrong along the way, and share your adventure with all of us when you return.
The 5 Best Vehicles for Road Tripping
Although it likely won’t come as a surprise, the car you choose for any road trip is highly important. Whether you’re simply travelling to a nearby state or going across the entire country, the car you choose must be reliable, comfortable, spacious enough for your travel needs, and have a decent fuel economy level.
While some travelers initially lean towards big RV’s or trucks, a large portion of these vehicles get very bad gas mileage. However, with a bit of research on the most efficient and comfortable rides on the market, we’ve compiled this list of five of the most reliable long-distance travel vehicles out there.
2018 Buick Regal TourX
The 2018 Buick TourX is a beautiful combination of all of the positives that come with an SUV and all of the efficiency found in a wagon. Although some have found this vehicle’s cabin to not be as comfortable as other similar wagon and SUV options on the market, its 24 MPG combined fuel economy along with its adequate storage space and sleek exterior make up for this with ease.
You can easily find this vehicle used for anywhere between $20,000 and $31,000, and its 4.4/ 5 consumer rating on Kelley Blue Book definitely proves its worthiness for any and all American road trips.
2020 Hyundai Palisade
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is a modern and sleek SUV with three rows of seating, high-tech features ranging from USB ports in every row all the way to Apple Carplay and an 8-Inch touch screen, and 10/10 safety rating by US News. This vehicle is perfect for the big family or group of friends looking to travel the country in style and surprisingly has a reasonable fuel economy of 22 MPG combined.
You can find one of these gems for anywhere between $31,000 to $41,000 today with ease and rest assured knowing your trip will be both cost-effective and comfortable.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban
As one of the largest vehicles on this list with seating for up to nine passengers at a time, the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban is ideal for big families, large groups of friends, and even the highly popular van lifestyle. However, as with any large vehicle, this Suburban has a less than ideal 16-18 MPG combined fuel economy. This is why we only recommend this vehicle for large parties or families looking for exceptional comfort during road trips.
The biggest perk of this vehicle quite possibly isn’t even the interior or gorgeous exterior, however. Instead, its ability to tow a 5th wheel or any other travel trailer makes it the perfect choice for extended American road trips and those looking to come back with more valuables than they left with.
2008 Dodge Durango
Before we begin discussing the specs on the 2008 Dodge Durango, it’s important to preface that this vehicle has a surprisingly low fuel economy of 15-16 MPG combined. If this is not something you are wanting for your next trip, this may not be the car for you. However, based on reliability and comfort alone, the Dodge Durango is a great choice and is also the cheapest selection on this list running for roughly $3,000 to $9,000 used.
What separates this vehicle from others on this list is its offroad capability with 4WD and its exceptional cargo space for any and all luggage you may have.
2017 Nissan Pathfinder
Lastly, the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder is the top rated and most fuel efficient vehicle on this list with a fuel economy of roughly 21 to 27 MPG. Although this particular vehicle is larger than other options, it is also equipped with driver assistance technology, parking assistance, and cameras in the front and back to keep your family or friends safe during the entirety of your adventure across America. You can typically find these vehicles used for anywhere between $20,000 to $35,000.
Now that you know some of the best vehicles for road tripping currently out there, let’s discuss what a vehicle needs to be ready for the road. No matter what vehicle you choose for your trip, the main things to focus on are fuel economy, reliability, cost-effectiveness, comfort, storage space, and durability in various environments. Through these things alone, you are sure to find the right transportation guaranteed.
Your Complete Vehicle Preparation Checklist
When preparing for a long distance trip, you will essentially want to review the same things that you would when buying a used car. With this being said, our ultimate list of what to check when buying a used car is a great way to ensure that any road trip vehicle is in perfect condition before hitting the road.
Additional things you will want to consider before heading out is whether or not you want to tow anything during the trip, how much storage space you will actually need, and whether or not your vehicle is equipped to handle snow or other rough environments that you may encounter when traveling between states at any given time.
With all of this considered, you will be sure to have the best vehicle for the trip and be ready to head out immediately on the adventure of a lifetime.
Here’s Some of our Favorite Destinations in America
Although an American road trip should always be taken from a very personal approach with destinations that truly resonate with you and the people you plan to experience it with, there are certainly some amazing spots for car enthusiasts that we at FlipRide strongly recommend.
Gateway Canyons Resort (Gateway, Colorado)
The Gateway Canyons Resort is the ultimate car enthusiasts destination. Founded by Discovery Channel’s John Hendricks, this amazing resort is full of rare cars, museums, and rich car history. You can also rent and drive an exotic vehicle or supercar for the day or head over to their offroad track for some fun with ATV’s and other offroading toys.
Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles, California)
The Petersen Automotive Museum is one of the largest auto museums in the world and contains countless rare and exotic vehicles as well as film-featured cars like the 1992 Batmobile from Batman Returns, Lightning McQueen from Disney Pixar’s Cars & Cars 2, as well as the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from the James Bond movie Skyfall.
NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Whether you’re a tried and true Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan or simply a car enthusiast that wouldn’t mind seeing some of the most widely recognized vehicles and tracks in NASCAR history, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is home to over 50 interactive display, 40 racecar tracks, and 18 historic cars from the start of NASCAR until now.
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum (Auburn, IN)
If you’re the type that greatly enjoys antique or classic car shows, this is the perfect travel destination for you. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is home to over 120 classic cars as well as nine car-themed galleries showing the history of these vehicles in full detail. It truly is the ultimate classic car enthusiasts destination for that very reason.
Tesla Factory (Fremont, CA)
Maybe you happen to be the proud owner of a Tesla or simply love the beauty and unique qualities that make these cars so luxurious in nature. Either way, there is truly something special about seeing these vehicles built in person. For this, the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California is the perfect place to visit. Visitors can view some of their most popular models out front and then head into the manufacturing zone for a firsthand view into the automated process used to make each and every one of these vehicles. Watch the robots do their work and be amazed at how precise the entire process truly is.
In the end, the ultimate American road trip isn’t defined by the places you go, the cars you drive, or even the destinations you choose to visit. Instead, every great adventure begins and ends with the strong bonds of the friends and family you bring along. If you are ready to make lasting memories with the ones you love dearly, then you are always ready to hit the road.
Found that perfect Road Trip vehicle?
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