Jeep fans can enjoy great off-road capabilities of their Jeep in new places when they take their Jeeps on a road trip.
Jeeps are compact and fit everywhere, however based on the configuration of the Jeep and your tires it may be a rough ride. Plan to use your Jeep off-road and to explore away from the beaten path to get the most out of your Jeep. Consider the gas mileage of your Jeep when planning a road trip and budget appropriately for gas.
When you are considering renting a Jeep for a road trip you should ask about gas mileage and damage fees. Most Jeeps are designed to be driven off-road but rental companies may not allow this type of driving.
Pros and Cons of Jeep Wranglers on a Road Trip
Jeeps can be a great choice for any road trip, but you should consider the pros and cons before setting out or snagging the rental.
I surveyed about 20 people who have taken Jeep Wranglers on a road trip and here is what they had to say.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can handle mountainous driving | Rough Ride For Passengers |
| All Wheel Drive for Poor Road Conditions | Less Cargo Area |
| Compact Size | Perform best off road |
| Stealth Camping | Loud Ride |
| Gas Mileage | |
| No Cruise Control | |
| No Anti Lock Brakes |
Off-Road
The biggest reason people love a Jeep Wrangler for a road trip is the ability to explore off road. This is especially popular in road trips in the southwestern US.
The Jeep lovers that I talked to said they enjoyed visiting Moab, Sun Valley, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.
If you hope to use your Jeep off-road, be sure to do some research ahead of time and find places where that is allowed and worth the bumpy ride!
There are sites and apps created specifically to help you find great off-road experiences, I find Trails Off Road to be a really helpful service, even with their free tier.
Loud Ride
One survey participant said driving a Jeep on the highway is “like driving a sailboat” and another said they had to sell their Jeep Wrangler because of the noise.
If you will be traveling alone, you may not notice the noise, but when you are trying to talk to your travel party it will be difficult.
The noise can be reduced by purchasing the right tires. Be sure to choose the highway model of tire for your Jeep and check the tire pressure regularly.
The trade off is that narrower, highway tires will not perform as well on trails.
These problems make Jeeps a popular tow vehicle. If you have the ability (and gas budget) to tow your Jeep you can enjoy the capabilities of rugged off road driving and the quiet comfortable ride of your tow vehicle.
Stealth Camping
A Jeep is a great choice for you if you plan to sleep in your vehicle on public lands or in parking lots. The Jeep will likely not draw too much attention and will fit nicely into a normal parking spot.
You can also nestle yourself away off road with your Jeep for more private camping.
We just got back from a long trip where we were camping in public parking lots. We have a much larger vehicle, which limited our choices and made us stand out like a sore thumb.
While some Jeep owners complain about the huge lack of storage space in the two door models, a few shared great setups with sleeping mats and coolers in their 4 door Jeeps.
You can even find Chicks Do It 2 on Instagram visiting all 50 states in her Jeep and finding incredible camping spots.
Rough Ride
Be sure to grab some seat cushions for your Jeep Wrangler if you will be putting in some highway miles.
The rough ride can be difficult on backs as you jostle down the road. We have found the roads to be particularly difficult through mountain ranges and in St. Louis (come on MDOT!).
Several people said they were not comfortable when driving for a long time on the highway in their Jeep unless they had a good seat cushion.
Gas Mileage
The gas mileage is not the reason most people buy a Jeep, the gas mileage is very poor compared to similarly sized vehicles.
Some models like the JLUR are designed for highway driving and get a better gas mileage, while some are designed strictly for off road driving.
Some did report getting gas mileages of 20mpg or more, this is in a Rubicon with a 2.0L engine. So be sure to research the model you will be driving or renting, it can vary significantly.
This is another reason that Jeeps can make better tow vehicles than travel vehicles.
Can I take a Jeep Wrangler on a family road trip?
You can take a Jeep Wrangler on a family road trip if you pack light, get seat cushions and budget for gas. Check the tires to be sure you have the right type to match what the trip demands.
The Jeep Wrangler is notorious for not having much cargo space, so pack really light and be sure that you plan laundry stops on your trip.
There are no rules, you can bring the Jeep if you want, but be sure that you have done a few miles on the highway close to home before you make the choice to drive it for 800 miles on Summer Vacation.
Should I rent a Jeep for a road trip?
If you are looking to rent a car for a road trip, a Jeep Wrangler sure looks great. These are very cool cars that can handle any road condition.
Check the gas mileage
Be sure to know the gas mileage of the Jeep you plan to rent, and plan accordingly. Each Jeep configuration has a slightly different gas mileage.
You can use this (no math required) method to find the gas mileage of a vehicle that you already have.
Check the tires
The tires make all the difference when driving a Jeep, and Jeep people know that, so ask about the type of tires that are on the Jeep you will be renting.
If you will be doing highway driving, ask for highway tires that are more narrow. If you plan to hit the dirt ask for the wider off-road tires.
Check the cargo room
Traveling with a family means a lot of suitcases and Jeeps do not have a lot of cargo room.
Plan to have a safe place to store anything that does not fit or pack very light.
If you plan to camp, think like a hiker and pack small, small stove, small sleeping bag, small clothing.
Check the rules
If you have off-road dreams, you may need to rent from an off-road adventure rental company as many regular vehicle rental places do not allow that type of driving with their cars.
Be sure to tell the rental agency your plans and get approval in writing whenever possible to avoid surprise fees when you return.
