How long does a trip need to be to be considered a road trip?
Well, I asked a big group of roadtrippers when they considered a trip a road trip, and BOY did they have some strong opinions!
While there is no Road Trip police who are going to ask you to prove that your trip meets criteria to be called a road trip;
As a general rule, a road trip is a trip where you drive to an interesting location, pack snacks, eat away from home and spend the night. Road trips also take you out of town or out of state. Trips that are shorter, but bring you to a new place or include highway miles may also be considered a road trip.
Most of the roadtrippers who weighed in gave one of 5 answers:
The Days for the Trip
Most people said that a road trip needed to be at least two days. They considered a road trip a trip where you slept away from home.
The Miles of the Trip
Some people said it was the miles that matter. Driving between 60-1,000 miles away is what counted in some opinions.
The Food for the Trip
Its all about the snacks! These folks say that if you are packing snacks, or eating away from home you are on a road trip, and I agree.
The Destination
If you find yourself driving to a new place, somewhere near or far from home, then you are on a road trip!
The Lodging
Sleeping away from home is a major component in most vacations and road trips give you plenty of options. Camping, hotels, sleeping at a rest stop, all make for a great night on a road trip.
If you are planning a shorter trip, it still might be a road trip if you:
- Take multiple stops
- Have to stop to pee
- Have luggage
- Get Lost
- Get a flat tire
- Drive more than 2 hours
What the Pros Said
I asked a bunch of road trip enthusiasts when a trip became a road trip, and some definite trends emerged:
“If it includes snacks and a fun destination, and at least in another town, I say it counts!”
“If you go somewhere and a road is involved…. road trip”
“Down the road 
“Any trip involving waffle house”
“Hey, any time you get in the car has the potential for a roadie in my book !”
“Last night we went to another town for dinner 175 miles round trip that’s Montana”
“… No time limit! I take day trips that are the same as mini-road trips: picture-taking, new restaurants, new scenery… all the same as the longer ones 
“4 hours to 4 months or more. Can’t be a chore. Has to be something you enjoy. must involve a road and wheels of some type”
“As long as needed for you to look ahead and leave your troubles behind.”
“2 hours from home, spending the night, but that’s me. Choose your own definition, whatever makes you happy 
“Needing to pee once and (gas fill up or EV charge) along the way.”
So There Are 2 Camps Here
The rule makers and the rule breakers. The majority of the road trippers had a guideline that they followed to decide if a trip was a road trip or not, but most agreed that you can make your own decision about your own trip.
Is my trip a road trip?
When you drive to a new location, spend the night and pack a bag, you are on a road trip.
Everyone but the most seasoned travelers would agree that an overnight and some highway miles makes it a road trip.
If you want to really turn up the road trip vibes add:
A road trip playlist
A AAA membership
Packed Lunches
Maybe a g
How long does it take to drive across the US?
A cross country road trip is a long and exciting vacation.
Driving across the country from coast to coast is about 2,500-3,500 miles, this can be driven in roughly 41-48 hours. With one driver, this will take between 3 and 5 days. A more enjoyable trip will take 6-10 days of driving between 400 and 800 miles a day. The world record is 25 Hr 55 min.
Planning a cross country trip is a dream of many road trippers, there are 3 major highways that run from coast to coast:
I-10
I-10 begins in Jacksonville, Florida and ends in Santa Monica, California. I-10 is the southernmost route from coast to coast.
This route covers 2,460 miles and will take you through:
- California
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida
Along this trip you pass through these major cities:
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Huston and Beaumont, Texas
- New Orleans, Louisiana.
I hope that my family can do this trip in the winter and visit Mexico while traveling slow! This route will keep you toasty.
I-80
Interstate 80 begins in Teaneck, New Jersey and ends in San Francisco, California. This is a great route passing through the middle of the country and closely mirrors the first cross country highway.
The highway is about 2,900 miles and runs within 10 miles of New York City, Sacramento, Chicago and Cleveland. This is a great route for travelers who want to see it all.
You will pass through 11 states on this highway:
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- Utah
- Nevada
- California
This route is great if you have a lot of things on your itinerary. Passing so close to so many major cities gives you lots of options for sightseeing and shopping.
This is the oldest east-west route in our country and contains the Oregon Trail and the California Trail and offers some great history as well.
I-90
Interstate 90 is the longest route on our list and the longest highway in the United States, it runs 3,020 miles and crosses 13 states.
This route will take you from Boston, Mass to Seattle Washington. This is the northernmost route on the list and is a good choice in the warmer months of travel, or if you hope to incorporate some Canadian stops.
You will pass through:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
- Montana
- Idaho
- Washington
This is a great route for seeing Mt. Rushmore, and you could stop off to see the Jolly Green Giant and The Corn Palace.
How long does it take to see all 50 states?
Seeing all fifty states takes most travelers 2 years of travel. When the main goal of the trip is to hit all the states it can be accomplished in 2 months. The trip will be more expensive and more stressful when there are strict schedules.
When I have talked to most full time travelers, 2 years is the number I hear most often. These people are exploring the United States and are traveling slowly instead of racing to check things off a list. They intend to see it all and do it all.
You can see all fifty states in as little as 6 days, 17 hours and 31 minutes. These speed trips are known as cannonball runs and are usually done to set a record.
If this is your goal, check out All Fifty Club, they have some great resources for tracking your trip and lots of encouragement for your worthy goal.
