Our Fly-Drive Approach

1. Time-saving: Flying cuts down travel time significantly. Instead of spending days on the road, we can cover vast distances in just a matter of hours.
2. Vehicle preservation: With the ever-rising costs of automobiles, preserving our own vehicles for as long as possible is a priority. By renting, we avoid putting unnecessary mileage on our personal cars.
3. Comfort: As we find ourselves in the "third act" of our lives, long stretches behind the wheel can take a toll on our bodies. Flying allows us to minimize discomfort from extended periods of driving and sitting.
4. Cost-effective: Renting a fuel-efficient car helps keep gasoline costs down, making our journey more budget-friendly and avoiding the long drive from the east coast (in our case) offsets the cost of flying.

Now that we've explained why we chose to fly to our starting point and rent a car, let's dive into some tips for making the most out of this type of travel. Whether you're a seasoned road-tripper or new to the game, these insights can help streamline your planning process and ensure a smooth journey. Once we've covered these practical pointers, we'll jump into the details of our itinerary, sharing highlights from each leg of our trip.

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1. Stay Hydrated and Snack Smart: Keep yourself hydrated by purchasing water and snacks upon arrival and during your journey, especially in the dry climate of the Southwest.
2. Acquire a Cooler: Consider bringing a cooler or purchasing a cooler when you get there to store drinks and food items. This budget-friendly option allows you to enjoy meals on the go and avoid the high costs of dining out for every meal. We’ve recently started using a soft-sided cooler from REI that folds flat and fits into our luggage. Soft-sided allows the cooler to conform to spaces in a vehicle that other coolers could not possibly fit into. This has been a game-changer for us.
3. Choose the Right Vehicle: Rent a vehicle that suits the terrain and conditions of your trip. For remote or rugged areas, opt for a 4-wheel drive vehicle to ensure safety and accessibility. If you are planning a road trip in the Southwest USA, a 4WD may be necessary if you plan to visit destinations that are only accessible via rough roads.
4. Plan with Flexibility: Create a list of must-see attractions and activities, but remain flexible with your schedule. Allow room for spontaneity and be prepared to adjust your plans as needed while still prioritizing your key interests.
5. Research and Embrace Discovery: Research major attractions and sights in advance, while making note of any place that requires reservations up front, but remain open to unexpected discoveries along the way. Strike a balance between planned activities and the thrill of exploring new places spontaneously.

Save big on your rental car by exploring various deals through AAA, Expedia, or leveraging points from your travel credit cards. Take the time to compare rates from multiple rental companies. On our recent trip, we saved over $1000 simply by shopping around. For this particular journey, AAA came through for us. While it may require some extra time investment upfront, the significant savings make it well worth the effort.

Consider using Turo to rent a car. Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace. Owners rent their vehicle to others. We’ve done this a few times and it has worked out okay for us. Be careful to make sure there isn’t a limit on the miles you can drive.

If you are road-tripping in Europe check out our pages with tips for European travel. Driving and renting in Europe is somewhat different than in the USA. You should be aware that Road Signs are most frequently going to be in a different language, so you should definitely take a look at our French Road Signs to be aware of page.