The United States has a grand variety of road trip-suitable routes, from straight shots across deserts to stomach-churning switchbacks through the mountains. Whatever type of adventure you seek, however much time you have, and whatever you want to see, there’s a road out there for everyone. Read on to see the top road trips in the USA.

Best Romantic Road Trip: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Route: Route 1, from Monterey to Morro Bay (123 miles)

Let’s hope your partner makes your heart soar; if not, the unimaginably gorgeous views from the Pacific Coast Highway will. Frequently coined the most romantic road trip in the U.S.A., the highway jogs alongside California farms and cliff-edged beaches, across high bridges and near groves of towering redwood trees. Tour the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium, enjoy lunch at a posh Carmel-by-the-Sea cafe, see the famous waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (check the updated status of the park here), and take a romantic sunset stroll at Big Sur. There are plenty of romantic Victorian bed and breakfasts where you can spend the night.

Where to stay to start your journey: Munras Inn, Monterey

Runner-up road trip: Charleston to Savannah, South Carolina

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Best Road Trip in the Middle of Nowhere: Marathon to Presidio, TX

Route: U.S. Highway 385, FM-170 (160 miles)

The only companions you’ll have during long stretches of this paved, two-lane road through Big Bend National Park are cacti and migratory birds. This is one of the most isolated of all U.S. national parks, but it’s also one of the most dramatic, with desert, canyon, and mountain landscapes. Santa Elena Canyon is worth the detour from the main park road to see its 1,500-foot drop-offs. Stop for lunch at the 1930s-era Starlight Theatre in the historic Terlingua Ghost Town. Movie buffs will marvel at the abandoned Western film sets at Contrabando.

Where to stay to start your journey: Holland Hotel, Alpine

Runner-up road trip: Great Basin Scenic Highway, Nevada

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Best Thrill-Seeking Road Trip: The Road to Hana, HI

Route: Routes 36 and 360, from the town of Kahului to Hana and a little beyond (68 miles)

Brace yourself—literally—for the ride of your life. Maui’s Hana Highway may sound tropically dreamy, with its lush rainforests, multi-tiered waterfalls, and scenic turnouts, but it’s not for the faint of heart—or weak of stomach. The winding, narrow road encompasses hundreds of curves and dozens of bridges (many of which are one lane), and the first time a fearless local in an SUV zooms by you, you’ll wonder where your breath went. Good places to stop and find it? The Ke’anae Arboretum (just past mile marker 16), Upper Waikani Falls (mile marker 19), and Ka’eleku Caverns (mile marker 31).

Where to stay to start your journey: Maui Seaside Hotel, Kahului

Runner-up road trip: La Ruta Panoramica, Puerto Rico

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Best Wildlife Road Trip: Jackson to Yellowstone National Park, WY

Route: U.S. 191 (82 miles plus mileage within the park)

Bison, elk, wolves, moose, bears, and dozens of bird species live in America’s first national park, making it one of the best places in the United States to view wildlife. While animals are abundant inside the park, you’ll likely see some species on the short drive from Jackson to the park’s south entrance, and at Grand Teton and Jackson Lake along the way.

Where to stay to start your journey: Mountain Modern Motel, Jackson

Runner-up road trip: Seward Highway, Alaska

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Best Foodie Road Trip: Stowe to Rochester, VT

Route: Route 100 (49 miles)

Farms, breweries, wineries, creameries, gourmet shops, and restaurants are nestled along the rolling pastures of Route 100, which bisects the prettiest state in New England. Take a leisurely drive along the north-south artery and its side roads, stopping to nibble artisanal cheeses at various farm shops and creameries. Sip apple cider and buy maple syrup at Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center, and taste robust red wines at Boyden Valley Winery in Cambridge. Browse Weston’s Vermont Country Store—its retro candies are worth the stop alone. And the grand finale? A tour of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory in Waterbury.

Where to stay to start your journey: Town & Country Resort Motor Inn, Stowe

Runner-up road trip: North Carolina Barbecue Society Historic Trail

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Best Motorcycle Road Trip: Los Angeles, CA to Taos, NM

Route: Interstate 40 (916 miles)

Aching to be your very own counterculture hippie on a soul-searching odyssey? Billy and Wyatt (a.k.a, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda) covered this course and then some in the 1969 film Easy Rider. They were headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras; if you don’t have it in you to make such a lengthy trip, we suggest just covering the section from California to New Mexico (or at least Flagstaff, Arizona), with a detour to the Grand Canyon.

Where to stay to start your journey: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, Los Angeles

Runner-up road trip: Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

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Best Fall Foliage Road Trip: Lead Hill to Hot Springs, AR

Route: Arkansas State Highway 7 (179 miles)

I’d normally select New England for autumn’s most kaleidoscopic colors, but even its most out-of-the-way back roads can be congested during peak periods. Instead, drive along Arkansas’ first state-designated scenic byway to Ozark National Forest, which has 42 different species of oak trees, plus hickories, maples, beech, and ash, among others. Such a vast variety of trees results in unimaginable colors painting the region’s low river valleys and hillsides. If you get an early enough start, have breakfast or lunch at Cliff House Inn and Restaurant overlooking Arkansas’ version of the Grand Canyon, in the town of Jasper.

Where to stay to start your journey: Hotel Seville, Harrison

Runner-up road trip: Anywhere in New England (see Scenic Autumn Drives in the Northeast)

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Best Classic America Road Trip: Beartooth Highway, MT

Route: U.S. Highway 212, from Red Lodge to Cook City, Montana (68 miles)

A zigzagging road with countless switchbacks, endless views, and steep climbs, the Beartooth Highway seems to have changed little since Civil War General Philip Sheridan led 120 men along the route. Certainly, the views are the same: snow-topped rocky mountains, the bluest of blue skies, and bypasses through Custer National Forest, Shoshone National Forest, and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. No wonder longtime road tripper Charles Kuralt, the late CBS correspondent, called it “the most beautiful drive in America.” Note that the road is only open mid-May through mid-October.

Where to stay to start your journey: The Pollard Hotel, Red Lodge

Runner-up road trip: Pierre to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

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Best Out-of-This-World Road Trip: Dark Sky Parks, Panguitch to Torrey, UT

Route: Scenic Byway 12 (270 miles)

Utah has 15 certified International Dark Sky Parks, so why not create a road trip to all of them? In addition to the well-known Bryce Canyon, other parks with an IDA-certified designation include Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Cedar Breaks, and Kodachrome Basin. Along the way, you can glamp in a Conestoga wagon and yurt. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can start at Zion and make your way through the state’s five national parks, ending at Arches in Moab.

Where to stay to start your journey: Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale

Runner-up road trip: Phoenix to Sedona, Arizona

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Best Mountain Road Trip: Beaver Creek to Keystone, CO

Route: Interstate 70 (70 miles)

Whether you’re planning an epic ski vacation or an outdoor adventure trip to these mountains off-season, the Rocky Mountains are your best bet for a mountain road trip. Start in Beaver Creek and then head to Vail. During summer Vail is home to “Epic Discovery,” where you can zip-line, alpine coaster, summer tube, and more. Make stops at Cooper Mountain, Frisco, and Breckenridge, then end in Keystone. Just don’t leave without having dinner at the Ski Tip Lodge.

Where to stay to start your journey: The Osprey at Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek

Runner-up road trip: Asheville, North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Ashley Rossi contributed to this article.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

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As with so many other travel buys, like the best hotel booking sites and the best airfare booking sites, to find the very best car rental deals you’ll need to cast a wide net. Still, some places tend to do better than others, at least some of the time.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The Best Car Rental Booking Sites in the U.S. and Europe

Here’s a quick roundup of the candidates for best car rental booking sites, based on detailed car searches in both the U.S. and Europe. (Find more details below on the perks and downfalls of each.)

• AutoRentals.com
• Hotwire
• Rentalcars.com
• Priceline
• Expedia
• Low-cost car rental booking sites Alamo, Payless, and Thrifty
• Sixt Car Rentals
• AARP’s discount with Avis, Budget, and Payless
• Auto Europe
• Rentcars.com
• Kayak
• CarRentals.com
• Autoslash

I tested base rental car rates by searching only for economy or compact cars, for a rental period of one week, and only for picking up and returning the car at the primary airports for a number of city destinations in both the U.S. and Europe. All quoted rates (except for opaque rates that hide car specifics until after you purchase their lower-priced deal) are fully cancellable, although some require an advance payment with the option of a refund given upon cancellation. Some vendors offer lower non-refundable rates. All rates include air-conditioning and all U.S. rates include automatic transmission; European rates are for manual since automatic comes at a premium there.

For the most part, the search-and-buy sequence is roughly the same for all car rental booking sites. No one rose out of the mix as especially easy or dropped as especially difficult. Therefore, my comparisons are based almost entirely on my ability to locate the best deals.

AutoRentals.com

Overall, AutoRentals.com is an excellent place to start a search. It’s a metasearch system that displays a matrix of prices for up to 25 model options available through more than two dozen different sources, including a mix of other metasearch car rental booking sites, online travel agencies, and rental company home pages. Price displays include both the posted daily rate and the all-up cost of the requested rental. The display also indicates which rental locations, if any, are off-airport—which is important. This matrix feature is especially helpful in comparing options quickly.

Pros: Coverage of major cities is worldwide. Once you select an option to check, AutoRentals links you through to the vendor’s web pages to make your booking, and it includes many rental companies and search systems you’ve probably never heard about, let alone would find on your own.

Cons: Some of the “best deals” reported are not actually the true total price; they exclude some taxes and fees. And some are not fully cancellable—they’re either nonrefundable or entail a cancellation fee. This information is not disclosed until well into the booking process, and even then you have to dig for it.

Hotwire

Car rentals on Hotwire offered some of the lowest rates by way of “opaque” rates in most of my U.S. tests. Opaque means that you don’t find out about the rental company until after you pay the nonrefundable price. Given the sameness of cars, however, you risk very little disappointment with an opaque rate.

Pros: Hotwire’s leadership in low rates is confirmed by the AutoRentals matrix, where it shows up as the best buy on a regular basis.

Cons: I did not find as many opaque rates for Europe on Hotwire.

Rentalcars.com

Rentalcars.com consistently yielded good prices for my searches, though it didn’t always win every test. The site covers rentals in 160 countries worldwide.

Pros: As with AutoRentals.com, Rentalcars.com is a metasearch system that makes it easy to compare offers. In some cases it offers opaque rates for lower prices if you don’t mind not knowing the exact car type.

Cons: Because some of the booking sites Rentalcars.com works with may be unfamiliar to you, the site shows user ratings for each so you can decide whether you’re comfortable booking. Unfortunately, some of them don’t have particularly high ratings (in one search, many of the results on page one were from providers rated just 5.9 out of 10).

Priceline

Like Hotwire, Priceline car rentals list opaque rates as the lowest options in many U.S. cities. Although Hotwire posted lower ones more often, Priceline was a winner in some cases. So if you’re looking for the lowest, you have to try both.

Pros: The chance of it having the true lowest price. If you already use this site for hotels or airfare, it’s also easy to add on a car (as with the other big search engine booking sites).

Cons: I didn’t find any opaque rates for Europe in my Priceline searches.

Expedia

Expedia consistently offered or matched the lowest or near-lowest rates as frequently as Priceline and Rentalcars.com did. Plus the option to bundle with your airfare or hotel is easy and could save you money (as with other price comparison engines), if you already use Expedia for those, as many do.

Pros: In almost all cases, rates were the same as through the rental company’s own system. And if you already use this site for hotels or airfare, it’s easy to add on a car.

Cons: Expedia doesn’t seem to offer opaque rates, which is only truly a con if you’re looking for them.

Low-Cost Car Rental Booking Sites

In general, prices directly from low-end renters such as Alamo, Payless, and Thrifty were always less expensive than the top-name rental companies, usually with a difference of $100 or more per week.

Pros: The obvious benefit is you’re paying a lot less. But…

Cons: The trade-off is that the low-end outfits and third-party agencies generally don’t include the bells and whistles that top-end company loyalty programs provide. I also sometimes found lower rates on metasearch sites such as AutoRentals.com or Rentalcars.com than I did when booking directly through the low-cost car rental booking sites.

Sixt Rent a Car

For European cities, the Sixt booking site is proof that higher-end companies occasionally offer specials better any other source. At the time of my search, the German company was running a “special” found to be the cheapest option in some cases, but didn’t specify the rental company.

Pros: Another strong chance of finding the lowest price.

Cons: The grid layout and dropdown details panels on the search results page is not as easy to navigate as the results pages on other sites on the list.

AARP Partners

If you qualify for them, AARP’s car rental partnership with the Avis Group (Avis, Budget, and Payless) promises discounts up to 30 percent, and in some cases I did find prices lower than those I’d seen anywhere else.

Pros: AARP rates could end up saving you money over all your other options.

Cons: Even with a “discount,” you might not be getting the lowest rate, so you still have to shop around.

Auto Europe

In Europe, Auto Europe generally matched all other sources, including self-described “discounters,” for offering the lowest rates. Think of it as the AutoRentals.com or Rentalcars.com of Europe.

Pros: I’ve used Auto Europe in the past, and found its customer support to be outstanding. It can also help with difficult rentals, such as finding a rental agency in Ireland that accepts drivers over age 70. It’s a good place to start any European rental search.

Cons: As you’d expect from its name, Auto Europe is best for bookings in Europe. This car rental booking site does offer rentals in the U.S. and elsewhere, but usually won’t get you the best price for them.

Rentcars.com

Rentcars.com is another metasearch system that raises similar results to those search engines that were included in my original tests. Like the others, it manages to dig out some good deals.

Pros: It scans more than 200 rental car companies and confines the search display to the most useful prices.

Cons: As with many other sites, the best prices it finds are sometimes pay-in-advance, including full or partial non-refundability, meaning you need to know ahead of time that your plans are concrete unless you want to lose prepayments.

Kayak

Kayak is best known for airfare metasearch, but it offers a good product for car rentals as well. It searches numerous car rental agencies and booking sites and came up with some of the best prices in my tests. It includes opaque options advertising a “surprise agency” if you’re willing to take a risk.

Pros: The site has lots of handy filters, including “pay now” and “pay at counter” as well as an option to show only hybrid vehicles.

Cons: Kayak works with a wide variety of booking sites, which means you’ll sometimes be pointed to companies you’re not familiar with. Search for reviews before booking with vendors you haven’t used before.

CarRentals.com

CarRentals.com is owned by Expedia, but it didn’t show the exact same results as its parent company in the tests I ran, so it’s worth checking both. (Neither one came out consistently ahead of the other.)

Pros: The site has some interesting filter options, including customer rating and the option for online check-in.

Cons: Making a booking through this site automatically signs you up for emails about “special offers,” with no way to opt out until the first email arrives.

Autoslash

Autoslash is a one-stop shopping site for discounts. When filling out your dates, you also check off any rewards programs or memberships you have, and let Autoslash do the searching for you. Within minutes, you will get an email with a link taking you to your best rate.

Pros: Ability to search all rewards programs and membership discounts at once. If you’ve already booked through another site, you can enter your confirmation number, and they will let you know if there is a better deal available.

Cons: You may have to pay in advance for the best deal, and you may have to book with a lesser-known car rental company.

The Car Rental Booking Site Gotchas to Avoid

No matter where you rent, you have to check out the terms and conditions of any rental before you make your final purchase. Among them:

• Great-looking deals that are nonrefundable or entail a stiff cancellation penalty.
• Cancellable deals that require upfront payment rather than payment at the end of a rental.
• Best deals that apply to tiny “economy” or “mini” cars that are not practical for anything other than running errands around town.
• Occasional deals with a mileage cap instead of the unlimited mileage you normally expect.
• Supposedly all-up prices that exclude some local taxes and fees.

Book a Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

Now that you’ve found the perfect rental car, you’ll need to find the perfect place to stay. Search SmarterTravel Hotels for great deals wherever your drive takes you.

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Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Sarah Schlichter contributed to this story.

The post The 16 Best Car Rental Booking Sites for 2023 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Getting out of town for the Fourth of July? You’re not alone. AAA predicts 47.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the upcoming holiday weekend (June 30 – July 4).

High gas prices aren’t deterring road trippers. According to AAA’s forecast, 42 million people will be traveling by car for the long weekend, despite an average price of over $5 per gallon for gas across the country.

“Earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase and it’s not tapering off”,  said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel.  “People are ready for a break and despite things costing more, they are finding ways to still take that much needed vacation.”

The Worst Times to Drive During the Fourth of July Weekend

AAA anticipates that the worst times to drive during the holiday weekend will be: 

• Thursday: 2 pm-8 pm
• Friday: 12 pm-9 pm
• Saturday: 2 pm-4 pm

The Best Times to Drive During the Fourth of July Weekend

According to AAA, the best times to drive during the long weekend will be:

• Thursday before 7 am and after 8 pm
• Friday before 10 am and after 9 pm
• Saturday before 12 pm and after 7 pm
• Any time on Sunday or Monday

The post The Worst Times to Hit the Road for Fourth of July Travel 2022 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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Where to Rent an Electric Vehicle

Although consumer demand for EVs is at an all-time high, they can still be hard to find as a rental option. For example, I went on Kayak, a popular rental car search site, and searched for EVs available on a Tuesday in late June. The search returned zero available options for EVs in a number of major cities. 

You may have more luck looking directly on rental car companies’ websites. Hertz, Enterprise, National, and Alamo offer EVs as part of their fleet. Hertz has a page where you can search for a Tesla rental, which the company offers at 15 airport rental locations across the country.

The easiest place to find a rental car is on Turo, a carsharing company that allows owners to rent out their own cars. This is the best way to make sure that you’ll actually get the car you reserve. On Turo, you can easily search for electric or hybrid cars and see what is available.

How Much Does an Electric Vehicle Cost?

EVs are typically significantly more expensive to rent than a standard economy rental car. Depending on the model that you rent, you’re likely to wind up paying more for the EV than you will save in gas. 

However, if you’re able to find a hybrid car to rent (such as a Prius), you’re likely to experience great gas mileage without having to overpay for the car itself. 

You may find bargains on EVs on Turo. On Turo, I searched for EVs available to rent in Boston, Massachusetts, and found an all-electric BMW i3 for $134 per day. However, a non-EV was still the cheaper rental option. A search on Kayak for the same city and dates found a compact car available for $73 per day. If you’re planning on putting a lot of miles on your rental, the EV might still be the better deal—In this case, you would quickly make up the price difference between the compact car and the EV after filling up the gas-powered vehicle once or twice.

How to Charge Your Car

There are three different ways to charge an EV, and the type of charger you’re able to use depends on the car type.

Level 1: Can be charged through a regular 120-volt outlet. This type of charger takes the longest and could take 40-50 hours for a full charge.

Level 2: Requires use of an EV charging station. A full charge from empty takes anywhere from 4 to 10 hours depending on the model of the car.

Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC): Requires a Tesla connector, an SAE Combo connector or a Chademo connector. This is the technology that is found at Tesla Supercharging stations, and it takes between 20 minutes to one hour to charge an EV to 80 percent. 

Where to Charge an Electric Vehicle

Renting an EV will require a bit more planning than a standard car. You’ll need to plan out stops where you can charge your EV.

If you’re able to use a Tesla charger, you can search Tesla’s website to find available charging stations. The U.S. Department of Energy also has a website where you can search for EV charging stations in the United States and Canada.

You may find free charging opportunities at your hotel, but if you’re recharging on the road, you can expect to pay for the privilege. According to Investopedia, “Delivering a charge of up to 28 miles per hour, the cost for level 2 ranges from $1 to $5 an hour. Normally these types of charging stations are found at shopping centers.” If you are charging at a DCFC station, you can expect to pay between $10 to $30 to charge your battery to almost full in around an hour. 

The post How to Rent an Electric Car appeared first on SmarterTravel.

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Table of Contents

Pre-Planning Essentials
Personal Essentials
First Aid Essentials
Entertainment Essentials
Pit Stop Essentials
Miscellaneous

Pre-Planning Essentials

Road Trip Planning Apps

Gone are the days of scribbling your route on paper maps! There are dozens of helpful road trip planning sites and apps that will help you map out your perfect route and find interesting places to stop along the way. Roadtrippers lets you plan your route, add stops, and get fuel estimates and pre-made trip guides for your journey. Google Maps Trip Planner is a twist on their classic functionality, allowing you to add multiple destinations and plot the best route between them all. 

IDs, Credit Cards, and Documents 

Like any trip, it’s important to bring along the right documentation. Your license and credit cards are obvious road trip necessities. Make sure you also pack your car’s owner’s manual, a copy of your up-to-date registration, and any roadside assistance documentation you need. If your trip is taking you to Canada or Mexico, don’t forget your passport as well.

Cash

I know cash is dead, but hear me out. This is not for the toll roads that mostly take credit cards now, but it is for the coin-operated laundry you will need to use at some point on the trip. It is for tips to valets who park your car in places like New Orleans where there is no self-park option. It is also for those little businesses that only take cash or local checks.

Tire Repair Kit

A flat tire can put you seriously behind schedule. Having a tire repair kit on hand can be the difference between getting back on track and sitting roadside for hours. The three things you need in this situation are a jack, a lug wrench and a spare tire. Oh, and someone who knows how to change a tire when you are away from home and nothing is open. 

Car Emergency Kit

If the dreaded dashboard lights come on halfway through the trip, you may need to wait a while before AAA can come to the rescue. Equipped with items such as reflectors, hand warmers, jumper cables, and snow shovels, these kits have everything you need to fix the issue or wait it out safely until help arrives. 

Full Tank of Gas

Starting off your trip with a full tank of gas can delay the oftentimes frustrating experience of finding a place to pull off the highway for a little longer.

Personal Essentials

Airplane Pillow 

A long car ride may be an improvement to a cramped flight in the comfort department, but only slightly. Take advantage of the technology created to combat stiff necks on the plane and break out the airplane pillow in the backseat. As an added bonus, many models can deflate and be stored away easier than a standard pillow.

Snacks 

Everything is better with snacks. This is especially true for a multi-hour car ride. Opt for snacks that cause minimal mess and can be eaten without utensils, like granola bars, fruit, or peanut butter sandwiches. 

Water Bottle and Refills

Hydration is key when cooped up in any vehicle. Bring along a large pack of water bottles for the group or, for an eco-friendly option, pack reusable water bottles and one large water jug for refills.

Deodorant 

Consistent access to showers can be unreliable on a long road trip. Freshen up on-the-go by keeping deodorant on hand. For particularly sweaty days, deodorant wipes like these ones from Lume offer a strong, all-over clean.

Sunglasses

As the Blues Brothers made clear, sunglasses are a must-pack for any road trip. Use them to keep the sun out of your eyes when it’s your turn to drive or to block out the light when you’re trying to catch some Z’s in the passenger seat. 

Mints and Gum

Throwing a few packages of mints and gum in the center console is a great way to refresh during a long ride. It’s also a courtesy to any fellow passengers within coffee breath distance after the last Starbucks stop.

Trash Can

A trash can is a small investment you won’t regret after the snack wrappers start piling up. You can purchase trash cans specifically designed to fit in a car and take up minimal space.

Small Cooler

A small cooler can be used to keep water bottles chilled or to pack a light lunch for the road. An easily portable one like this from Coleman can do double duty as a temperature controlled picnic basket for excursions along the way.

First-Aid Essentials

Motion Sickness Medication

While some of us are motion sickness veterans and some don’t know what’s coming until they’re relegated to the backseat for a few hours, it never hurts to have motion sickness medication on hand. If you find full strength Dramamine too powerful, try a children’s dosage. Options like ginger ale, ginger chews, and peppermints are effective natural alternatives for those who only get lightly nauseous. 

Pain Relief Medication

Staying awake and alert while driving for long periods of time would make anyone tense. Having medication like ibuprofen and tylenol on hand can be a life saver.

First Aid Kit

As much as we all hope otherwise, accidents happen. Don’t get stuck with a mid-trip nose bleed or pinched finger without the proper gear. Certain first aid kits are developed specifically for travel and camping and can take care of bigger accidents, but make sure to have a few everyday bandaids on hand as well. 

Hand Sanitizer and Sanitizing Wipes

Keep it clean with these sanitizing products that can be used to wipe down hands before mealtime or questionable gas station surfaces during a bathroom break.

Entertainment Essentials

Car Charger

Keep your devices alive with a car charger. Make sure you have the correct charger for your phone’s make and model and adapters for anyone else who may want to plug in. 

Portable Charger 

You can use a portable charger in the car or while exploring at stops along the way. Many models offer multi-device charging and aren’t reliant on the car’s USB port location, making it easier to share with friends in the backseat. Make sure your charger is powerful enough to handle the devices you plan on using. 

Batteries

The unfortunate reality is that not everything can be recharged. Have a few batteries on hand for these devices, especially ones included in your car emergency kit. 

Headphones 

Finding some peace and quiet in a car full of people is no easy feat. Simulate that precious alone time with noise canceling headphones. They can quiet down the buzz of conversation in the small space and diffuse the always heated battle for the AUX cord.

Mobile Hotspot

Passengers will appreciate access to the internet and drivers will appreciate the navigation app not cutting out when they hit a data dead zone. 

Music and Podcasts (Downloaded)

Speaking as someone who forgot to hit download on their Spotify playlist before boarding a four hour flight—you’re going to want to make sure you have some offline entertainment. Make a special road trip mix and download a few episodes of your favorite podcast before you leave. Use a mobile hotspot or connect to hotel WiFi in the evenings to change up the tracks or download new episodes throughout the trip. 

Books

When you’re not in the driver’s seat, use the time to catch up on your reading list.  If reading in the car is a no-go, download audio books on your device to listen to as a group or alone with some wireless earbuds. 

Games

I Spy, punch buggy, the alphabet plate game—there are endless ways to entertain your littlest passengers on a long drive. Brands like Melissa and Doug offer a variety of road trip games in physical form, from printable bingo cards to a flippable version of the license plate game. For an adults-only road trip, try out adult Madlibs or a round of TableTopics.

Pit Stop Essentials

Face Masks

While many destinations are loosening their mask requirements, it’s always good to have a few on hand. You don’t want to get stuck outside an attraction or event because regulations, or personal comfort levels, keep you from entering.

The Right Footwear

If you think footwear is the least of your worries during a trip spent mostly in the car, think again! Pack a comfortable pair of shoes for ride that can double as a light walking shoe for short excursions, like the Mega Z Cloud from Chacos. Pack a sturdier secondary pair, like a sneaker or hiking shoe, for more physically intense activities or stops where open toed shoes are not permitted.

Daypack 

If you’re planning on taking a few day trips along your route, you’ll need a daypack to carry all of your essentials. Throw your toiletries and a change of clothes into your pack when stopping at a hotel for the evening and avoid having to to haul your suitcase out of the trunk at every overnight stop. The Flash 22 backpack from REI is the perfect option, with plenty of space and a comfortable and breathable design. 

Specialized Gear

Packing for a road trip involves more than just what you’ll need on the road. Think about what activities you’ll be doing along the way and at your final destination. Are you camping or hiking? Will you be visiting national parks? Are you traveling with children? Make a list of the specialized gear you’ll need for these activities, and remember to pack it!

GoPro Camera

Everyone loves an action shot. Get great footage and high resolution photos of your adventures by bringing along a GoPro camera. It’s small and lightweight so it won’t take up a lot of valuable space in the car and it will be easy to bring along with you during your stops as opposed to a larger camera. 

Miscellaneous

Polaroid Camera 

There’s something special about being able to hold a photo in your hand the moment you snap it. A fun addition rather than a necessity, bringing along a cheap polaroid camera lets you gather memories while keeping the phone in your pocket. Polaroids also make a cute personalized stand-in for postcards to send to friends and family back home.

Stamps

Speaking of postcards, keeping a book of stamps in the glove compartment for such occasions will save you unnecessary trips to the local post office.

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The Best Things to Do in Colorado

Click on an activity or destination below to learn more.

1. Visit A Hot Spring

There’s no shortage of hot springs in Colorado, and unwinding at any of the pools is one of the most relaxing things to do after a long hike or day of skiing. Whether you’re looking for a hot spring at a luxurious resort or a clothing-optional spring, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Colorado. There are more than 30 different hot spring complexes in Colorado, so it’s easy to find a hot spring that meets your preferences. Our favorites include:

• Dunton Springs  – Head to the 1800s ghost town of Dunton for a unique hot springs and glamping experience.
• Glenwood Springs – Visit Glenwood Springs Resort, which is home to the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool.
• Pagosa Springs – Visit Mother Spring Aquifer, 
• Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort – Enjoy the 100% natural and odorless hot springs at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort. 
• Valley View Hot Springs – Clothing-optional and off-the-beaten path Valley View Hot Springs in the San Luis Valley. 
• Strawberry Park Hot Springs – Surround yourself with nature at Strawberry Park Hot Springs, in Steamboat Springs. 

2. Ski Any of the Mountains

Skiing might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of what to do in Colorado in the winter, and that’s because it’s one of the best things to do in the state. Colorado is home to 25 different areas and resorts, including some of the most famous mountain towns in the West, like Vail, Breckenridge, Wolf Creek, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Aspen, Copper, Steamboat, Snowmass, and Telluride. The options are virtually endless.

To help narrow down your options, first think about what kind of skiing you want to do: family-friendly, back bowls, heavy powder, downhill, cross-country, or mogul. Second, think about what you want in a ski village: high-end restaurants, spas, shopping, non-skiing activities, or accessibility from the airport? You’ll likely need to rent a car, or look into mountain shuttle options. Read this guide to Colorado’s ski areas for a helpful breakdown of what each of the 25 mountains has to offer.

3. Explore Denver

Denver is Colorado’s domestic and international hub: Its airport is connected to 180 domestic and international destinations via non-stop routes. Exploring Denver is also one of the top things to do in Colorado, so it’s worth spending a day or two of your vacation in the Mile High city.

Denver is all about craft beer, sports, local restaurants (don’t miss Restaurant Row in Uptown), and museums, so there’s something for almost everyone. Catch baseball, hockey, football, or basketball games depending on the season you’re visiting. And, if you’re traveling with kids, the Denver Zoo, Elitch Gardens Theme Park, Downtown Aquarium, and Children’s Museum of Denver are some of the best things to do in Colorado with the family.

Purchase the Mile High Culture Pass for free and discounted multi day entry to Denver’s most popular attractions.

4. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular things to do in Colorado. It’s among the top five most visited national parks in the U.S. every year, so it’s important to know what to do there before your visit. The advance prep will be well worth it when you’re exploring Rocky Mountain National Park’s 300-plus miles of hiking trails, the crystal clear lakes, and the famous Trail Ridge Road. Elk, bighorn sheep, moose, otters, and mule deer are just some of the incredible wildlife you’ll see here.

One of the best things to do in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is stay at the wilderness camp. Make sure to reserve a campsite up to six months before your visit, or you’ll be left to the luck of the draw at the two first-come, first-served campgrounds.

The National Park Service lists the summer and fall months as the busiest, especially on weekends, so plan to visit outside of those windows if you want a less crowded experience.

5. See a Show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

If you’re looking for arts and culture, look no further than the Red Rocks Amphitheater about 10 miles west of Denver. The open-air amphitheater is carved from a giant rock structure and hosts a variety of concerts and events. Red Rocks even has its own restaurant. Past performers include Jimmy Buffett, Bastille, Florence + The Machine, and Neil Young. Seeing a show at Red Rocks is one of the best things to do in Colorado.

If you aren’t in town for a show, you can do a stadium run in the amphitheater, participate in Yoga on the Rocks, or hike and bike the two trails in Red Rocks Park. Just be aware that Red Rocks Park is 6,280 feet above sea level, so if you have any health conditions, it’s best to talk to your doctor before doing any strenuous exercise at high elevations.

6. Hike to Hanging Lake

Even though you can’t swim (or even dip a body part) in the water, the hike to Hanging Lake is one of the most popular things to do in Colorado. It’s located about 10 miles from Glenwood Springs in the Glenwood Canyon, and pictures don’t do the turquoise-colored waters justice. The climb to the lake and cascading waterfall isn’t particularly easy—it’s a steep, uphill one-mile hike—but the views are definitely worth it.

While swimming, fishing, and pets aren’t allowed due to the harmful effects of unnatural elements to the ecosystem, nearby you can go to the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, natural vapor caves, or raft and kayak in the Colorado River that runs through the canyon.

7. Explore Boulder

Home to the popular University of Colorado-Boulder, this city has a small-town college feel, coupled with great outdoor activities. Pearl Street Mall is ideal for shopping, eating, and drinking, while the Flatirons and Flagstaff Mountain offer hiking and climbing. Whether you’re just passing through to Rocky Mountain National Park or spending a night at the historic Hotel Boulderado, sightseeing in Boulder is one of the best things to do in Colorado.

Flatirons

Whether you hike, go rock climbing or just enjoy a picnic in their presence, the flatirons are a must-see while in Boulder. These “striking, slanted, reddish-brown sandstone formations” can be found on Boulder’s west side.  

8. Ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway

One of the very best things to do in Colorado is ride along the highest cog railway in the world to the summit of Pikes Peak. Near Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak is the highest point in the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. At the top you’ll enjoy the same panoramic views that inspired Katherine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful.” Sometimes up to five states are visible. Reservations are recommended at least a few days in advance; the trips run every 80 minutes, year-round.

If you’d like to ascend the summit at your own pace, drive the 19-mile highway to the summit on your own. It is breathtaking (literally—the elevation will take your breath away), and you can stop at three different lakes that offer fishing, picnic areas, and easily accessible hiking trails.

9. Visit Garden of the Gods Park

The Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark in Colorado Springs full of spectacular red rocks, makes Pikes Peak its dramatic backdrop. A visit to the Garden of the Gods is one of the most popular things to do in Colorado. It’s also near the top of the list of what to do in Colorado for free: entrance to the park and visitor center comes without a charge.

Activities at the Garden of the Gods include rock climbing, hiking or biking along the 15 miles of trails, or taking a Jeep, Segway, or trolley tour throughout the park.

The Visitor and Nature Center and museum is a great activity to do with kids, as it offers interactive exhibits, a Geo-Trekker history movie, nature talks, junior ranger program, and guided tours. The park and visitor center are open year-round.

10. Walk Across the Royal Gorge Bridge

The Royal Gorge Bridge Park, about two hours from Denver, is one of the top things to do in Colorado for jaw-dropping views that are sure to test your tolerance for heights. The Royal Gorge Bridge is one of the highest suspension bridges in the world and what to do in Colorado if you’re an adrenaline junkie. The bridge is more than 1,000 feet long and stands 956 feet above the Arkansas River in Canon City.

Don’t forget to explore the rest of the Royal Gorge Bridge Park, too. There’s an aerial gondola, zip line, and free falling sky coaster if the adrenaline-inducing bridge isn’t enough for you. If you’re truly scared of heights, try the photo lookout area, visitor center, plaza theater, and water clock for some more stable fun.

11. Do a Wine Tour

You may not realize that Colorado is home to over 150 wineries, with two AVAs (American Viticultural Area): Grand Valley AVA and West Elks AVA. The state has nine wine regions, so you have plenty of choices when planning your wine tour, no matter where you are in the state. Can’t decide which wineries to visit? Here are the top wineries from each region: 

Northern Front Range

Snowy Peaks Winery—Located not far from Rocky Mountain National park, you can sip wine while enjoying locally made artisan cheeses, while live music plays in the background.  

Grand Valley AVA 

Maison la Belle Vie—Using the age-old practice of “dry-farming,” Maison la Belle Vie makes a variety of wines from Merlot to Muscat, as well as small batch reserves. Enjoy their famous Charcuterie board while sipping a flight of wine on their patio. 

Four Corners

Fox Fire Farms Winery—Fox Fire Farms not only is host to many wine-related events, it is also home to the largest livestock farms in southwest Colorado, offering a truly unique experience.

Central Front Range3.    

Purgatory Cellars—Croatian born owner combines old world and mediterranean style winemaking for a truly unique wine drinking experience. 

Pikes Peak Area and South

Mountain Spirit Winery—This family owned and operated winery sits on five acres of farmland, with apple orchards, an old house, and stunning views of the mountains.  

West Elks AVA 

Azura Cellars and Winery—offering stunning views of the nearby mountains, you can enjoy browsing art at the gallery while sipping your glass of wine. 

Delta and Montrose 

Stoney Mesa Winery—taste a variety of wines while nibbling on a charcuterie board at this dog friendly winery.  

Rocky Mountains

Winter Park Winery—enjoy a glass of wine while listening to live music with the Rockies as your backdrop. 

Plains

Mummy Hill Winery—a micro winery in Northern Yuma County. 

12. Sand Sled or Board at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

While snowboarding and skiing on snow tends to be where the attention is in Colorado, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to sled or sandboard on sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Formed by the “right combinations of wind, water and sediment,” the awe-inspiring sand dunes can’t be missed. 

Not only will you have to play in the sand, but check out over 200 ponderosa trees, which is the only grove of trees now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is not to be missed. 

Alpine Slides

When the snow melts and skiing or sledding is no longer an option, try one of the many alpine slides found throughout the state. Alpine Slides include: 

Winter Park Alpine Slide 

Enjoy a ride down this alpine slide at whatever pace you want, fast for the thrill seekers or a leisurely slower pace to enjoy the scenery. 

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park  

The Alpine Coaster at Glenwood Caverns Adventure park has been named one of the 10 Best Roller Coaster rides of Your Life by USA Today and Park World Magazine. While you are there, be sure to check out the new roller coaster opening in 2022, Defiance, which features a 110-foot, 102.3-degree free-fall drop. 

Breckenridge Epic Discovery  

The Goldgunner Alpine Coaster will have you twisting and turning as you speed down 2,500 feet through and around the forest, with stunning views along the way. 

Steamboat Springs  

Steamboat Springs is home to two alpine slides: The Howler Alpine Hill on Howelsen Hill, and the Outlaw Mountain Coaster at Steamboat Ski Resort, which, at 6,280 linear feet, is the longest alpine track in North America.

Purgatory Resort 

Like most alpine slides, you can choose to whiz down at a faster pace for a thrill, or take a more leisurely descent when you pick a lower speed. Go down solo or with a friend. 

Copper Mountain  

The Rocky Mountain Coater is one of the longest alpine coasters, at 5,800 winding through the forest with the Ten Mile Range as its backdrop. 

13. Horseback Riding 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that horseback riding is abundant in Colorado. You can explore the Rocky Mountain National Park on horseback, get spectacular photographs of Maroon Bells while riding on a horse, or find adventure in Colorado’s largest wilderness area, Weminuche Wilderness while the horse does all the hard work. For an all-in horseback adventure, check out one of Colorado’s many dude ranches, like Latigo Ranch, Cherokee Park Ranch, or Sundance Trail Guest Ranch. 

14. Mesa Verde National Park

While Rocky Mountain National park seems to get all of the attention, Mesa Verde National Park is not to be missed. An International Dark Sky Park, you will get breathtaking views of the night sky. Enjoy a Cliff Dwelling tour, and see how people lived a thousand years ago. 

15. Explore the Ghost Towns

During the gold rush in the late 1800’s, small towns popped up all over Colorado, and were abandoned just as fast. Many still exist today, either with some original buildings or replicas set up as things were over a hundred years ago. Here are a few ghost towns you can visit: 

Carson  

Located in easter Colorado, and accessible only by hiking, Carson is one of the most well preserved ghost towns, built in 1889 when miners were attracted to the area. 

Saint Elmo

Located less than three hours south west of Denver, St. Elmo is also a wonderfully preserved ghost town in Colorado. At its peak, it had a population of 2000, and the train ran to the town. The last train left in 1922, but one family remained until 1958. 

Animas Forks

Located less than an hour from Silverton, Animas Forks is only accessible by dirt road, during summer months by two-wheel drive vehicles.  There is unrestricted access to all buildings, but caution should be taken, as some buildings are fragile. 

Independence 

On the National Register of Historic places, Independence is just 16 miles east of Aspen. Take a guided tour June through October, and learn about the history of this ghost town, that was abandoned at the turn of the 20th century. 

16. Visit Grand Lake

Grand Lake, located just three miles away from the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, offers loads of fun activities for people of all ages, no matter what time of year you visit. Swim, boat, sunbathe in the summer, or ice skate, snowshoe in the winter. 

17. Go Whitewater Rafting 

For thrill seekers whitewater rafting while in Colorado is a must! Colorado’s many rivers provide rafting for people with any skill set, from beginners looking for a more leisurely float, to advanced rafters looking for less calm waters. There are an abundance of spots to go rafting, including:

Colorado River

Packed with scenic, calmer areas as well as rougher, exciting areas, the Colorado River offers loads of opportunities for rafting no matter what your skill set is. 

Animas River 

Considered one of the most difficult commercial rivers in the US, Animas is sure to thrill advanced rafters. 

Cache la Poudre River

Cache la Poudre is Colorado’s only federally designated National Wild and Scenic River,  (a “collection of rivers that have been designated to protect their free-flowing condition, water quality, and outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values for the enjoyment of present and future generations.”

Roaring Fork River

With a section dubbed “slaughterhouse” because of its exciting twists and turns, Roaring Fork does have calmer waters in the lower portion. 

Rio Grande River 

A great river for families wanting to raft, take a full or half day trip out of Creede.

Uncompahgre River

Uncompahgre River is perfect for beginner rafters, with a typical departing spot in Ridgway.

18. The Colorado State Fairgrounds

Since 1872, the Colorado State Fair has been wowing audiences of all ages. From a rodeo, to various wine and beer competitions, and fun rides for kids and adults, there is something for everyone. While the fair itself only runs for a week once a year, you will find plenty of other events at the venue throughout the year. 

19. Telluride

If you’re looking for charming, look no further than Telluride. Check out the scenery on the free Gondola ride, or visit during one of the many festivals the city is host to, like the Telluride Bluegrass festival, Mountainfilm, or the Balloon Festival. Quaint shops line the street, and, of course, don’t forget the skiing! 

20. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Since 1882, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has connected the two cities, and you will feel like you are going back in time while riding the vintage 1925 train along the route. Choose a roundtrip excursion with a 2 hour stop in Silverton, go halfway to Cascade Canyon, and even travel in the winter with stunning snow-capped views of the mountains. Every train has a concession car, open gondola seating, and presidential, first, deluxe or standard classes of seating. 

21. Estes Park Aerial Tramway

Opening to the public in 1955, the Estes Park Aerial Tramway gives stunning views from atop Prospect Mountain. Open seasonally from the end of May through the beginning of September, the 3.5 minute ride takes you to the summit of the mountain, where you can get off, enjoy a birds eye view of Estes Park, and have a snack from the cafe, before heading back down. 

22. Explore Vail

Vail isn’t just for skiing. The town offers something for everyone, whether you spend time at Vail Ski Resort, or meander through the charming village, you will easily fall in love. Vail Ski Resort is not just for skiing, as there are plenty of outdoor activities in the summer, too, like hiking or biking. The village is filled with cute shops like Fuzzywigs Candy Shop, Perch, and Plata Jewelers, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants. 

23. Dinosaur National Monument

Located in both Utah and Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument has a lot to offer, from viewing dinosaur fossils in the Dinosaur Quarry, viewing petroglyphs, camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Camp at one of the six campground sites, and view the beautiful night sky from your tent on the land where the dinosaurs roamed. 

24. Denver Arts Week

Every fall, you can celebrate the arts in Denver during Denver Arts Week. Check out some independent films at the film festival, or vibrant street murals that line the neighborhoods. There are plenty of performance arts options to choose from as well. It’s one of the most fun weeks to be in Denver!

25. Cherry Creek State Park 

With so many amazing national parks in the state, you don’t want to forget about the state parks! Cherry Creek State Park is a great place to start. The entire family will have a blast when you camp at this state park. While there are traditional activities like boating, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding, you can also check out the model airplane field. Suhaka Field, operated by the Denver R/C Eagles Flying Club allows both electric and gas/glow aircraft, so bring your plane, or just head over to watch the model airplanes whiz through the sky! 

26. Attend the Meeker Range Call Celebration 

The Meeker Range Call Celebration has everything you might expect at a rodeo: a parade, a rodeo, a barn dance- but it’s the bank robbery reenactment that makes this event stand out. In 1896, town residents quickly reacted after a bank robbery, and you can watch it all unfold in downtown Meeker.

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These small changes to your driving habits, combined with free reward programs, can add up to big savings on gas.

Plan Ahead

Getting lost, backtracking when making multiple stops, and not planning your refueling spot ahead of time—these are all small mistakes that can add up to a big gas bill. Nicole Petersen, a spokesperson for GasBuddy, advises, “Long or unfamiliar trips are the most common time that people waste money on gas, stopping at stations simply for convenience. Things like waiting until the next city over or crossing state lines can save you a lot of money at the pump.”

At home, Ellen Edmonds, Public Relations Manager for the American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends combining errands and getting everything done in one spot or shopping plaza if possible, in order to save on mileage.  

Even if you think you know the way around, mapping out our trip ahead of time (especially if you’re making multiple stops) can help you maximize your fuel economy. 

Increase Your Fuel Efficiency

Going faster might save you time on the road, but it will cost you at the pump. “Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase, says Edmonds. 

Simply slowing down your highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can help to increase your vehicle’s fuel economy by as much as 14 percent, according to AAA.  

Pay extra attention to your driving behavior as well. Petersen recommends avoiding “aggressive driving habits like speeding, hard braking and fast acceleration, as they waste gas and can decrease efficiency by up to 40 percent.”

Avoid Idling

At a standstill in traffic? Turn off your engine if it’s safe to do so (and if you’ll be stopped for longer than a minute.) “A car engine consumes one quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart,” says Edmonds.

Skip Stops and Slowdowns

Some stops are unavoidable, but try to skip any unnecessary stops or slowdowns on the highway. According to AAA, this means:

• Using “fast pass” or “express toll lanes
• Avoiding rush hour when possible
• Monitoring traffic on your route ahead of time and during the trip, and rerouting to a more efficient way as needed

Pass on Premium Gas

Check what type of gas is recommended for our vehicle. If your car only requires regular fuel, splurging for premium will not improve fuel economy and will be a waste of money, warns AAA.

Shop Around for Gas

Plan ahead with your gas stops so you’re not forced to buy extra expensive fuel at the nearest gas station because you’re running on empty. Petersen says GasBuddy typically sees “14-30 cent ranges in gas prices even in small areas.”

There are a few ways you can find out gas prices without driving past stations and checking the signs.

• Search “gas stations” on Google Maps, which displays prices for some stations 
• Use the AAA Mobile App, which shows fuel stops nearby along with gas prices
• Download the GasBuddy app, which displays gas prices on a map

Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs & Gas Cards

Now might be the time to take advantage of those loyalty programs you’ve been avoiding the signs for every time you fill up. These are free programs that give members rewards and discounts on fuel. Some examples include:

• Fuel Rewards, an easy-to-use discount card valid at Shell stations
• GasBuddy, a payment card that can save up to 25 cents per gallon at a number of different gas stations
• BPme Rewards, which gives app users up to 5 cents off every gallon at BP stations
• Exxon Mobile Rewards, simply sign up and then use the app, credit card or just your phone number at the pump to save 3 cents per gallon

Rent a Hybrid Car 

Next time you book a rental car for your travels, make it a hybrid car. These vehicles are usually smaller and fall into one of the cheaper rental categories, plus will require significantly less gasoline than a regular vehicle which can result in huge savings on a road trip.

Almost all major rental car companies offer hybrid vehicles, however, most companies specify that the vehicle type “isn’t guaranteed” and you might wind up with a non-hybrid when you arrive.

If you want to guarantee a hybrid rental, try Turo, a car sharing site where you can pick the specific vehicle you want to rent.

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Muir Woods + Point Reyes National Seashore + Yosemite

Experience the best of Northern California’s landscape, including towering redwoods and dramatic beaches with a road trip to three diverse national parks in the state. Just 30 minutes from San Francisco, Muir Woods inspires awe as you look up at a forest of old growth coast redwoods. Point Reyes National Seashore is a short drive away, but feels like a totally different world, with sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and opportunities to spot wildlife from elephant seals to elk to whales. Spend the night before for the four-hour drive to Yosemite, dubbed by naturalist John Muir (namesake of Muir Woods) as a “temple to nature.” See famed rock formations Half Dome and El Capitan along with gorgeous lakes and waterfalls in the  Sierra wilderness.

Yellowstone + Grand Teton + Fossil Butte National Monument 

You can cover a lot of ground in Wyoming, home to two world-famous national parks that share a border. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are must-visits, known for sights like Old Faithful and Lower Falls in the 2.2 million-acre Yellowstone and the crystal-clear Jenny Lake in Grand Teton. For something a bit off the beaten path (and within a two-hour drive of Grand Teton), Fossil Butte National Monument will be fascinating for budding paleontologists. See more than 300 fossils in the visitor center, then head out to Fossil Lake to hunt for prehistoric fossils yourself. 

Bryce Canyon + Zion + Arches

For never-ending red rock formation vistas, head to Utah. This state is home to the “Mighty 5” national parks, but you could narrow down your travels a bit by starting in Zion National Park. Go for a hike to Angels Landing or The Narrows, or just take a drive through the scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel. Less than two hours away is Bryce Canyon, which boasts the most hoodoos—defined as irregular columns of rock—in the entire world, making for surreal views. Drive four hours to Arches National Park, which lives up to its name with over 2,000 stone arches to explore (the most famous of which is free-standing Delicate Arch, accessible via three-hour hike).

Joshua Tree + Death Valley + Grand Canyon

Drive through desert ecosystems on your way to the epic vacation spot that is the Grand Canyon. Your journey begins in Southern California’s Joshua Tree, where you can hike through cactus gardens and toward a desert oasis. An even more famous desert with a foreboding name is approximately a four-hour drive away. Sights at Death Valley include Badwater Basin (salt flats known as the lowest point in North America) as well as scenic lookout Zabriskie Point. From there, it’s a long journey to the Grand Canyon (feel free to take a city break in Vegas to rejoin civilization). You’ll have plenty of time on the drive to plan your trip out ahead of time (North Rim or South Rim? Mule tour or rafting the Colorado River?)

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park + Rocky Mountain National Park + Great Sand Dunes 

Fly into Denver to explore Colorado’s national parks featuring all sorts of jaw-dropping landscapes. The narrow Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a rival to the Grand Canyon, with dark canyon walls that plunge 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River. For stargazers, try to time your visit to the park’s Astronomy Festival. Next up is Rocky Mountain National Park, where you’ll find over 300 miles of hiking trails within the park’s 415 square miles (and 150 pristine alpine lakes too). Your Colorado road trip must include a drive through the Rockies on the 48-mile Trail Ridge Road. For something completely different, hop in the car and be transported to an alien landscape at Great Sand Dunes, the tallest dunes in North America. Don’t forget the sand sled for dune sledding.

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Lifeline First Aid AAA Winter Safety Kit 

Packed in a handy compact storage bag, this safety kit is specifically geared towards cold weather survival. Equipped with a fleece hat, gloves and scarf, an emergency blanket, a fire starter, folding shovel, all necessities if stranded in the cold weather and/or snow. You’ll also find a LED flashlight, and candles. 

Deluxe Road Warrior Emergency Kit

If you want to leave nothing to chance, try the Deluxe Road Warrior Emergency Kit. Included is a mayday reflecting triangle, so you are easily seen on the road no matter what the conditions, a folding snow shovel, jumper cables, a revolving sign light that can be seen one mile away, a flat tire fixer, tow rope, a wrench, first aid kit, and more. The best kit for those who like to be prepared for anything. 

HAIPHAIK Emergency Roadside Toolkit

This one hundred and twenty-four piece roadside kit is compact, yet efficient. With jumper cables, tire repair tools, traction ropes, a tool kit, a whistle, fuses, work gloves, a shovel and more. With this kit, you can rest assured you will be ready for whatever comes your way.

CYECTTR Car Roadside Emergency Kit

This roadside emergency kit is a more economical kit, and has everything you need in case of a roadside emergency. With a reflective triangle, safety vest, tow rope, gloves, flashlight, rain poncho, a multi-function tool card, and more, you will be well-prepared for most troubles that may befall you when you have to pull to the side of the road.

Secureguard Roadside Emergency Kit Supplies

This emergency kit has everything you need in a compact case. Stay dry with a poncho, warm with a blanket, and don’t lose your way if you have no cell service with a handy compass. The kit includes the basics: jumper cables, first aid kit, safety hammer, tow rope, an emergency whistle, and a multitool. 

J. J. Keller L/XL Auto Vehicle Safety Kit

It may not just be that your car has broken down, you may get in an accident. Whether you don’t have cell service to call the police or the police and roadside assistance services are far away, it can’t hurt to be prepared. This vehicle safety kit has everything you need in case of an accident. Besides the usual items found in an emergency kit like a vest, gloves, jumper cables, and a first aid kit, it also includes an accident report kit. The report kit has an accident report envelope, a, driver’s report at accident scene form, witness cards, an accident notification card, and exoneration cards. 

Make Your Own Emergency Kit. 

If you’d rather an emergency kit catered to your own needs and abilities, then perhaps you should build your own. Here are common items for a car emergency kit. 

Blanket 
Flares
Flashlight
First Aid Kit
Jumper Cables
Folding Shovel 
Fuses 
Candle
Lighter
Gloves
Batteries
Duct Tape
Tire Pressure Gauge
Flat Tire Repair Kit
Multitool 
Phone Charger
Portable Charger
Whistle
Car Hammer

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No matter how often I cover the problems that come with collision damage under car rental insurance, consumers continue to share their frustrations. A reader recently emailed me:

“I’m interested in finding a complete bumper-to-bumper, ‘drop off the keys at the counter’ car rental coverage when I travel. I recently thought I had complete coverage though a credit card, but when my car suffered a small dent, the car rental company flat-out refused to document that it actually lost income from having the car rental in the shop (which took three weeks to repair a small dent). I was left with responsibility.”

Car Rental Insurance: 9 Nasty Truths

This experience is uncommon, but not unique. Car rental companies desperately want you to buy their collision damage waiver, or CDW (sometimes also known as loss damage waiver, or LDW), and will go to great lengths to make you pay for even the smallest damages if you don’t. Here’s what you need to know before you shell out for car rental insurance on your next vacation.

The One Way to ‘Drop the Keys and Forget It’

When you buy a CDW, the rental company surrenders its rights to charge you for damage to a car rental—with a few exceptions, such as tire damage or gross negligence. (CDW terms and conditions vary by car rental company, so you’ll want to read them carefully before committing.) But otherwise, no matter how banged up the car could be, you’re off the hook: Just turn it in and be on your way. No other approach—your own insurance, your credit card, or a third-party policy—is as comprehensive or convenient. If you want that full flexibility and peace of mind, pay for CDW.

CDW Insurance Is Ridiculously Overpriced

Typically, a CDW starts at around $30 per day and can go higher. It sometimes costs even more than the base car rental rate. The actuarial cost to the rental company—the amount it would allocate toward a damage pool based on risk experience—is probably just a few dollars a day; the rest is theirs to keep. No wonder the agents push it so hard: It’s clearly a lot more profitable than the car rental alone.

You’ll Pay Up Front for All Damage

You can cover your major damage responsibility by relying on your own insurance, a credit card with insurance, or a third-party policy. But in all of those cases you have to pay a damage claim up front, then recover as much as you can (all of it, you hope) by filing a claim afterward. That means signing a credit card bill for hundreds or even thousands of dollars when you return the damaged car, and not knowing if you’ll get that money back.

That’s why many rental companies won’t accept rentals via debit card, or a credit card with a small limit. If you can pay the initial rental fee with a debit card, you’ll still need to provide a credit card to cover a possible damage claim, which would be filed before you can leave the return counter.

‘Damage’ Is More than Fixing a Dent

If you don’t buy CDW, rental companies can charge for more than just fixing the damage. They also charge for:

• “Loss of use,” meaning the potential revenue lost while the car is out of service being fixed, even if the company had lots of other cars available. And they generally figure that daily loss at the full retail rate.
• Towing charges, if you are unable to drive the car back to the return station.
• “Diminished value,” or the potential loss of the car’s resale value (because of your damage) when the rental company disposes of it, usually within two years.
• Administrative fees associated with the claims process.

Most non-CDW car rental insurance will cover those extras. But, in some cases, coverage depends on cooperation from the rental company—and it may not be forthcoming, as our reader’s above wasn’t.

Alternative #1: Pay with Your Existing Car Insurance

In many cases, if your regular auto insurance covers collision damage to your insured car, it also covers damage to a short-term rental. But this coverage is generally limited to driving in the U.S. and maybe Canada, and won’t cover car rentals in Mexico, Europe, or anywhere else. So, before you plan on using your own insurance, check its coverage. If it does cover rentals, you can place a claim on it. Still, you must typically pay your policy’s deductible, and any claims may cause your rates to go up.

Alternative #2: Use Credit Card Benefits

These days, most credit cards provide “free” collision coverage for car rentals, provided you use the card to secure the rental. A sample credit card benefits statement describes coverage as:

“Physical damage and/or theft of the covered rental vehicle. Valid loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company while the damaged vehicle is being repaired and is not available for use, as substantiated in the company’s fleet utilization log. Reasonable and customary towing charges related to a covered loss to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility.”

Note that this typical Visa card’s benefits do not cover diminished value or administrative costs. A few premium credit cards offer primary collision coverage, meaning the card takes full responsibility for the payment. But coverage on most cards is secondary, meaning the card picks up only what you can’t first recover from your own insurance. And you still have to pay the rental company up front, then file for reimbursement from your card issuer.

Another gotcha in the above fine print: This card (and many others) pays for loss of use only if verified by the rental company’s log. Unfortunately, some rental companies don’t cooperate with credit card issuers in providing this type of documentation in a timely manner.

Alternative #3: Third-Party Car Rental Insurance

If you rent a car through one of the big online travel agencies (OTA) such as Expedia or Priceline, the agency normally offers you the option to buy collision coverage for around $10 a day. That coverage is provided by a third-party insurance company such as Allianz. The cost is a lot less than the rental company’s CDW, but, as with credit card coverage, if you damage the car, you have to pay up front and claim later.

Typical third-party collision coverage includes about the same contingencies as credit card coverage, but because it’s grouped with the booking you won’t have to make any other claims. You can also buy collision coverage independently: Bonzah, for example, sells coverage at around $9 per day.

You Need General Liability Protection

You should never get behind the wheel of a car—or lawnmower, for that matter—without liability protection. But you don’t buy that from a car rental company: It usually comes with household, homeowner, or tenant insurance, and it covers far more than a car rental. And if your net worth is in six figures, you probably need an “umbrella” liability policy that covers a million dollars or more.

Car rental companies in most countries are required by law to include liability insurance. In the U.S., required coverage can be ludicrously small (usually only the minimum required by the state)—it’s usually much better in Europe. If you don’t have substantial liability insurance, you might consider buying the rental company’s offering. Still, your best bet is to make sure you’re covered 24/7 with your own insurance so you can forget about the rental company’s overpriced insurance.

The Uncertainty Principle

The takeaway from all this: No alternative source of collision damage coverage—your auto insurance, your credit card, or a third party—completely isolates you from risk. Lots of travelers successfully rely on lower-cost alternatives to CDW without encountering any problems, sure. Occasionally, however, your own insurance, credit card, or third-party policy may not cover an unusual charge a rental company might impose.

If you’re unwilling to accept any risk at all, you might want to buy that overpriced CDW. For most travelers and circumstances, credit card or third-party coverage is sufficient, and primary coverage is a lot better than secondary.

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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