If you’re like us, summer has you itching to hit the road and see some of the beautiful land that makes up this great country of ours.
While researching and daydreaming about potential adventures, we found several excellent resources for planning a memorable and stress-free road trip.
It’s always nice to plan ahead, and AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner makes planning a breeze. Map your your route, locate gas stations (complete with recent prices) and AAA approved lodging, and learn more about attractions along the way.
Roadtrip America provides a variety of easy-to-use planning tools. Select the state you want to explore to get a list of potential itineraries, complete with maps and points of interest.
While there will never be consensus on the best road trips in America, quite a few websites are willing to share their opinions. Check out the lists on Fodors, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Yahoo! Travel, and Best Road Trip Planner.
What’s a road trip without a visit to a slightly scary bathroom? A good one. So, be sure to bookmark The Bathroom Diaries. An exhaustive collection of restroom facilities throughout the nation, this website is a valuable resource even when you’re not traveling. Users have rated the facilities and provided helpful information such as accessibility and the presence of changing tables.
Are offbeat attractions at the top of your list? Don’t miss Roadside America, a fantastic guide to oddities and unique destinations that often fly under the radar. For example, Oil Can Henry’s has served Silverton, Ore., for seven years and we just now learned that the world’s largest pig hairball is a mere five miles away, in Mt. Angel. (Guess where we’re headed this weekend!)
As you plan your summer travels, check to find the Oil Can Henry’s centers along your route. With 88 convenient locations, chances are there will be one near you. Remember, Henry’s Top-Up Guarantee provides FREE top-ups of oil, tires and fluids (including wiper fluid and coolant) for three months after your Oil Can Henry’s oil change.
Have a favorite road trip? How do you ensure a great travel experience? Share your ideas, experiences and tips on Facebook and we’ll pass them on in future issues our newsletter.