National Road Trip Day was two weeks ago, and I am thrilled to have celebrated the occasion with Leighanne Evans and the team at CTV Evening News.
National Road Trip Day lands in late May for a reason: it is widely recognized as the unofficial kickoff to the North American summer travel season. My own love of travel was born in the back seat of the family minivan, winding through the Rocky Mountains, and a road trip is still my favourite way to truly slow down and connect with a place to this day.
I know that I am not alone in feeling this way. A lot of globetrotters understand that there is no better way to discover hidden gems, set your own itinerary, and spend real, unhurried time with the people you love. I recently had the chance to share that love of the open road with Amber Pfister over at NBC's California Live, so I was especially excited to come back to CTV and go a layer deeper. This time, I wanted to get practical: the hard-won tips that turn a good drive into a seamless, unforgettable one, plus two specific trips I cannot stop thinking about.
Tips for a Great Road Trip
One of the most important lessons I have learned from my years of writing about and embarking on road trips is that the difference between a stressful drive and a great one usually comes down to a little preparation. Here are the steps I take before hitting the road to ensure my drive is pleasant rather than problematic.
Give Your Car a Once-Over
Your car is the most important part of your road trip, so it is crucial to ensure it is in proper condition before beginning your trip. Checking your tire pressure and windshield fluid, topping up your gas tank or battery, and packing an emergency kit and spare tire are all important steps you need to take before hitting the road.
Map a Route Worth Driving
The fastest way is rarely the best way. Trusted sources of road trip inspiration, like Goway's Globetrotting Magazine, are a great place to prospect for route ideas before you begin your trip. Once you have your route, I recommend downloading it to your phone or GPS and having physical maps on hand in case you lose cell service. Goway's Destination Specialists are experts at preparing for road trips, so they will help ensure you have all your maps and navigation resources in advance.
Curate Your Audio
A road trip often lives or dies by its soundtrack. Build a few playlists with some variety, download an engaging audiobook, and queue up a podcast series or two for the longer, quieter stretches. My one rule: every playlist needs at least a few songs you can belt out at the top of your lungs. There is a reason "Life Is a Highway" has soundtracked so many summer drives. In my opinion, a road trip is at its very best when the windows are down and everyone is singing along.
Pack Strategically
This is a tip people often forget or overlook, and it is also the one they thank me for later. Keep the things you reach for most, like snacks, tissues, chargers, and a refillable water bottle, within arm's reach rather than buried in the trunk. And do not underestimate the snacks: I am a firm believer that good ones can make or break a drive. I lean toward options that travel well and don't weigh you down, but I also love using a road trip as an excuse to sample flavours wherever I am headed. On my upcoming trip to Japan, you can bet there will be matcha KitKats and Pocky riding shotgun.
Keep the Kids Entertained
Lastly, planning and preparing for your road trip is all the more important when travelling with children. I am a fan of low-tech entertainment that keeps everyone engaged, like a travel colouring book or a simple, unmessy craft kit, rather than defaulting straight to screen time. And if you are like me and happiest riding as a passenger, those same activities are a wonderful way to keep yourself occupied while someone else takes the wheel.
Drive One: The Bruce Peninsula & Georgian Bay Coastal Route
One of the best parts of being based in Toronto, Ontario, is that we are at the edge of one of the greatest road-trip regions in all of Canada. My local favourite is the Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay Coastal Route, consistently rated among the top ten drives in the country. It rolls through St. Jacobs country and the Elora Gorge before finishing at the impossibly turquoise waters of Tobermory.
What I love about this one is its flexibility. You can stretch it across the better part of two weeks and linger, or carve off a single segment for a long weekend when that is all the time you have. Either way, it shows off Ontario at its absolute best and is proof that you don't always have to go far to find a worthwhile road trip. This is true for so many places around the world as well, particularly in the US, home of the Great American Road Trip.
Drive Two: Hidden Gems of Costa Rica
That being said, road trips don't have to stay in your own backyard. I was instantly hooked on the idea of exploring a new country from behind the wheel after my first international road trip in Spain years ago. My all-time favourite, however, remains Costa Rica. It was a custom version of the eight-day Hidden Gems of Costa Rica Road Trip designed by Goway's Destination Specialists.
The drive begins in the country's central region, threading through cloud forests, canyons, and waterfalls, with so many places to pull over and meet nature on its own terms. If you keep your eyes open, you will spot howler monkeys, toucans, and, if you are lucky, a sloth or two. From there, the route delivers you to the Pacific Coast and a string of hidden-gem beaches. My Goway Destination Specialist handled every detail, from the rental car and accommodations to the tours and the best stops along the way, which is exactly what you want when you are driving in an unfamiliar country.
Where I'm Headed Next
I mentioned an upcoming trip to Japan the last time I stopped by to visit our friends at CTV Evening News. I have since decided to extend it to include Kyushu: Japan's third-largest island with a distinctly different rhythm from the mainland. Imagine a subtropical climate, hot springs, volcanoes, and stunning beaches, yet with a more leisurely pace than some of Japan's more mainstream destinations. All of which, of course, makes it the perfect road trip destination.
My favourite people at Goway are putting together my itinerary as we speak. And yes, the matcha KitKats and Pocky are already on the shopping list. You can follow along on my Instagram stories to watch it come together: @_mitchellalexander.
Road Trips with Goway
Goway's story began with road trips over 55 years ago, with overland tours of North and South America. Goway continues this legacy with unforgettable self-drive journeys across the world. The beauty of going with Goway is that the planning is taken off your plate without taking the freedom off the table. Every trip comes with a rental vehicle, pre-booked accommodation, and curated touring built in. Goway's Destination Specialists know exactly which stops are genuinely worth stopping for on your road trip because of their experience either living, working, or travelling extensively in the regions they sell. And with 24/7 in-destination support, the only real decision left to you each morning is where to pull over for breakfast.
Keep an eye out for the upcoming June issue of Globetrotting Magazine, completely redesigned and packed with even more inspiration for your next great drive. Connect with a Goway Destination Specialist today to start building your own tailor-made adventure to over 115 countries across all seven continents.
Mitchell's love of travel and adventure was formed during family road trips in a minivan across Western Canada. He has since passionately pursued a career in travel ever since his first job working at the front desk of a Calgary Holiday Inn. He now leads Goway's marketing and serves as Globetrotting's editor in chief. Mitchell thrives on pushing his boundaries and challenging his fears, seeking out travel experiences that promise adventure and excitement. However, above all, Mitchell is driven by his love of food, delighting in the diverse culinary landscapes he encounters around the globe.