So I have been reading the Road Trips forum for a while. I'll be taking a month long road trip with a buddy in August. We don't really have a destination, we're just looking to hit some nice roads, head west and south (not necessarily in that order), meet some nice folks, and have a good time. We'll do a mix of camping and hotel stays.

My question for those of you who go on road trips... How much planning do you do and how do you do it? There appear to be two schools of thought; plan ahead, or go with the flow.

The plus for planning ahead is that you get to research the roads and program the GPS ahead of time. The con is that you may end up rinding in more rain than you need to.

The plus for going with the flow is that you can look at the weather picture and try to avoid the bad weather heading your way. For shorter rides I like to watch the radar picture on theweathernetwork.com, see what it portends, and pick a direction. The down side is that route selection is (I'm guessing) more hit and miss.

I'm looking for your experience in longer road trips. What process do you use to plan and execute these road trips. Avoid bad weather if possible or weather be damned?

 

I plan to go with the flow

(seriously, I pick a direction and bring a map, and go)

 

You seem to be very weather alert. I would compromise the two philosophies and plan at least two general routes a good distance apart..then take a look at the long range weather...including what is off the west coast a couple days before leaving and decide on route...then have fun.

These two sites have great info...you can stitch together a ride that will encompass some of these rides.

http://www.openroadjourney.com

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/

When you get idea of routes you can repost and get some input from "locals" John

 

I am a planner. I like to look at the map, figure out my route, and then build in a rain day or two to just camp out wherever I am. If I don't hit any weather I might end up home a day or two early, or I will build in a loop that takes me past the house so I can stop if I've run out of time, or make a little two day hop somewhere else and then return home.

 

Preplanning. My Vacations are too short and too far apart so I want to maximize the experience. I want to see as much as I can in the period alotted. Preplanning alows me to see how many miles a day I am likely to do, how many hours in the saddle, and pick nice places to stop. Preplanning your route alows you to pick out the scenic, POI's, and some nice twisty roads. Without planning you may well go right by something worth seeing or ending up on a super slab rather than a string of switchbacks. Remember the planned route is still a guide. If bad weather is ahead, either stop and wait it out or pick a route around it. With a Map and a GPS you will only get lost if you want to. IMHO Going with the flow works for those that have no time constraints. Unfortunately I do not have that luxury.

 

I do a little of both. I plan a destination to go to and pick a route. Once on the road I go with the flow. Several times last year on a cross country I would pull into a small town and find out that they did not have a motel. On to the next town 30 or so miles away and find out that the motel in town was a dive. Next stop 30 or so miles away. It kept the trip interesting to say the least. Whatever you do just have fun. Isn't that what its all about.