How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car

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Last year I sold my car. I know what you’re thinking: a road tripper without a car? I know, I know. It was a difficult decision but I’ve been doing a lot of international travel lately and, living in a big city, I just don’t use a car in day-to-day life. I know what else you might be thinking: what do you do if you want to take a road trip but don’t own a car? Is it even possible to take a road trip if you don’t own a car? Are there ways to get somewhere without a car? Don’t worry. If you don’t have a car of your own there are a lot of alternatives you can use instead!

How to Road Trip if You Don't Own a Car

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car: Rent a Car

Renting a car is the perfect solution for road trips if you don’t have a car of your own. It may seem expensive but you can get great discounts if you rent for longer periods of time, which you’ll need when road tripping. Search for car rentals on Rentalcars.com to find something that fits your budget!. It’s especially affordable if you have multiple people in the car who can split the cost!

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car: Ride Sharing

If you want to get somewhere, you can always look for a ride share! Find people going the same way and they’ll take you. It’s often cheap or free for the ride, but if it’s free you’ll probably have to pitch in for the gas. You can find rides with others through websites like Craigslist or a site like Ridejoy.

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car: Trains and Buses

Trains and buses are a great alternative to cars for road trips. You still get to experience the country and enjoy the scenery outside your window, but you don’t have to worry about driving, directions, or getting lost. The downside to taking a train or a bus is that you can’t make as many stops, they usually just take you from point A to point B. But, if you’re going long distances you can break up your trip, stopping at different cities for a few days each.

How to Road Trip if You Don't Own a Car

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car: Bike

Feeling fit? You can always bike! Just buy a bicycle and go! This option is only for those who are super in shape and and are cycling experts. I wouldn’t recommend a cross-country biking trip to just anyone!

How to Road Trip if You Don’t Own a Car: Road Trip With Friends

If you don’t have a car, find a friend who does! If you and your friends have similar travel styles and love vacationing together, why not take a road trip together and let them drive! Taking a road trip with friends can be a ton of fun, just make sure you’re all on the same page about how you’re divvying up the driving, make sure you still split the gas costs, and maybe throw in a couple extra bucks here and there for the convenience of not having to find your own vehicle!

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Love road trips but don't have the wheels? Don't worry, it's still possible to take a road trip if you don't own a car! Here are some alternative vehicles to consider when road trip planning. Whether checking out the East Coast or going cross country, use these tips to get around whether you need to rent a car or take the bus. 
#RoadTripPlanning #RoadTripPlanningBudget #RoadTripPlanningTips #CrossCountryRoadTripPlanning #RoadTripPlanningList #RoadTripPlanningChecklist #RoadTripPlanningIdeas

Love road trips but don’t have the wheels? Don’t worry, it’s still possible to take a road trip if you don’t own a car! Here are some alternative vehicles to consider when road trip planning. Whether checking out the East Coast or going cross country, use these tips to get around whether you need to rent a car or take the bus.

Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

World's Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

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Last modified: December 28, 2023
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.