There are road trips and then there are ROAD TRIPS. Many of us have taken day or weekend motorcycle road trips. However, cross-country road trips are a different ball of wax. In order to maximize the chance that they will be a success, we must make extensive preparations. While this will not ensure that our trips will lack pitfalls, it will certainly lower the chance of experiencing them. Here are some helpful tips for your consideration:

1. Keep an open mind on the open road

A cross-country road trip can provide an outstanding means of learning how other people live. William Least Heat-Moon’s book, “Blue Highways” inspired me. William took a cross-country road trip across the U.S., without traveling through any cities. By keeping an open mind during your trip, you can truly appreciate the different pockets of Americana from “sea to shining sea.”

2. Be frugal

There is a difference between being cheap and frugal. On a cross-country motorcycle trip, it is highly advisable to be frugal. You could stay at a campground, which provides an outstanding opportunity to enjoy the Great Outdoors. You could also stay at youth hostels, which tend to have rock-bottom prices. However, keep in mind that everything is communal there. If you are in these groups, you could get discounts at hotels:

• government employees

• military personnel

• motorcycle group/association members

• those over 50-years-old

3. Look for humor in your travels

Does it take fewer muscles to smile, than to frown? Experts are still debating that. However, long, hot, dusty road trips can become more bearable if you look for humor in your travels. Keep an eye out for interesting road signs that put a smile on your face. Sometimes small-town businesses have interesting names, maxims, or motifs. A little can go a long way during a long trip.

4. Learn something new

A cross-country motorcycle road trip can provide a cornucopia of new experiences for you. Take advantage of all of them. Sometimes you can learn all sorts of information from the idiosyncrasies of different towns. You will probably even find locals who can explain certain things that you observe. In fact, these experiences could change your perspective on life. So before you strap on your Harley Davidson motorcycle boots, vow to make your road trip as much of a learning experience as possible. Your past schoolteachers would be proud!

5. Get inspired

Look up at the stars on a clear night. That is how many types of people exist in our world. One of the perks of road trips is that you get to meet people of all walks of life. I am a firm believer that “everyone has a story.” Meeting different people on cross-country road trips provides you the opportunity to hear fascinating stories from other bikers and non-bikers alike. Listen to their stories and stay inspired to keep on keeping on!

A coast-to-coast motorcycle trek is THE road trip of all road trips. Follow some basic guidelines, in order to make every mile of it memorable.

If you have a road trip planned around the United Kingdom but don’t know what the very best routes to take are, then consider your call for help answered! We have put together a list of 5 great Road Trips around the UK that you should really think about taking. Check out our guide for more about the majestic scenery and attractions you will come across throughout your trip…

London to Brighton Road TripThis is a road trip whereby you can reach your destination in around a couple of hours, especially if you are coming from London’s centre. Brighton is due south from London, and around 90km from the city. To get there, the best route is to go south of the Thames and take the A23 South. You will be magically transformed from the busy city life to the freedom and peacefulness of the countryside as you hit the Weald Countryside of West Sussex, and then the South Downs.

After a while the A23 becomes the M23 and you will be travelling along the coast to Brighton, which received city status in 2000. Often called “London by the Sea”, Brighton has come a long way since it was notorious for the violent clashes between “Mods and Rockers” in the Sixties. It is now a place of trendy bars, cafes and restaurants, and a fashionable place to go shopping! The Lanes is a shopper’s haven. Brighton is a great destination to chill out in after a drive from London. The Royal Pavillion and Brighton Pier are two landmarks well worth checking out here!

Norfolk Coast Road TripIf you want peace and quiet – then a road trip around the Norfolk coast is exactly what the doctor ordered! To get there from Norwich, take the A47 to Kings Lynn. The drive from Kings Lynn to Cromer along the A149 is quite magnificent, and is famous for the nature reserves of Cley and Titchwell. If you have time, why not take the B1355 inland to the cornfield turned into a maze at Compton Hall!

The rural and rugged beauty of the Norfolk Coast cannot be underestimated. Many of the beaches along the coast are empty hideouts where solitude is the order of the day. What could be better than to stop off an empty beach with miles of sand, salt marshes, and forests.

If you are planning on staying around, the North coast is an area perfect for activities such as rambling and cycling. Or if you are driving in the area, make sure you check out the stunning villages composed of flint-built cottages, craft shops and galleries, and country pubs.

The Cotswolds Road Trip The Cotswolds is renowned for its majestic scenery, and is one of the most visited regions in the UK. It is famous for its village buildings made from limestone and adorned with ivy! Located in primarily rural setting, you will be astounded by the scenery including the Cotswold Hills, and charming towns such as Gloucester, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and the racing mecca of Cheltenham.

If you are travelling from east or west, get onto the M4 to the number 17 junction. After this, you will take the A429 to the north and make your way towards Cirencester. Why not drop off here and have a look around the pretty town and be charmed by its rural air. After here, take the A417 east and make your way to Fairford. From here, veer left to the Southrop, and make your way through the charming locations of Hatherop and Coln Saint Aldwyn. You never know, you might see some celebrities whizzing along the road in their sports cars, as actress Liz Hurley and model Kate Moss own properties in this region!

After reaching Barnsley, you get onto the A429 and head north to Bourton. After here, take a right to Westcote, which is the home of Oscar winner Kate Winslet.

The road from Westcote takes you to Stow on the Wold and keep on the A429 to Moreton in Marsh. It’s rumoured that this route has been in existence since the time of the Roman occupation of Britain. This road will bring you right back to the M40 thus completing your tour of the Cotswolds!

Yorkshire Moors Road Trip If you are looking for a bit of escapism, why not consider a Yorkshire Road Trip? Probably the best place to start off at is Leeds, which is now a great city for shopping and nightlife! From Leeds take the A64 road to York and then Malton. Get onto the A169 and make your way to Pickering. From Pickering you are on the route to the renowned Yorkshire Moors. If you take the A169 heading north, you will come across some really inspiring scenery. Some call it bleak, others call it majestic! From the Moors you will make your way to Whitby where you can sample some delightful freshly catched fish!

From here, take the A171 west, and pass through the charming villages of Stonegate, Castleton and Hutton le Hole and then onto Kirkbymoorside. You could stop off in places like Helmsley or Thirk or indeed any of the delightful villages in Yorkshire – some of them are exactly like Emmerdale are!

Scottish Highlands Road Trip A round trip of the Scottish Highlands area is around 400 miles and can be spread over 4-5 days, but its well worth it for its rugged scenery and the beauty of the countryside! If you are starting in Edinburgh, you will take the Forth Bridge Crossing, and take the M90 to Perth. From Perth take the A9 route and take a trip to the Blair Athol Whiskey Distillery which is to the south of Pitlochry, where you could spend the night, and the following day take the A9 through the Grampian Mountains to Inverness. Wonderful views await you here.

On the third day you could take the A96 to Elgin, and you can take a trip to the Glenfiddich Distillery at Dufftown. And if you sample some of the local produce, make sure to stay overnight here! The fourth day of your trek across the beautiful Scottish Highlands will take you on the B9009 to Glenlivet and its distillery, and then the A939, A93 and B974 to Fettercairn. Then you will take the A90 home.

A road trip through the Scottish Highlands is an unforgettable experience – you will explore the scenic beauty of moutain ranges, wonderful lochs and exciting wildlife. If you are coming from Glasgow you could also take the A82 and then the A83 to Inverary.

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To see New England in its best attire, make sure your Road Trip Planner includes the dates from mid-September to mid-October. While New England is beautiful year-round, but unlike other regions, its busiest tourist season is during the Fall, where fiery colors reign supreme.

Enjoying the Fall Foliage is reason enough to visit New England, but what many people discover during their road trip planning is that this region is also steeped in American History. Thus, a Fall Road Trip to New England not only gives you nature’s colorful bounty but also a rewarding cultural experience. Add to that the abundance of festivals held during this season and the readily available lobster and you’ve got a memorable trip in the making!

So where do you start your road trip planning? For many, a New England Road Trip means flying first into Boston & then renting a car. This virtual road trip will take you in a clockwise loop over the course of 8 days where you’ll hit all six New England states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in America with many things to do so plan on staying two nights here. The following morning, put on your walking shoes and hit the Freedom Trail! A good place to start is at Boston Common, the oldest park in America. This 2 ½ mile walk will bring you to 16 significant historic sites worthy of exploration. One site to explore more thoroughly is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where you’ll walk on cobblestone streets and meander in & out of shops, restaurants and historic buildings.

The next day, enjoy a scenic drive from Lexington to Concord and then south to Plymouth Rock. Here, your road trip planner should include explorations of the Mayflower II, and the extraordinary Plimoth Plantation. There aren’t many places where you can catch a glimpse of living history reenacted in the village found here.

Add Cape Cod to your road trip planner for your third night. Your best bet for a hotel during this busy season is in Hyannis because it’s the largest of the seven Cape Cod villages. Consider taking a ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard for the day if you’re interested in seeing the historic whaling town of Edgartown. Otherwise, Cape Cod has plenty to offer to fill a full day’s itinerary.

Heading into Rhode Island the next day and – if you’ve planned your road trip to start mid-October – then you should be able to catch Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival. Get your fill of lobster and clams and… and well, it IS a seafood festival. Here you also have an option to enjoy a ferry ride from Newport to Providence if you’re interested in seeing sprawling estates set against color-laden backdrops.

From Newport, you’re only about 50 miles to Mystic, Connecticut for your next overnight stay. For many visitors, this community becomes the highlight of their road trip because it’s a seafaring village dating back to the 1600s. Here you’ll find guides sharing “whale” stories, a 19th century tavern, a printing office, a lighthouse, and of course, boats. Consider adding a steamboat cruise along the Mystic River to your road trip planner.

For the next two days, you will truly be hitting the road as you travel about 3 ½ hours to Woodstock, Vermont and the following day another 4 hours into North Conway, New Hampshire. Make sure you stop along the way to gather leaves so you can make a Fall Foliage collage to remind you of your drive through the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusets, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the acclaimed picturesque town of Woodstock and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Pencil in Portland, Maine in your road trip planner for your last full day. You’ll emerge from the mountains and lakes to cruise along the rocky coastline, just in time to enjoy one last lobster dinner before checking into your last New England hotel. The following morning, you have about a 1 ½ hour drive to Boston, so enjoy the Atlantic Ocean views while you can!

While some travelers like turning the wheel over to tour operators, others like to do their own Road Trip Planning so they can travel at their own pace and stop at whim. Either way, you’ll get a memorable Fall Foliage Experience.