Decide how long you want to travel.
Chose which cities and states in the Western United States you want to visit.
Allot how many days you will spend in each city.
View a map and decide on the most logical route---whether you are traveling north to south, east to west. Make sure you can stop in each city you wish to visit along the way.
Decide which cities you will spend the night in, and for how long. Make hotel reservations in each of those cities in advance of your departure.
Rent a car for the journey if you don't have your own. Make the car reservation in advance of your departure and determine how much the rental will cost for the days you will be en route. Since you are traveling in the Western part of the United States, public transportation is not widely accessible.
If you are taking your own car on the road trip, get it serviced before departing. Go to your local mechanic to have fluids and tires checked. Also, get an oil change and an overall car inspection.
Pack a bag for the excursion, including various clothing for the climate changes. Some basics include a swimsuit, shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts and a heavy rain jacket. Also, remember to pack sandals for the south, and some hiking boots for the north.
Plan which activities you will take part in while visiting each city. Some ideas include hiking the Grand Canyon, visiting the Northern California Redwoods, exploring Hollywood or skiing in Colorado.
Since you will be in the car for extended periods of time, bring along some healthy food for the journey, so you don't have to eat a lot of fast foods. Most importantly, bring a lot of bottled water.
Bring plenty of entertainment for the road trip, such as car games and music. The radio won't be available in certain areas, so load up the iPod and CDs.
