Select your ultimate destination, and determine how much time you would need to get there. Give yourself enough time to enjoy at least a little time when you get there. Don't force yourself to drive too much in any given day, which may tire you out and you may be disappointed with goals that are too lofty. Instead, plan on something reasonable, like driving for about four or five hours per day. Enter your start and ending location in a site like Google Maps or Mapquest to get an estimated time on how long it will take you to drive there.
Pick out some attractions you want to see on the way, and set aside time for each visit. Make a list of these attractions and their exact locations or addresses so you can easily map them. Make a note to take back roads on your way to make the road trip more interesting, as there usually isn't much to see on the highway.
Visit Google Maps and click on "My Maps." Click on "Get Started," name your road trip and choose whether you want it to be public or unlisted. Then, map out your road trip by clicking on the blue marker to mark your starting point and then selecting the "draw a line along roads" option to simply drag your route to the various attractions or towns you've chosen to visit. When you're done, save it. You can e-mail the map to yourself or print it out.
Make lodging arrangements with hotels and motels on the way beforehand so you're not left out in the cold when you arrive. Buy tickets to attractions you plan to visit ahead of time in case the event ends up selling out by the time you get there. Look up some good restaurants in the towns you'll be stopping by and make a note of them in a road trip journal.
Pack light. Don't try to stuff everything into your car, as you'll want as much space as possible in a cramped vehicle. Pack only the essentials, like a couple of suitcases with changes of clothes, some toiletries and maybe some snacks for the road. Bring plenty of music and entertainment to keep all the occupants happy during the long ride.
