Determine how much time you have available. This has a huge impact on where you can go and what you can do. Remember that you only have as much time as the other members of your group, in the likely event that you have traveling companions.
Decide where in the USA you want to take your road trip. Consider exploring just one region or state if your time is limited. Otherwise, you may find that, frustratingly, all your time is spent in the vehicle.
Mark down on a map the places you want to visit. Popular spots include national parks, cities, monuments and historical sites. Pick spots throughout the area in which you will travel, rather than attractions clustered in one place, so that each becomes its own "destination."
Measure distances on your map, or enter the information into a GPS if you have one, to calculate driving time. Plan to limit your driving to a maximum of six hours each day and leave one or two hours free for unexpected attractions, like seeing the world's biggest ball of twine in Kansas, or visiting Carhenge, an oddball replica of England's Stonehenge, in Nebraska.
Make hotel reservations in advance for the end of each day's drive. You don't want to spend additional time searching for suitable accommodations after a long day's drive.
