How to Plan a Road Trip: Our Real-Life Van Life Checklist

Planning a road trip is one of our favorite parts of traveling. There’s the excitement of the unknown, the joy of building a new adventure, and the satisfaction of pulling out of the driveway knowing Alice is stocked, prepared, and ready for whatever the road brings.

After more than a decade of exploring in our Sprinter van, we’ve fine-tuned a road trip planning process that keeps us organized but still leaves plenty of room for spontaneity — because for us, the best memories usually come from the unplanned moments.

Here’s exactly how we plan a road trip, from dreaming up destinations to stocking our fridge, prepping the freezer, and organizing all the gear we need for hiking, biking, paddling, and life on the road.

More Van Life tips and stories

1. Start With the Vision: Where Are We Going & What Do We Want to Do?

Every great road trip starts with a simple question: Where are we going… and when is the best time to go?

Follow the seasons

We base most of our travel on weather and crowds. Over the years, we’ve learned that we’re happiest when we travel in April, May, June and September, October, November.
These shoulder-season months strike the perfect balance:

• Milder temperatures
• Fewer crowds in the National Parks
• Easier parking
• Better hiking conditions
• Less traffic and more peaceful campgrounds
• Easier to reserve campground sites on short notice in national and state parks

We typically head north in the summer and south in the winter, following sunshine, cooler nights, and the freedom to hike without overheating.

See how we applied this in our Sedona hiking guide

Pick new places, but keep your favorites

Most of our travels revolve around places we’ve never been. But we also have a handful of favorites — the kind of places that pull us back again and again. Utah is one of those places.

If we decide on a Utah road trip, we immediately list 4–6 core destinations we want to anchor the trip around. These are the non-negotiables that shape our route.

Some of our favorite destinations are:

• Exploring Wilcox Pass: A Hidden Gem in Jasper National Park
• Devils Bridge Sedona Sunrise Hike: Magic in the Morning Light
• Hiking Bear Creek Falls Trail in Telluride, Colorado
• Custer State Park

The trip doesn’t start at home — it starts at destination #1

This is one of our biggest mindset shifts from years of traveling.

If our first “real” destination is Moab, then… we drive to Moab.
We don’t meander on the way, take scenic detours, or explore along the route. Once we get there, then the trip begins — mentally and physically.

From that moment on:

• We slow down
• Prefer two-lane roads over interstates
• Stop often
• Explore freely
• Stay longer when a place pulls us in
• Follow local recommendations

This is where our motto “Travel slow and stop often” was born.

Create a list of things to do — but stay flexible

Before leaving home, we’ll research:

• Hikes
• Biking routes
• Paddleboard spots
• Scenic drives
• Campgrounds
• Local restaurants or bakeries
• Unique experiences

But this list is a guide, not a rigid itinerary.
Weather happens. Crowds happen. We get tired. Or we stumble upon something so unexpected and beautiful that we drop everything and go explore it.

That flexibility is what makes road trips magical.

2. Build the Master Road Trip List

Years ago, we realized that when you travel in a compact camper van, everything you bring has to earn its place. There’s no room for extras or “just in case” items.

Gail created our first Trip List, and it’s evolved into a refined system we still use today.

Our list includes:

Clothes

What we pack changes depending on the season, but we always keep it minimal:
layers, hiking clothes, warm gear, swimwear, and a few “town clothes.”

Food

We divide food into three areas:

• Refrigerator
• Freezer
• Cabinets

This keeps grocery runs organized and prevents us from buying duplicates.

Toys and Gear

This is where the fun starts:

• Bikes + helmets
• Bike pump
• Paddleboards + life jackets
• Hiking boots + poles
• Pickleball gear
• Backpacks
• Water Bladders
• Binoculars
• Hats
• Water shoes
• Totes and sling bags

Electronics

Technology has become a big part of travel for us:

• Starlink
• Roam speaker
• Phones + chargers
• Laptop
• Camera gear
• Garmin InReach
• Headlamps

Alice Prep

These are the chores we complete before we move an inch:

• Water fill
• Propane
• DEF
• Tire pressure
• Trash out
• Refrigerator cleaned
• Cabinet organization

Home Prep

Before we pull away, we make sure the house is set:

• AC/Heat adjusted
• Plants watered
• Mailbox key left with neighbor
• Blinds positioned
• Ice maker off
• Sprinklers set
• Dishwasher emptied
• Clocks stopped
• Download Netflix for offline viewing
• Someone lined up to check the house

3. The Prep Phase: Gathering, Sorting & Stocking Alice

A few days before departure, we start gathering items around the house and staging them near the front door.

We use plastic milk crates to carry everything to and from the van — food, shoes, electronics, coats, snacks — and simply rotate items through until we’ve checked every box on the list.

What we buy at home vs. on the road

Space is limited, so our rule is simple:

• Bring extras of things that are expensive or inconvenient on the road (paper towels, favorite snacks).
• Buy common items on the road (salsa, fresh produce, bread).

Travel food

For long driving days, we prep:

• Egg salad
• Chicken salad
• Tuna packets
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Protein bites (PB balls)
• Yogurt cups
• Fruit and veggies

We store them in our “Alice Tupperware”, so we don’t bring all our home dishes with us.

Freezer prep

One of our best systems for life on the road:
We prep single-meal portions of protein and freeze them flat.

Think:

• Shredded chicken
• Grilled chicken
• Ground beef
• Salmon or steak (in small portions)

Standing them upright “like books on a bookshelf” keeps the freezer organized and saves a shocking amount of space.

If you’re curious about our RV fridge setup and why we chose it…

4. Our Road Trip Food Strategy: Pack Smart, Eat Well

We like good food, even on the road — especially on the road.

We always pack a mix of:

Healthy snacks

• Nuts
• Trail mix
• Kind bars
• Granola
• Dried fruit
• Dark chocolate

Quick meals

Perfect after a long hike or a late drive:

• Scrambled eggs
• BBQ shredded chicken
• Tacos / Burritos
• Tossed salad with salmon
• Pesto or salsa

Hydration

We always bring a stash of:

• Extra water gallons
• Reusable bottles

Eating well keeps us energized on the trail and saves money and time.

5. Organizing Alice Before We Leave

It usually takes 2–3 hours to load the van.
We’ve accepted that this is just part of the ritual.

We:

• Load crates
• Organize the cabinets
• Arrange the fridge
• Check the freezer inventory
• Make sure everything has a place (and stays put while driving)
• Keep frequently used items within easy reach

When everything is in its place, being on the road feels effortless.

6. Keeping a Running List While We Travel

This is one of our biggest travel hacks.

While we’re on the road, we keep a short list in the notes app on our phone of:

• Items running low (shampoo, dish soap, sanitizer)
• Repairs to make
• Things to replace
• Items we used but forgot to restock
• Ideas for next time

When it’s time for the next trip, we already know what Alice needs.

7. Final Checks Before Pulling Out of the Driveway

Right before we leave, we run through our mental checklist:

• Water full
• Propane full
• DEF topped off
• Tires checked
• Electronics charged
• Backpacks filled
• Cameras ready
• Doors locked
• House prep

And then — we sit for a moment, take a breath, and officially switch from home mode to adventure mode.

Gail enters the first note in her journal and records our starting mileage before I put Alice in drive.

It’s our quiet ritual before the miles begin.

Final Thoughts: Planning Gives Us More Freedom on the Road

Some people think planning takes the spontaneity out of travel.
For us, it’s the opposite.

Planning well means we have more freedom, not less.
Once we’re out there — hiking, exploring, paddling, wandering through small towns — we can enjoy it all without worrying about what we forgot or what’s not working.

We don’t plan every day.
We plan the foundation.

And the rest?
That’s where the magic of road trips lives.

New to van life? Start here.