The art of the road trip is nothing new, whether backpacking through Europe or going for a walkabout in Australia,.humans have been going mobile for centuries. Once the automobile was introduced, it just expanded our range of distance for these fun outings. Maybe you can’t think of a destination or a route to take on a road trip, or maybe you’re convinced that there is nothing to see in your area so why bother going anyway. The best aid in road trip planning is an old fashioned paper map.

So, get out your map and let’s take a look. The best map to use for this purpose will not only show the main interstates and freeways, but will also show the lesser used highways and main county roads. If you’re road-tripping as a family, let the kids help determine the destination. This also helps kids understand the concept of a map at a younger age than their peers.

First, you need to know if your road trip is just for the afternoon, the whole day, or multiple nights. This will give you an idea of how far out on the map from your starting point to look for places to go. Usually, a multiple night trip will allow you to form a loop or circle on your trip so that you don’t come back home the same way seeing the very same scenery. Now, let the map do its job. A good map will have a selection of symbols denoting where campgrounds, state parks, and other sites of interest are located. What you’re looking for is anything that attracts your curiosity.

A waterfall, for instance, is a great destination or stop on a road trip, especially if it comes with a short hiking trail to view nature from. State parks, historic sites like battlefields, and wilderness areas are all great sights to see. If your area is more urban, there are also many options for your road trip too. Historic buildings, waterfronts, airports, and museums all make great stops on a road trip.

Once you’ve exhausted the labeled items on a map, let your eye catch on the natural layout of things. Notice how a road snakes it’s way up through a canyon, that might make for a beautiful drive. See how an older highway goes right through five or six small towns while the freeway just passes them by, there may be something in those little towns worth seeing or experiencing. Just take a look at the map and notice anything that looks even slightly unusual and don’t be afraid to go check it out.

When you get out the map to help plan your road trip, it opens up all sorts of possibilities that you may have never even considered. Stay off the beaten paths and the big busy freeways, visit the overlooked and bypassed small towns and neighborhoods, and let your imagination – with a little help from a map – plan your route.

Mark Peters is a lover of spontaneous road trips. He documents some in picture form at http://www.ncwpics.com