Road Tripping Alone as a Female: 18 Road Trip Tips for Solo Female Travelers

Have you ever wanted to embark on a solo road trip as a woman, but talked yourself out of it for what seems like a million reasons? I felt that way for a long time before I stopped letting my fear of the unknown (and the opinions of others) get the best of me.

If you are hesitating to take the leap and go on a road trip alone as a solo female traveler, then know you’re not alone! I was in the same situation as you. What started with small solo trips to build up my confidence eventually turned into me driving cross country alone as a woman. I drove from North Carolina to Washington state and back with just me, myself, and I. It was quite the experience, and I learned so much about myself.

I won’t deny that solo road trips can be intimidating. Why else would we let fear hold us back? In this blog post, I’m sharing my best tips for how to stay safe on a solo road trip to help ease your mind and give you a little nudge to get out there.

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How to Road Trip Alone as a Female

If you’re wondering how it feels to travel alone, then I think you need to go on a solo trip 😉 You might be worried about being lonely, which is completely normal! Think about all the benefits of traveling solo, though… YOU get to pick all the restaurants, YOU get to choose what to do, YOU get to decide where to stay. It’s wonderful!

You might be wondering, “Who the heck takes your photos when you travel solo?” I either use a tripod and remote or meet up with friends along the way! Here’s a list of my camera essentials.

Is it safe to travel alone as a woman?

This is subjective, but I wanted to address it because it’s a frequently asked question when it comes to road tripping alone as a woman. You’ll find that people will discourage you from traveling alone because it’s “unsafe”. I choose to ignore such close-minded comments. I think it can be both safe and unsafe. The best advice I can give you is to never let your guard down.

At the end of the day, someone who does everything right could find themselves in an uncomfortable situation and someone who is reckless could be just fine. Stay hyperaware of your surroundings and never assume that you don’t need to take the utmost safety precautions.

# 1: Plan in advance

I cannot stress the importance of making plans in advance enough. Whether you need to make hotel or campsite reservations, map out what hikes you want to do, or figure out your route, having these sorts of things figured out will save you so much frustration on a road trip. I love using Roadtrippers to create road trip itineraries.

You don’t necessarily have to follow the exact itinerary you create (and you probably won’t), but it’ll give you some direction and a better understanding of your destination(s) because you can’t make a plan without researching.

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# 2: Share your location with a trusted friend or family member

Once you have a plan mapped out, share that plan with someone. It’s not a bad idea to also share you location with this person, so they’re able to check on your whereabouts in case of an emergency. If you’re moving around a lot, let this person know when you’re tucked in for the night at your new destination.

Make sure to let this person know if your plans change! Also, always carry a power bank to ensure that your phone stays charged as an extra safety precaution.

# 3: Don’t broadcast your travel plans or the fact that you’re traveling solo

It can be easy to let it slip in conversation, but I recommend against telling others that you’re traveling solo. I’ve even had the front desk at hotels ask me, “Are you traveling alone?” during check in. If this comes up in conversation, there are a many casual ways you can go about it.

I might say something like, “Oh, no. My husband is grabbing a few things from the car.” Or, if someone is inquiring about my travel plans, “I’m out here visiting family that recently moved.” These types of statements are to the point and suggest that you have family in the surrounding area.

# 4: Avoid being out and driving after dark

When I did my solo female USA road trip, I did everything in my power to avoid driving in the dark. I was working full-time at the time, so I’d wake up extra early to drive in the mornings or move to my next destination after work. I did this to avoid being stranded in the dark in an unfamiliar place. Thankfully, I never experienced any car trouble during my XC road trip, but I wanted to play it safe!

Also Read: Road Trip Essentials

# 5: Don’t keep all of your important belongings (cash, ID, etc.) in one spot

This is a good tip for travel in general! Never leave all of your important items in one spot, but don’t put them somewhere you’ll forget (I might’ve done this).

Someone could break into your vehicle and snag your wallet. If your ID, cash, credit cards, etc. were all in that wallet, you’re going to be in a tough spot. Avoid this by keeping some items on you at all times (a hip pack is great for this) and then placing other important belongings in an unassuming spot you’ll remember.

# 6: Keep photos of your ID and credit cards

It’s not a bad idea to take photos of your ID and credit card(s) and save them to your email in case you lose them or they get stolen. Of course, you’d want to cancel your credit card ASAP in this situation BUT if it’s your only payment method because everything else was lost or stolen, you need that info! This is why it’s so important not to keep all of your important belongings in one location.

# 7: Switch up your routine

If you’re going to be in one location for awhile, don’t follow the same routine every single day. Unfortunately, you never know who might be paying attention to your habits. Switching up your routine can be as simple as trying a new coffee shop, filling up at a new gas station, or changing the route of your walk/run!

Also Read: Car Camping Essentials

# 8: Pay attention to your surroundings

Duh, right? But it’s SO easy to get distracted by our phones that I felt like I needed to include this. When you’re road tripping on your own in an unfamiliar area, it’s crucial to be on high alert.

You’ll come across as a more difficult target if you’re paying attention to everything, making direct eye contact, etc. Plus, you want to be able to provide as much detail as possible about the entire situation if something were to happen.

# 9: Trust your instincts

I highly suggest reading The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. This book goes into great detail about trusting your instincts and paying attention to nonverbal cues in dicey situations.

Most importantly: Don’t worry about being nice. I’m a people pleaser and don’t like to come across as rude if someone tries to strike up a conversation with me. You might be the same way, but it’s important to remember that your safety comes first when traveling solo. You don’t owe strangers the time of day. If you don’t want to talk to someone, politely decline and go about your day. Trust me, seeming a little rude is much better than feeling like you have to carry on a conversation that makes you uncomfortable.

# 10: Carry protection

This will look different for everyone. It’s about what you’re comfortable using for protection on your road trip alone as a female. Personally, I like to carry pepper spray and a stun gun because they’re effective, lightweight, and I don’t have to worry about different regulations across states.

# 11: Dial 911 and be ready to hit the call button if you feel unsafe

It can be hard to think straight if you feel unsafe, but dialing 911 is a quick way you can feel a bit more at ease in a sketchy situation. If things escalate, all you need to do is press the call button.

# 12: Be flexible

It’s important to have a plan, but sometimes plans simply don’t workout. It’s important to be flexible. Remember that you can problem solve no matter what happens.

For example, I booked a hotel that didn’t actually have any rooms available that night on my XC road trip (thanks Expedia). Finding out I didn’t have a place to stay was not at all what I want to hear after driving all day, but it wasn’t the end of the world. HotelTonight saved me and is one of my favorite resources for booking last minute stays! Moral of the story: You have to roll with the punches when you’re on a solo road trip.

# 13: Stop at hotels instead of sketchy gas stations or rest areas to use the restroom

I avoid rest areas like the plague when I’m on a road trip alone as a female. If I stop at a gas station, I like to stop at well-known truck stops like Love’s, Pilot, Circle K, and TA Travel Centers.

Can I let you in on a little secret? I prefer to stop at hotels to use the restroom when traveling solo! The front desk doesn’t know whether you’re a guest or not, so you don’t have to explain yourself. I simply ask them to point me to the restroom in the lobby and then am in and out in a matter of minutes.

# 14: Don’t let your gas tank drop below half full

Keeping your gas tank at least half full at all times is a good rule of thumb for any road trip, but especially if you’re on a road trip alone as a female. You don’t want to have no choice but to stop at a random gas station in the middle of nowhere for gas. Or even worse, not be able to find a gas station when you need desperately need one.

I like to stop for gas anytime I’m approaching the halfway mark and see a busy or familiar gas station (again, I prefer Love’s, Pilot, Circle K, TA Travel Centers and other big truck stops).

# 15: Download offline maps

If you’re going to be traveling in an unfamiliar area or somewhere where you know you won’t have good cell service, it’s a good idea to download offline maps.

Here’s a mini tutorial on how to download offline maps in Google Maps:

1. Enter destination in search bar on Google Maps
2. Once it shows up on your map, click the red pin
3. Tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the screen
4. Select “Download offline map” option

# 16: Invest in roadside assistance

Roadside assistance might not be necessary if you’re going on a small trip in an area where you have someone you can call for help if needed. I knew that wouldn’t be the case when I went on my XC road trip, so I opted for the AAA Plus Membership. I never had to use my AAA membership, but it gave me extra peace of mind (which goes a long way when you’re traveling solo).

P.S. – Some travel credit cards offer roadside assistance, but it’s typically premium cards with expensive annual fees (ex: Chase Sapphire Reserve and Delta Reserve). If you have a travel credit card, it’s worth doing a little research to see if it comes with any roadside assistance!

# 17: Start small

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting small. In fact, I recommend it so that you can test what works best for you in terms of planning, protection, etc. Even if it’s just a day trip to a nearby city and you return home at the end of the day. That’s a start! Eventually, you’ll build up the confidence to branch out.

# 18: Relax and have fun

Hopefully I didn’t worry you too much with some of my tips for going on a road trip alone as a female. While you need to stay hyperaware of your surroundings, don’t forget to relax and enjoy yourself! At the end of it all, you’ll be able to say to yourself, “Wow, I did that.” That proud feeling is so empowering!

Have you ever gone on a solo road trip or are you planning one in the future? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments! I can’t wait to see what solo adventures 2022 brings!