Our first order of business was to establish what constitutes an “official road trip.” According to our respondents, five hours of driving round-trip is the minimum amount needed to qualify an excursion as a “road trip”. It may feel like a big ordeal to drive to your in-laws an hour away, but you can’t call it a road trip.

We also asked people about the longest road trips they’ve been on: On average, 25 hours was the upper limit, but 20% of respondents say they’ve been on the road for 40 hours or more at some point. That’s an entire workweek in the car.

So what’s the sweet spot? Glad you asked. Here’s what our road trippers said:

According to the Americans we surveyed, an ideal road trip includes 13 total hours of driving, five total days, and four passengers in an SUV/Crossover. The second most ideal car is a 4-door sedan and the third is a minivan (nerd alert).

People prefer to make pit stops for gas, stretching, food and bathroom every two hours, and the top-rated snacks they pick up are crackers, chips, and jerky. Cheez-Its were the top snack cited by brand name. Also, it should be noted, 41% of respondents said they simply could not endure a road trip without a smartphone or tablet.

What’s behind all this enthusiasm for the road? There are certainly practical advantages. Road trips can be spontaneous and flexible. You control when you leave, where you stop, how long you linger, and so forth.

They can be cheap, especially if you’re traveling with a group. You can bring anything your car will hold, and certainly more than would fit in a carry-on bag. (While you’re loading the car, don’t forget your emergency essentials.)

But our love affair with the open road isn’t just rooted in practicality. A road trip is much more than a vacation. There’s something mesmerizing about watching the countryside shift and change as you travel through it. Seeing communities and natural wonders up close is much different than observing them from 30,000 feet above.

And when you’re with others, there’s something about the forced closeness of time in the car and its unique pressures and opportunities that gives road tripping a deeper significance.

Here’s what our survey respondents had to say about the benefits of road trips.

Most Americans agree, road trips build and test relationships in important ways — 87% of those we surveyed say that road trips are one of the best ways for families to bond. Fully 86% say they are one of the best ways for romantic partners to test their compatibility. And 79% consider going on a road trip an important rite of passage for young people.

Of course, it’s not all bonding and sightseeing. Oftentimes, especially on long-distance trips, time can feel as though it’s moving slowly.

If you’re not the one behind the wheel, there are plenty of ways to make the time fly by. Playing a game (road trips are perfect for I Spy) or reading that book you’ve been meaning to finish are great ways. But, according to almost half of respondents (46%), listening to music is the best way to pass time on the road.

Other favorite ways of passing the time are making conversation, listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and playing games. Surprisingly, just 6% say that looking out of the window at the passing scenery or daydreaming are the best ways to spend the time.

Regardless of how you choose to pass time in the car, make sure you keep yourself and your passengers safe. This includes keeping your seatbelt — one of the best ways to reduce the chance of injury — on at all times.

Naturally, road trips are not all fun and games. As with any other human endeavor, there’s a dark side to the road: It can challenge you in profound ways.

You may hit the on-ramp on a high note, only to return a week later with a trunk full of pee bottles, a twisted spine, and two speeding tickets to your name. Road trips can turn ugly, even for the best of us.

We asked our survey takers to share their worst experiences, and they had some doozies.

Sometimes, the unthinkable happens. With regard to pooping in your pants, it should be said that men (12%) are twice as likely as women (6%) to have this ultimate accident, and millennials have pooped their pants more than any other generation.

But on a more serious note, some road trip mishaps can have tragic consequences. Tire blowouts can be terrifying and deadly, so be sure to check your tires before you leave.

And the fact that 23% of survey takers reported nodding off while driving is concerning. According to the NHTSA, drowsy driving led to 697 deaths in 2019. If you feel yourself starting to nod off, be sure to pull over!

If you’re one of the millions of Americans planning a road trip this summer or fall, get your playlists ready, stock up on Cheez-Its, charge your kids’ tablets, and inspect your tires to make sure they’re ready to get you there and back safely.

When inspecting your tires, you should check for the following:

• Balance
• Tread wear
• Rotation and alignment
• Tire damage
• Vehicle and tire loading capacity

Should you find any issues with your tires, buying quality used highway tires from a reputable seller can be an affordable alternative to springing for a full set of new ones.

By maintaining your tires, you save yourself time and money, increase your efficiency, and, most importantly, keep yourself and your family safe.

Methodology

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