The open road has a way of calling to us all. When life gets busy and stressful, who among us hasn't dreamt of throwing responsibility to the wind and hitting the highway on an epic adventure? A road trip with friends offers an opportunity to do just that, at least for a little while. 

And while there's something to be said for a solo journey on America's highways and byways, road trips tend to be more meaningful when shared. 

Tips for a Road Trip with Friends

The road has a way of bringing friends closer together. But planning a successful friends’ road trip isn't always easy—it's important to do your homework. 

Choose Your Friends

Just because someone is a good friend doesn't mean they're necessarily a good travel companion. Be sure to consider how everyone will get along as you decide who gets to go on your friends’ road trip. Avoid including someone who impatient or has strong opinions (and is unwilling to compromise).

Take Turns Driving

Extended road trips tend to work better if everyone shares in the driving. Take turns in the driver's seat so nobody is forced to do more than their fair share. Also, establish a rotation that also allows each person to have a turn in the front passenger seat. Traditionally, the person riding shotgun gets to pick the music, so make sure everybody has a chance. 

Have an Itinerary...But Be Flexible

A successful road trip with friends is often a balancing act between knowing when to stick to the plan, and when to throw your plans out the window. It's good to have a basic itinerary laid out, but try to be flexible too. There are a ton of things to do on a road trip with friends, many of which will take you by surprise. Embrace spur-of-the-moment stops and detours to enjoy the fullest experience.

Communicate

Communication is key to a successful road trip, and it starts long before you leave home. Talk about whose car you'll take, who will bring what, where you're going, and how costs will be split so you're all on the same page. As you travel on, remember to keep communication open so minor disagreements don't become major arguments. 

Give Each Other Space

When any group of friends is in tight quarters for a long time, it's important to give each other some personal space now and then. It's totally okay to each go off and do your own thing during a stop. It's also okay to curl up in the back of the car with your noise-canceling headphones when you need to steal some alone time. 

Best Destination Ideas for a Road Trip with Friends

Road trips are, by nature, as much about the journey as the destination. It's not always easy to find a place that everyone will agree on, or that fits everyone's budget. These are some of the best places to go on a road trip with friends that pretty much anybody can agree on:

Pacific Coast Highway 

California State Route 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway or the PCH, hugs the California coast for a little more than 656 miles. It's a perfect place for a road trip with friends on the West Coast, passing through California's biggest cities and wildest landscapes.  Along the way, you can explore the rugged oceanside cliffs at Big Sur, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and stop to wander among the giant redwoods in Muir Woods National Monument. Few road trip routes offer a greater wealth of activities and more consistently amazing scenery.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Following the spine of the Appalachian Mountains for 469 miles in North Carolina and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway might just be the best best place to road trip with friends on the East Coast. The landscapes are absolutely stunning, and the Parkway includes dozens of trailheads that lead to hundreds of miles of hiking trails. The 6,684-peak of Mount Mitchell— the highest peak east of the Mississippi—is visible from the Ridge Junction Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a nearby hiking trail leads to the summit. The Parkway also passes by several major cities including Asheville, North Carolina, which has a vibrant music and craft beer scene.

Route 66

Once stretching 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 was the original American road trip, an iconic stretch of blacktop that connected distant parts of the country for the first time. Today, much of Route 66 has been abandoned, rerouted, or replaced by interstates—but not all. Enough of Route 66 still remains in that it provides one of the best road trips through the Heartland, especially the stretch from Missouri to New Mexico. Stop to check out famous landmarks and roadside attractions like the 66 Drive-In in Carthage, Missouri, the Blue Whale of Catoose, Oklahoma, and Cadillac Ranch just outside of Amarillo, Texas.  

Vermont Route 100

Scenic Route 100 traverses almost the entire state of Vermont from south to north, a distance of about 216 miles. It makes a great road trip from New York, skirting along the Green Mountains and offering some of the best scenery in New England. Activities along the way change with the seasons. Hike in Green Mountain National Forest in summer, watch the leaves change colors in fall, or ski the slopes of Killington and Stowe in winter. A detour to Burlington is well worth your time, and a stop at Alchemist Brewery—where the New England IPA was invented—is a must for craft beer aficionados. 

Get More Road Trip with Friends Ideas

Wherever the open road may lead you, chances are there's a Hotel by Wyndham nearby. Download the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts app today to start planning your next great adventure.