Everything You Need To Know About Solo Traveling (Plus, How To Plan A Badass Adventure Trip All By Yourself)!

Are you thinking about doing a solo trip, yet don’t know how or even where to start? I was previously in your shoes at one point, and felt anxious and afraid to go out there on my own. Common questions running through your head might be “will I be safe?”, “will I get bored being by myself?” and “will I be lonely?”. Solo traveling is one of the best experiences I have ever had, and to be completely honest, I actually prefer it now.

What better feeling is there than taking control of your own life experiences, overcoming something scary and getting to do everything you want to do, exactly when you want to do it? Not having to entertain another person and getting to choose every detail about your trip, without being accountable for someone else’s wants and needs, is actually pretty fun! I definitely recommend doing at least one solo trip in your lifetime. There really is nothing else like it. To this date, I have traveled to at least ten different states on solo adventures, and countless weekend getaways all by myself.

I started out by going on small weekend trips around my hometown of Cleveland Ohio, and eventually decided to go on my first cross-country road-trip to the Pacific Northwest by myself in 2019. Little did I know that exactly one year after taking that first solo journey, I would have the strength and power to permanently move out there by myself. Never in a million years would I have had the courage to leave my family and life in Ohio if I hadn’t had those solo experiences to prepare me. Today I have gone on many solo travel experiences across the country, and I’m going to fill you on in everything you need to know, so that you can do it too!

1. Start Small

• Start getting comfortable with being by yourself by taking a local solo day hike or grabbing lunch by yourself somewhere. Pick some place familiar, well-populated and close to home to get yourself started. This can often ease the uncomfortable feelings of traveling alone.
• Next, you can graduate to doing a small weekend trip nearby where you live. That way if something goes wrong, or you don’t like traveling alone, you can always just head back home or call in reinforcements to join you.
• Plan a few easy things to do by yourself in that area, but also spend some time relaxing. Having a hotel room all to yourself can be pretty fun. You can watch whatever movies or shows you want, or even eat dinner in bed. Want to go to bed early or sleep in late? Every choice is completely yours to make!

2. Do Some Planning Before You Head Out

• While I’m planning a trip I do a considerable amount of research beforehand so that I have a good idea of what activities I want to do. This includes downloading trail maps of hikes I’m interested in, calculating driving distances and times spent traveling, and bookmarking all of the locations on my Google Maps app.
• The main app that I use for hiking is All Trails. There is a free version, but the paid subscription allows you to actually download the trail maps, which is essential if you are going on longer solo day hikes. I can’t tell you how many times, this app has saved my life when out hiking, because it is easy to get lost when you aren’t familiar with the area. There may not be other people around to point you in the right direction if you lose your bearings.
• There are several great places to start researching cool hikes or attractions in the area. I often use Pinterest to scope out travel blogs (like this one) and Instagram for photo inspiration. I’ve often planned entire trips based on single photographs that gave me a serious taste of wanderlust.
• Keep in mind, that no matter how much you plan, you should always prepare for a change in those plans at a moment’s notice. It might rain the day you plan to go to the beach, or a main road might be closed. Have a few plan B options in mind if your initial plan doesn’t pan out.

3. Safety is Key

• If you are traveling alone, have a buddy or family member in mind that you can keep in communication with so that someone knows where you are and that you’re safe. If I am going on a long hike in a wilderness area, I always let someone know what trail I’ll be on and when I get back.
• I always have my trail maps downloaded ahead of time, and often will take screen shots of directions between places that I’m visiting. There are a lot of dead zones when traveling through remote areas, and not having cell phone service happens more often than you think! There is nothing worse than being lost without reception and having no idea how to get back to where you’re going.
• Know some car maintenance basics including how to check your oil and how to change a flat tire. I always travel with an emergency travel jumper as well, in case my battery was to die.
• Also, if you know you will be driving through remote areas, making sure you stay filled up on gas is a must. In more rural areas, there may not be a gas station for 100 miles, and it is easy to get stranded if ill prepared. I try not to let my tank drop below 1/2 full in these scenarios.
• Talking to strangers and meeting new people is one of the most fun aspects of solo traveling, however be mindful of your surroundings and stay alert. As a female solo traveler, I never tell people I don’t know that I’m traveling alone. You can always say “my friend is waiting for me back at the hotel” or something similar, if you don’t know what to say.
• Also, I think this goes without saying, but never leave anything valuable in your car while unattended. Trailheads are a hot spot for petty thieves, and they aren’t afraid to smash your window and grab what they can. I always bring my wristlet with my ID, credit cards, cash and important medications with me in my hiking pack for safe keeping.
• Know your limitations and don’t make risky decisions when you are traveling alone. While it may seem enticing to sit on the edge of a cliff to take an photo in front of a stunning vista, if you fall there may be no one nearby to help or send rescue. Don’t attempt to do a hike that is longer or more strenuous than what you’re used to, in case you fatigue or get injured along the way.

4. Be Prepared

• There are a few things that I always have with me when I travel and hike alone. This list may differ from what you may need, if you aren’t planning to do a lot of hiking or adventuring on your trip.
• Carry a light pack to bring all of your essentials out on the trail with you. These should include: a warm layer of clothing, a basic first aid kit, a head lamp or flashlight, snacks/water and most importantly a rechargeable battery bank for your phone. Also, depending on where you are hiking you may want bear spray or a knife for protection. I also bring my hiking pole with me when doing longer or more strenuous hikes, but this isn’t necessary for everyone depending on your fitness level.
• Research the area that you’ll be traveling in. Going to the desert? Make sure you bring TONS of water and sunscreen. Going to the Pacific Northwest? Have extra warm layers and a rain jacket handy.
• I also pack all of my photography gear with me as well, such as my phone, tripod, Bluetooth remote and drone. This way I can make sure to grab those epic photos and video shots of my trip.
• While it might seem excessive to have all of these things on you, it is much better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them!

5. Have Fun

• When dining out, sit at the bar and chat up the bartender or locals- they always know the best off the grid spots to recommend, including some hidden gems and town favorites.
• Want to take amazing photographs of yourself but don’t know how? I always bring a small travel tripod with me with an iPhone attachment and a blue tooth remote. All you have to do is set up your frame, walk over to where you want to be in the photo and click the button. Also, if you have an Apple watch you can open the camera app on it, and it actually turns into a blue tooth remote for your phone as well. Easy peasy!
• Do whatever the heck you want. This is your trip, and if you want to go to sleep at 7pm or eat an ice cream cone in bed, you don’t have to answer to anyone but you!
• Check out a solo travel/hiking group on Facebook or Meetup.com to link up with other fellow travelers in the area. Also, taking a tour or class is another great way to meet like-minded people to mingle with.

Happy Wandering!