Field Guides

Free field guides for going off the grid

Practical, downloadable field guides for the parts of a road trip the apps skip: off-grid power and connectivity, finding free campsites, offline navigation, and more. Free to read, free to download.

Off-grid connectivity

Portable Starlink Mini

How to run a Starlink Mini off a battery for camping, remote trailheads, and overland basecamps — the four power setups, how to wire each safely, and exactly how long a charge lasts.

Camp for free

Free Campsites on Public Land

How to find, confirm, and camp dispersed sites on BLM and National Forest land — the rules that keep it legal, the apps that find the spots, and how to leave no trace.

Power anywhere

Off-Grid Power for a Road Trip

How to size a battery and solar setup to run a 12V fridge, your devices, and Starlink off-grid — the daily power-budget math, the solar sizing rule, and the gear that makes it simple.

Never get lost

Offline Maps & No-Signal Nav

How to keep navigating when the cell bars vanish — downloading offline maps, the best no-signal apps, and why your phone’s GPS works without any service at all.

Chase the stars

Dark-Sky Road Trips

How to find truly dark skies on a road trip and photograph the Milky Way from a pullout — the dark-sky maps, the certified places, and the camera settings that actually work.

Charge smart

EV Road Trip Charging

How to road-trip an EV without range anxiety — the charging networks, the 20-to-80% rule, the planning apps, and the cold-weather trick that keeps fast-charging fast.

Winter ready

Cold-Weather Road Trips

How to road-trip through the cold without a no-start, a stranding, or a frozen night — battery, tires, range, and the winter kit that keeps a bad day from getting worse.

Be ready

Road-Trip Emergency Kit

The car emergency kit that turns a breakdown into a delay instead of a disaster — what the experts say to carry, what to do if you’re stranded, and how to scale it from city to backcountry.

Bring the dog

Dog & Pet Road Trips

How to road-trip with your dog safely and happily — crash-tested restraint, the parked-car rule that saves lives, break timing, pet-friendly stops, and trail etiquette.

Start here

Road-Trip Planning 101

How to plan a road trip that actually feels good — the right daily pace, the booking order, a simple budget, and the apps that do the heavy lifting.

Parks done right

National Park Trip Planning

How to plan a national-park road trip in 2026 — which pass to buy, how timed-entry reservations work, and how to dodge the crowds at the famous parks.

Sleep anywhere

Car Camping & Van Setup

How to set up any car or van to sleep, cook, and live out of comfortably — the bed, the ventilation that prevents a soggy morning, the cooking and power, and where you can legally park.

Family trips

Road-Tripping With Kids

How to road-trip with kids without the meltdowns — the car-seat and parked-car safety rules, how often to stop, screen-free entertainment, and beating motion sickness.

Before you go

Pre-Trip Car Checkup

The quick inspection to do about a week before a road trip — fluids, tires, battery, and lights — so the most common breakdowns never happen.

Beat the heat

Summer & Hot-Weather Trips

How to road-trip through summer heat and the desert without an overheated engine, a blowout, or a heat emergency — the car, the tires, and the rule that saves lives.

Spend less

Road Trip on a Budget

How to cut the three big road-trip costs — fuel, lodging, and food — without cutting the fun, plus the free attractions and the pass that pays for itself.

Go it alone

Solo Road-Trip Safety

How to take a solo road trip safely — the check-in habits, the drowsy-driving danger, the tools that matter, and the situational awareness that keeps a solo trip smooth.

Shoot it right

Phone Photography

How to take road-trip photos worth framing with the camera already in your pocket — composition, the settings that matter, and the mistakes to stop making.

Bring the rig

RV & Towing Basics

The essentials for a first RV or trailer road trip — campground hookups, the dump-station process, and towing safely (weights, sway, and backing up).

Chase the color

Fall Foliage Road Trips

How to time a fall-foliage road trip to hit peak color — how the color moves, the prediction maps to check, the best regions, and the tricks that beat the crowds.

Eat well

Road-Trip Snacks & Meals

How to eat well on a road trip without the drive-thru — packing a cooler that stays cold and safe, no-cook meals, and snacks that keep your energy steady.

Burn less, spend less

Eco & Fuel-Efficient

How to drive a road trip that burns less fuel and saves real money — the habits that actually move the needle, the roof-box trap, and the maintenance that pays for itself.

Two-wheel touring

Motorcycle Road Trips

Two-wheel touring done right — the gear that protects you, the pre-ride check that prevents breakdowns, how to pack and load a bike, and the long-distance habits that keep it safe.

Plan for every ability

Accessible Road Trips

How to plan a road trip around mobility, vision, hearing, and other access needs — vetting accessibility ahead, the free National Parks Access Pass, accessible lodging, and travel with equipment.

Coming soon

Driving the US as an International Visitor

Licenses, road rules, and fuel-and-distance differences for visitors from abroad.

Coming soon

The Road-Trip Music & Podcast Kit

Offline playlists, audiobooks, and dead-zone-proof entertainment for the long haul.

Coming soon

Winter-Sports Road Trips

Chasing snow safely — chains, mountain passes, and gear for the ski-town circuit.