We’ve officially entered my favorite time of the year for driving. Like magic, our local weather changed from daytime highs in the low 90s a week ago to mid 70’s all this week, just ahead of the official start of fall. I haven’t had the top up on my car all week and my hour-long commutes have been absolutely glorious. I plan to make the most of the short season with a fall color tour already booked in upstate New York in October.
I was recently reminded that next week will mark exactly 25 years since I took my most ambitious fall road trip to date – a 5-day, nearly 2000-mile solo trek through the backroads of Appalachia. From my home outside Chicago I set out on a quiet Sunday afternoon, my only cargo a duffle bag and a small cooler full of Cokes and ice. My planned stops included Seymour, Indiana (John Mellencamp’s home town); the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky; my old schools and homes in West Virginia; and my father’s place in western Maryland.
I used the Interstate as little as possible, instead opting for the road less traveled. In between “efficiency sprints” on major highways, my trip was filled with virtually empty backroads through some of the most scenic and underappreciated parts of the country. I stitched together sections of surprisingly smooth asphalt in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia along the way, stopping in small towns for lunch and gas.
That trip was fantastic, and I hope to retrace it one day. But it still inspires me every as I plan shorter, less ambitious autumn tours. Here are the five lessons I learned from that epic trip that perhaps will inspire your own drives.
Don’t wait for the weekend – I intentionally set up my big trip to consume a midweek, primarily to avoid the typical weekend traffic that accompanies fall activities. Damn, if it didn’t work like a charm. I had some unbelievable stretches of road almost entire to myself, and I did my museum stop on a Monday with no crowds to fight. Even if you’re not planning a week-long drive like I did, use up a sick day and hit the road while everyone else is working. You’ll get more out of it than cramming it into the weekend.
Get lost – Thanks to the miracle of smart phones, we all have GPS in our pocket now. You can still use it as your Plan B if you need it, but get off the main roads and see someplace you’ve never been. You never know what you might discover. As every Jeep Wrangler seems to remind us, not all who wander are lost.
Pack a picnic – For practicality’s sake, I like to head out with at least a few basic provisions on hand. Just in case. Doesn’t mean you have to eat it of something more intriguing pops up, but it’s good insurance in case you get hangry. If it happens to be more than just yourself on the drive, why not plan for an old-time roadside picnic? Throw a blanket and a basket in the car, pack up some classic road trip fare (does anything beat cold fried chicken?) and pick a quiet spot to park the car and take in the experience with someone you enjoy.
Explore new places – Use the fall road trip as a reason to go somewhere you’ve never been. A nearby festival or a faraway landmark. Doesn’t really matter, just make a point of trying something different. Create a new memory. I made sure my itinerary allowed for a stop at the Corvette museum on my big trip. Find something that’s been on your list and plan a fall drive around it.
Don’t let “Peak Fall” be the only goal – So often, autumn driving trips focus around the changing colors of the season. They don’t have to, however. For one thing, planning for the peak of color is tough as it changes year to year. Also, not everyone gets a colorful fall. Rather than getting hung up on the timing, make sure you don’t waste the season. Enjoy this all-too-short transitional time that falls between the commitments of summer and the hustle-and-bustle that consumes the holiday season. But hey, if the colors are popping, hit the road and enjoy them while you can!