So here’s the sitch, guys: Josh is an introvert and I’m an ambivert. Don’t know what that is? That’s my fault for throwing writer-y words around like they’re day-old donuts. An ambivert is someone who spends half of their time as an introvert and the other half as an extrovert, much like a wealthy aristocrat with their NYC and Hampton homes, but with less deciding when to travel back and forth between each. So basically, road trips are tricky. Cause neither Josh nor I want to spend all of our time surrounded by strangers in big cities. But don’t worry, we’ve figured out the solution and are here to offer you this ambivert’s guide to road trips.
Plan your route
It all starts here. With route-planning, you could make or break your whole road trip and end up on the verge of enlightenment or on the verge of pushing tourists into oncoming traffic. You don’t want the latter, so it all comes down to your route. When deciding where to go and what to do, remember the magic word: alternate.
Don’t plan to just stop in big cities. Don’t even plan to stop in several big cities in a row and save up the sweet outdoor spots like national parks and forests for later. That’s gonna upset something primal and fierce in the introvert part of you. Likewise, don’t plan to hit up six national parks in a row because the extrovert living in your brain will be screaming out for some actual human interaction.
The solution? Alternate. Every-other if you can. Spend a couple days in the city, then retreat to the woods and chill in a tent for a night or two. Head to the next city on the route, then hang your hammock in a national park for a few nights. Repeat as necessary. Your dueling ambivert proclivities will thank you for it.
Shake up your accommodation
Just like you should probably alternate destinations to keep yourself from going crazy, you should also alternate your accommodation. Josh goes nuts if we spend too many nights in a row couchsurfing, then in a hostel dorm and back to couchsurfing. He just wants to stop having to deal with new people for a day or two. I like meeting new people (except for when I don’t, which is a little less than half the time–ambivert, remember?). If that sounds like you, alternate hostels and couchsurfing with camping and Airbnbs or private hostel rooms to keep from clawing your traveling companion’s eyes out. (Hasn’t happened yet, but you never know…)
Know thyself
Ah, that ancient Greek aphorism! Still as true today as it ever was. The key to successful road trips–or any type of travel, for that matter–is to know yourself, your tendencies and your limits. If you know you don’t like being around people you don’t know for more than a few hours, schedule time for solitude. If you go bonkers if you spend too many days in the backcountry alone, take shorter forays into the woods or invite a camping buddy or two to join you.
When traveling, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is awesome and helps you grow and learn, but there comes a point when you just get cranky and start threatening physical violence, (just me?) and we don’t want that. Knowing where your extrovertedness ends and introvertedness begins is vital to maintaining that balance in your brain that keeps you loving travel and enjoying all of the crazy experiences along the way.
Ever reached your limit as an ambivert when traveling? Do tell! Wander on!
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com