SIXT discovers everything to know about road trips

Ever felt the sudden urge to get in your car and just drive? You’re not alone as 64 percent of Americans agree they want to hop in the car with their friends one day and take a spontaneous road trip, according to new research.

The survey asked 2,000 Americans which regions of the United States they were most itching to travel through and where they would most like to stop on road trips.

The Southwest came out on top at 38 percent, beating out the Northeast (27 percent) and the South (26 percent) – by over 10 percent.

The Grand Canyon (44 percent), Yosemite National Park (32 percent) and Yellowstone National Park (32 percent) are the most sought after stops on a road trip – from a prequalified list of 30 destinations across the United States.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of SIXT, the survey also examined what makes the ideal road trip – from the company we keep to essentials we bring to what makes the ideal road trip car.

Classic family road trips are still in fashion – with four in 10 preferring to spend time with their family, but Americans have a strict three-day limit when it comes to these.

This may have to do with the potential of car-guments (car arguments) a family will have over that period of time – that’s an average of two a day.

From road trip essentials and routes to take – the average road trip takes at least two to four weeks to plan out and a further one in 10 are more particular, taking more than three months to plan a road trip

The top essential for Americans on the road isn’t water or even a first aid kit but rather snacks.

With the average American chowing down on at least four snacks during a five to six-hour trip – it comes as no surprise then that snacks topped the list of road trip essentials.

Half of the respondents chose pretzels or chips as their go-to road trip snack – with candy and chocolate closely behind, at 43 percent and 42 percent respectively.

Modern times seem to have taken a toll on classic road trip games, though, as three in 10 prefer to keep to themselves and play games on their phone or tablet.

A quarter of Americans do keep the nostalgia alive, however, opting to play I spy and the license plate game.

The appeal of a spontaneous road trip is very much alive – as 64 percent want to just get in the car and drive with their friends one day.

“Road trips offer the flexibility to create your own journey,” said Daniel Florence COO of Sixt. “Renting a car plays a central role in the overall experience. That’s why we give every customer the ‘orange carpet’ treatment, making sure their journey starts on the right foot.”

More than three in 10 Americans would actually prefer to take a longer route to enjoy the scenery, with 48 percent also opting for local or country roads rather than major highways.

Americans were also asked about their car preferences for both a one-day road trip and a week-long road trip.

Three-quarters of Americans would like to drive around in a convertible or sports car for a day trip, but when it comes to a week-long trip, Americans prefer an SUV or truck – at 62 percent.

“Taking a road trip means spending hours behind the wheel, so why not get a car you absolutely love?” said Daniel Florence COO of Sixt. “We pride ourselves in offering the highest share of premium, luxury and extraordinary cars in the industry, giving people more options to find the perfect car that makes a driving a little more exciting.”

TOP 10 ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

1. Snacks                        66%
2. Phone chargers          62%
3. Water/sports drinks   52%
4. Camera                       45%
5. Blanket                        41%
6. First aid kit                  41%
7. Flashlight                    39%
8. Tissues                       37%
9. Travel pillow               36%
10. Hand sanitizer            35%

TOP 10 ROAD TRIP SNACKS

1. Pretzels/chips             51%
2. Candy                         43%
3. Chocolate                    42%
4. Nuts                            40%
5. Trail mix                     37%
6. Beef jerky                   35%
7. Protein bars               33%
8. Grapes                        29%
9. Popcorn                      25%
10. String cheese             25%

TOP 30 PLACES AMERICANS WANT TO VISIT ON A ROAD TRIP

1. Grand Canyon, Arizona                                             44%
2. Yosemite National Park, California                         32%
3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming                    32%
4. Niagara Falls, New York                                             31%
5. Florida Keys, Florida                                                  31%
6. Las Vegas, Nevada                                                    28%
7. Lake Tahoe, Nevada and California                        28%
8. Mount Rushmore, South Dakota                              25%
9. The Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee               24%
10. Glacier National Park, Montana                              23%
11. Cape Cod, Massachusetts                                         22%
12. Nashville, Tennessee                                                 22%
13. French Quarter/New Orleans, Louisiana               21%
14. Zion National Park, Utah                                           21%
15. Monument Valley, Utah and Arizona                      21%
16. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington           21%
17. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah                          20%
18. Death Valley National Park, California                   20%
19. Crater Lake, Oregon                                                   20%
20. The Alamo, Texas                                                      19%
21. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado           18%
22. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico                                18%
23. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky              17%
24. Black Hills, South Dakota                                           16%
25. White Sands National Park, New Mexico               16%
26. The Finger Lakes, New York                                      15%
27. Teddy Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota      13%
28. Rosewell, New Mexico                                               13%
29. Cadillac Ranch, Texas                                               11%
30. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas            9%