It's freeing, but it can also be a trap. Countless people just drive through beautiful places, watching idly out the window, and as quickly as they came, leave it in their rear-view. Or maybe they hop out at an easy overlook, spend three minutes, and get back in the car.

I've begun advocating for more focused road trips. Go to one place. Stay there. Find things to do. Camp, hike, run, bike, etc. The popular "let's hit as many places as we can" mode results in never really experiencing any of the places you visit.