With the recent tragedies of wildfires on the West Coast of the United States, many firefighters have taken road trips across the country to help their fellow fraternities fight the wildfires in Oregon, Washington, and California.
Organized efforts like these are remarkable in witnessing how the human spirit is alive and well with compassion. When people reach out to help others in need, they not only uplift those they are helping but also boost their own self-esteem by doing such estimable acts.
At the same time a dear friend of mine was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, I was in early recovery, nearing the end of a toxic marriage, and parenting a teen and preteen. She lived in South Carolina, and I was in Michigan.
Unfortunately, she was unable to work and had to live with her parents, who were not necessarily the nurturing type. On the other hand, I love to be helpful and am very nurturing. She needed compassion, and I needed respite for my mental health.
Fortunately, at that time, I had the means, a reliable vehicle, flexibility with my job, and the adventurous spirit to hit the open road for a twelve-hour trip, traveling solo to visit my friend in need.
It was exactly what I needed, and for twelve hours, I was free of worry, healed by the fresh air with my sunroof open, soothed by my favorite music, and enchanted by the sights along the way. It was a beautiful route to travel, too. Below is my journey to South Carolina from Southeast Michigan:
- I-75 from Michigan
- I-75 through Ohio
- I-75 through Kentucky
- I-75 into Tennessee
- Merge on the I-640 in Knoxville, TN
- To the I-40 in Asheville, North Carolina
- 411 into South Carolina (then a few side roads through the mountains to her home from there)
While I am not necessarily a morning person, I enjoyed leaving at the crack of dawn around 5 am, so I would arrive right around dinner time, avoiding traffic and driving in the daylight hours. I packed snacks, breakfast, and lunch with lots of beverages in a cooler that sat next to me in the front passenger seat for easy access while I continued to drive, stopping only for bathroom breaks and sometimes more coffee. I took this solo trip over the course of two years more than six times!
According to an article by Suicide Forum about why planning a road trip can benefit one’s mental health, they suggest taking a solo road trip as I did, “This idea may be scary to many people at first, but you might do even more for your mental health by planning a solo vacation, where you pack up the car and drive alone to where the road takes you. This is a chance to set your own itinerary, do the things that you love, and really focus on yourself. Also, if you have a fear of being alone, then this is a chance to confront your fears and start a new, healthy chapter in your life.
Another reason why solo travel is great for your mental health is that it allows you to rebuild the self-trust that you may have lost over the years. When you are able to go out on your own and find new things to do, meet new people, and stay strong through it all, then those little wins will begin to add up, and soon you will regain your confidence and bring that mind frame back into your life once you return home,”.
Reasons why someone would go on a road trip
Besides traveling to be of service to those less fortunate or in need, there are many more reasons why someone would go on a road trip. Reasons such as but not limited to:
- Creating unforgettable family memories
- Flexibility
- Discover the unexpected and something new
- Meeting new people
- Avoid airport hassles!
- Bond with those you travel with
- Bring your pet/s
- Relax the mind
- A journey
- Chance to see the country
- Experience something you would not normally experience
- Enjoy music at your preferred volume
- Freedom
- Gain a deeper sense of gratitude
- Experience outdoor adventure
- Go on an adventure
- It is fun
- Roadside attractions
Bringing my furry family members along for the ride (no pun intended) and avoiding airport hassles are probably, for me, the two most wonderful parts of a road trip.
Driving versus flying pros and cons
In the many years, my cousins have lived in North Carolina. I have made the drive so many times that I have lost count, but I have also traveled by plane many times.
From the Greater Detroit area in MI to the Outer Banks in NC, it is 846 miles. I prefer driving there versus flying. Here’s what a flight from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) to Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU) is like:
- Expect to add an hour and a half drive time to DTW from home
- Arrive at least two hours early ro account for airport security lines
- It is a one-hour-and-forty-minute flight to upwards of over five hours in the air. If you’re fortunate enough to get one of the two direct flights available, your total flight time, with getting baggage, would be about three hours.
If you are not so lucky and you have to take a connecting flight, well, you could be looking at spending eight to nine hours in airports and airplanes. That’s only if they are all on time!
- A two hour drive from RDU to our final destination
- Direct flight = 8.5 hours travel time
- One-stop flight = +-13.5 hours of travel time
Driving from my home to my cousin’s home looks like this:
- Leave MI home at 6 am
- Arrive in NC location around 7 pm
- Total drive time = 13.5 hours
Add all the comforts of stopping when I need to stretch, the opportunity to carry giant bottles of shampoo if I desire, eat when and where I like, no need to get permission from the bathroom police, recline my seat, cooler full of my favorite drinks and snacks, fresh air, etc. and the travel time is about the same – choosing to travel by automobile is a no brainer for me.
Road trips for mental health
In conclusion, road trips offer more than just travel—they provide healing, freedom, and perspective. Whether to help others or escape routine, the open road nurtures mental clarity, emotional growth, and personal renewal.