Me and the Magic · Amanda Bauner: Solo Travel Expert, Podcaster, and Blogger

Road Trip Ready: The Ultimate Planning Checklist

·38 min·2 clips

Amanda Bonner lists the one-week car prep steps, including tire pressure, lights, and the roadside emergency kit.

1. Me and the Magic episode 173 focuses on road-trip planning for Amanda Bonner’s upcoming solo drive from October 24 through November 14. 2. Amanda Bonner hosts the show, and her own three-week route matters because it includes Dollywood, Indianapolis, Asheville, and Savannah. 3. The episode exists to answer what it takes to be “road trip ready” before a long solo drive. 4. Amanda Bonner says she has done previous road-trip episodes in 2022, 2023, and 2024, including episodes 80, 81, 140, 164, and 165. 5. She says this trip is her longest road trip yet and that it will last three weeks. 6. She explains that she had aimed to visit all 50 states by age 50, but now has been to 35 states and still has 15 to go. 7. Her route starts with a night south of Atlanta, then moves to Jackson, Georgia, for Stranger Things filming locations and a fan store. 8. She then drives through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Sevierville, Tennessee, for Dollywood’s Harvest Festival. 9. The route continues to central Indiana for a week with friends and family, then to Lexington, Kentucky, Pigeon Forge, Asheville, and Savannah. 10. She says Asheville will include downtown exploration, the Biltmore Estate, and the Candlelight Christmas Tour. 11. Amanda Bonner recommends at least one month of planning for longer road trips. 12. She says route planning should include scenic roads, the fastest route, toll avoidance, and traffic timing. 13. She gives Atlanta traffic and a late-October drive through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as examples of why timing matters. 14. She says daily driving should be broken up with stops about every two hours. 15. She recommends booking lodging, tours, and rentals a month ahead and matching each stay to its purpose. 16. She explains that a stopover hotel, a seven-night vacation rental, and Hilton Honors nights all serve different trip needs. 17. Amanda Bonner spends substantial time on vehicle prep, including oil, brakes, tires, fluid levels, air conditioning, wiper blades, roadside assistance, and emergency kits. 18. The episode is practical and conversational, with Amanda Bonner speaking directly to listeners and repeatedly relating each checklist item to her own trip. 19. People planning a long solo road trip will get the most out of this episode. 20. Travelers looking for inspiration but not wanting detailed logistics may skip it.

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