Discovering America: Tips for a Sustainable Cross-Country Road Trip

Photo by Kirk Thornton

A great road trip can be one of the most memorable times of your life. From the unique places you visit to the intimate conversations and bonds you build with the people you're on the road trip with, these adventures are a must in everybody's lives. 

The major downside is that roadtrips, and specifically, transportation is responsible for a vast share of carbon emissions. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation accounted for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.  Many people still use gas-powered cars for their road trips, which in turn releases carbon dioxide. This pollution contributes to the greenhouse gas effect, which feeds into global warming and climate change.

Thankfully, you don’t have to eliminate cross-country road trips from your life if you care about the planet. Adopting the following eco-conscious strategies will help ensure your cross-country adventure is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Plan Out Your Road Trip

You can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by planning out your road trip. This helps ensure you aren't driving more miles than necessary, which also decreases your fuel use.

Determine where you want to go and then calculate how many miles it is and figure out the available routes to get to your destination. Also, factor in any places you want to visit along the way. 

Then, map out the primary route you want to take and a detour route just in case your primary route isn't available. Make sure these routes allow you to drive at efficient speeds and get to your destination in the least amount of miles possible. 

Choose an Efficient Vehicle

As mentioned above, most people use gas or diesel-powered vehicles for their road trips. 

Along with carbon dioxide, “burning gasoline and diesel fuel creates harmful byproducts like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde,” according to the Department of Ecology in Washington State. Because these byproducts and toxins can be so harmful to the environment and human health, choosing an all-electric vehicle is best for cross-country road-tripping.  

Not only do all-electric vehicles emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants, but you might be able to receive a federal tax credit for purchasing an electric vehicle. However, qualifying for the credit depends on the car’s manufacturer, battery capacity, and whether or not it plugs into an electrical source to charge. 

You can also consider purchasing  a hybrid vehicle that's fuel efficient. Whether all-electric or hybrid, these cars can be spendy; be sure to consider your budget and try to find the best deal within it. 

You may need to save before you can purchase an all-electric or hybrid vehicle. But it's worth the wait for the positive impact these cars can have on the environment, especially on a cross-country road trip.

Rely on Reusable Gear

Single-use plastic items like these are commonly used on cross-country road trips. Unfortunately, most of these items will end up in our landfills and unregulated waste, as well as in our ecosystems, disrupting our marine life. One million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide. In addition, people use five trillion plastic bags across the world annually. These plastics break down into tiny particles that can be incredibly harmful when ingested. They can be particularly dangerous for marine life as well.

For this reason, you should opt for reusable gear on your cross-country road trip. Mesh bags for shopping, reusable water bottles and cooking and eating utensils, cloth paper towels, and recyclable materials are some of the best reusable gear options to minimize your carbon footprint while on the road.

Prioritize Waste Reduction On-the-Go

Those single-use plastic items mentioned above can produce a lot of waste. Combine these items with food wrappers, packaging, food scraps, clothing, broken electronics, batteries, and newspapers, and accumulating waste on a cross-country road trip is relatively easy.

We all know that waste is one of the worst things for our environment. So, reducing waste on-the-go must be a priority. Strive for adopting a zero-waste lifestyle while on the road. This means:

• Using solely reusable items; 

• Recycling and repairing first; 

• Purchasing eco-friendly toiletries and essentials; 

• Abstaining from fast food and packing snacks in eco-friendly containers; 

• Finding sustainable food establishments when it's time for bigger meals. 

The less waste you have on the road the more sustainable your trip will be. 

Participate in Eco-Friendly Outdoor Activities Along the Way

One of the most important parts of sustainability is understanding and appreciating nature. When you understand what nature provides and appreciate its beauty, you're more likely to be inspired to protect and nurture it.

For example, spending time in green spaces can benefit your health. It’s linked to: 

• Lowered stress;

• Chronic pain relief; 

• A more active lifestyle; 

• Reduced risk of chronic diseases; 

• Improved memory and attention; 

• Decreased high blood pressure; 

• Better immune health and sleep.

Make sure that eco-friendly outdoor activities and spending time in nature are a core part of your cross-country road trip. Here are some activity ideas for engaging with the environment while on your road trip:

• Fishing and hunting;

• Camping in unique locations;

• Exploring community gardens; 

• Finding community conservation projects and participating in them;

• Identifying wild plants and bird watching on hikes and nature walks. 

Get to know more about the environment by participating in activities rooted in nature throughout your road trip.

Discovering America sustainably isn't as difficult as it may seem. All it takes is consistent small actions to ensure your cross-country road trip is eco-friendly. Use the tips above to prepare for a sustainable road trip every time. 

Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy working with clients in the tourism industry to help them provide eco-friendly experiences for guests.

Want to know more about the ways that you can operate sustainably? Get in touch.