Is a Road Trip a Vacation?
I have always been of the mindset that any trip away from home is a vacation. However, I have a friend who distinguishes between the two. She once posed the question to me, is a road trip a vacation? My friend told me that she believes that vacations are relaxing and that road trips are full of festivities. I find this so interesting. Using this mantra, I think that as much as I have traveled, maybe I have never truly taken a vacation. I love to stay busy and look forward to new adventures every day.
Thinking about vacations as relaxing and road trips as being full of festivities has made me understand and appreciate people a little better. Before this question was ever asked of me, I did not understand why people would always visit the same destination for their vacation each year.
When I was young, my family went on a history vacation that was adventurous and then a beach vacation to Panama City Beach to relax every year. I thought we visited Panama City Beach because the water was beautiful, and some of our favorite restaurants were located there. Little did I think that my parents just wanted a few days to decompress.
When talking to some folks on a cruise recently, they told us that they do not take excursions when the ship ports at different islands. I automatically assumed that these people didn’t have the money to take excursions. It never hit me that maybe they just wanted a week of relaxation. I can say with certainty that relaxation on a trip had never entered my 6-year old, 12-year old, or 21-year old mind, and it has barely entered my 38-year old mind. But, maybe, adults just want to sit down and relax for a while without worrying about what is on the agenda for tomorrow. Wow!
I suppose that I am an ultimate road tripper, and probably will always be. Sean, the kids, and I love adventure. So much that when asking Jackson what he wanted for Christmas recently, he told me that he just wanted a fun trip somewhere. In pondering vacations vs. road trips for countless hours, I have realized one thing… you can be on Team Vacation, or on Team Road Trip, and you are entirely normal.
The most important part of traveling is the memories you make with your family or fellow travelers. So whether you think that leaving home is a vacation or you absolutely distinguish vacations from road trips, take them with the ones you love. Embrace opportunities to enjoy beautiful sunsets. Eat at your favorite restaurants—Zip-line through rain forests. Fulfill YOUR need to leave home for a while. I have such a greater appreciation of people after being posed this question. So now, I ask you, is a road trip a vacation?
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Interested in planning a road trip or vacation for your family? Check out our Ultimate Vacation Planning Guide. Want to cruise more? Read Cruising on a Budget.
I go on vacations but some are to just relax and some to have adventures. Our trip to Washington DC was defintely was an adventure but since we flew instead of driving I call it a vacation. I guess for me a Road Trip includes a lot of driving.
Ours usually do too!
For me, road trips are most definitely vacations! Any time away from my daily routine is a vacation no matter how near or how far I am from home, or how many activities I have planned.
I like this thought process!
I think everyone has a different idea of what a “vacation” should be. I definitely count road trips as vacations. I do not, however, count time visiting family who live away as a “vacation.” To each their own.
You are right, and just understanding everyone’s perspective is huge!
Ahhh I see it! Now I understand why me and my hubby have a difficult time and take separate vacations. His idea is to sit at hotel and nap or lounge by pool and that infuriated me to spend money to stay somewhere to do nothing. I want to explore and be busy and not sleep till late at night. I thought it’s just cause he’s lazy. Maybe now I will be more understanding… but still take separate trips. Lol
This is great! Yes, I suppose it took me way too long to understand others vacations. It is like a light bulb has went off and I see things differently now.
We love a good road trip and yes it most certainly is a vacation. Like you, we love a good adventure. Sure relaxation is important, but when there is so much to see and do, embrace the adventure. life is short.
It is, and I always want to take the opportunities that are presented!!!
I definitely like an action-packed vacation. I’m young and want to experience all that I can. I can relax when I’m old. Ha!
Me too, although I am getting older!
I like your perspective. I used to wonder why people wouldn’t take excursions on cruises, and things like that. But overloading your trip with so many activities can take away from the point of a vacation in itself!
Yes! I don’t know if I will ever be a person who doesn’t get off the ship, but I understand people better now who do not!
We are a mix of both. This post brought the phrase “need a vacation after our vacation.” to mind, lol.
I think I always feel like that, I can relate well!
I consider any time, even if I leave home for an overnight, a vacation. I only remember one time when we went to a vacation spot to relax. Disneyworld, Costa Rica, Europe, Las Vegas, etc. . . we are trying to see as much as we can and maybe take a few hours of down time. Why go some place if you can’t see it? You might as well sit on your back porch with a book instead of spend thousands of dollars to sit on a boat with a book. Kind of dumb to me.
We are of the same mindset! I love to stay busy and find adventurous things to do!
Yes it is!!! We love road trip vacations.
We do too, you never know what adventure will happen next!
I can’t remember the last time we went on a relaxing vacation… and we travel multiple times a year!! We prefer to see as much as we can cram in! My hubby and I used to do all inclusives when the kids were small… but I think I would be too restless with that now. Maybe one or two days of doing nothing in a beach might be appealing, but I need stuff to do and see the rest of the time!! Lol
Yes! I am with you, 💯! We love to stay busy. However, with COVID this summer, I may have to learn how to vacation more 😂
I know what you mean! I used to think more in a vacation-type mindset, but as we traveled more and more I’ve created a distinction between travel and vacations. Now we very rarely take a vacation.
Yes! We are far more road trip people ourselves 😊