Solo travel is all the rage these days, particularly solo female travel. This heavily comes from social media’s influence, the rise in feminism, and just generally an interest in traveling the world or living in an alternative way from the typical 9-5 lifestyle. But solo travel is something that take a bit more planning than a trip you’d generally take with your friends and family, and while there’s so much more freedom that comes from traveling alone, there’s a lot you have to keep in mind too.
Of course, many of these tips aren’t solo female travel specific, it’s just that that’s my area of expertise, and honestly, women have to think about a lot more than men do when it comes to safety.
Hole-In-The-Wall, Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park, WA
Solo travel is safer than you think
The only way to stay completely out of danger is to stay home, and for me, at least, that’s just not an option. The thing is, being solo and far from home isn’t all that more dangerous than walking to the grocery store down the street in the neighborhood you grew up in. It’s all about confidence, research, and being aware of your surroundings.
I constantly get questions about traveling by myself, and it’s often from people who have never tried it. It’s a unique experience that everyone should try to have at some point in their lives. It’s transformative, eye opening, and life-changing (and yes, those are three different things).
I’ve now spent three months of my life traveling and living on the road full time by myself. I’ve come across some of the most beautiful places in the country, some situations my gut didn’t feel great about, and grizzly bears. Every destination is unique, but here are some tips that will get you ready for any solo trip you could be dreaming of.
For more about why I travel solo, click HERE.
Hidden Lake Overlook Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana, and the moment I realized I finished my 52 Hike Challenge
1: Do your research.
Before I left on my three month solo trip, I did about a year’s worth of research. Of course, for a short trip, or even a long one like mine, you don’t need to be that obsessed, but it’s super important to do your research. While there’s beauty in showing up to a place and not having any expectations, save that for when you’re more confident in your solo traveling abilities. For your first trip, try to have accommodations lined up, know the area, and try to learn a little about the history of the place you’re going before you even hit the road. My first solo trip was to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and before I even decided to leave, I knew how far the drive would be, how much money to be carrying, where my campsite was (that I’d booked in advance, which I almost never do now), where the visitor center would be, and how good my car’s gas mileage was.
Of course, leave some things to be a surprise. Don’t flood your brain with hundreds of pictures of the Grand Canyon—that could take away from the actual experience. The point of the research is to help you with tip #2.
Okay, but here’s one picture of the Grand Canyon…
2: Carry yourself with confidence.
I’ve found that when I walk like I know where I’m going, even in a city I’ve never been to, I’m bothered far less. It’s when I’m desperately staring at Google Maps that people try to talk to me or street vendors start bothering me to buy things, because then I look like a tourist. As you travel alone more, this confidence becomes far more natural, but as someone just starting out, act like you’re in a routine. Pretend like you know exactly where you are, or what you’re doing, even if you’ve never been there before and you couldn’t recite the name of the street you’re on to save your life. And if you do need help, ask someone who looks trustworthy, like a police officer, store owner, or mom.
Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
3: And carry something for self-defense.
Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s dangerous to travel solo, it’s simply that having something to grab in case of emergency makes me feel safer and calmer sleeping alone in my vehicle. While not everyone travels the same way I do, it’s super important to carry something that makes you feel safe. This can be anything from pepper spray to a knife to bear spray (although it is a felony to use bear spray on a person, safety doesn’t just have to do with defending yourself from other people—animals are a thing too).
Mount Rainier National Park, WA
4: Don’t be afraid to ask strangers for photos.
Solo travelers everywhere know that one of the hardest things about traveling alone is not being able to take pictures of yourself. Of course, a tripod or selfie stick can do the job, and so can the good ol’ classic selfie move, but sometimes you want those artsy, insta-worthy pics and you just can’t get them right if you’re the one taking the photo. Don’t be afraid to ask people to take pictures. I usually try to ask someone with a professional camera (to take one on my device not theirs), because they often know how to properly frame a shot. If you’re worried about safety, ask a mom with kids, or offer to take someone’s picture first—they’ll often want to return the favor.
A stranger took this photo for me at Inspiration Point in Grand Tetons National Park, WY.
5: Overpack.
This seems silly, but since you won’t have another person with you, it’s important to have everything you might need. When I traveled across the country, I had so much with me that I didn’t need. But this also means making sure you have enough cash, your passport, even if you think you don’t need it, and extra medicine if you take any, just in case you run out far from home.
On top of this, make sure you have the right gear and know how to use it. Don’t plan a camping trip if you’ve never pitched a tent before, but also, it’s not impossible to learn new skills, so don’t let not knowing stop you from doing! Just make sure that pitching that tent for the first time doesn’t happen at your campsite.
Doyle River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park, VA
6: Download some apps.
Depending on the type of travel, there are some great apps that will help you out. Google Assistant is great at translations, iOverlander is helpful for finding safe spots to park if you’re living that vanlife, and Roadtrippers can help you accurately plan a route and do research. There are so many resources out there, so just find the one that works for you!
Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park, MT
I could honestly go on and on about solo travel, how magical it is, and how safe I felt on the road, but I’ll save that for another blog post. These are my main tips for traveling alone, and if I had to give one last piece of advice, it would be to just surrender to it all. Even if you’re well researched, not everything is going to go as planned, so allow yourself to be open to it, because only then will the transformative experience of traveling alone have its affect on you.
For the full story of my three month solo trip, there will be a full ebook of my itinerary, budget, and all my advice and hidden gems available in the shop on December 1, 2019, so if you want to be the first to hear about it, make sure you subscribe to the newsletter by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page!