A road trip is the best kind of holiday to truly disconnect. Why? Because there’s no pressure to post, no guilt about not answering texts, and all the time in the world to rediscover what life feels like without constant scrolling. It's an open invitation to tune out the digital noise and tune in to what really matters: the little things, the weird things, the offline joys.
Here are ten delightfully analogue ways to make your next road trip unforgettable. By the way, the cringier they feel at the time, the more you’re gonna laugh about them later!
1. Start a reading marathon at a nice viewpoint
Pack a few paperbacks (or if you must, your Kindle) and get reading those books you’ve been saying you’ll read for years. Choose a scenic spot: a windswept cliff, a quiet lay-by in the hills, or even a cow-dotted field, and settle in for an afternoon of uninterrupted reading. Make it a challenge: no moving until the sun sets or until someone finishes an entire book. Make sure you’ve packed a comfortable blanket and some pillows to lie on, and you’ll quickly be having the best reading experience you’ve ever had.
2. Hunt down a local’s favourite spot or walk
We know they say don’t talk to strangers, but hear us out. Skip the guidebooks and ask real humans where they like to go. That grumpy-looking bloke at the petrol station? He might know the best hidden waterfall. The lady running the corner café? She’s got a secret path with epic views that she walks every Sunday. These are the places that never show up on Instagram but leave the biggest imprint on you. Bring snacks, wear proper shoes, and let curiosity lead the way!
3. Find a spot for a cold water dip
There’s something borderline spiritual about dunking your body into freezing wild water. Whether it's a glacial stream, a lake surrounded by pines or a secret beach cove, it will jolt you fully into the moment. The squeals, the gasps, the weird sense of triumph – it’s all part of the ritual. Afterwards, bask in the sun like a smug little lizard and sip tea from a thermos while you recover your dignity. If you need some inspiration, we’ve put together the best wild swimming spots in the UK!
4. Start a road trip sketchbook
No artistic talent required – in fact, the worse your drawing, the more hilarious this is going to be. Use it as a way to remember the odd little details: the funny signs (yes, Crapstone IS a real place), the highland cows, the clouds that look like a shaggy sheep. Add captions, doodles, and pretend you’re curating an exhibition called “Stuff I saw from the van”. It’s silly, personal, and way more fun than scrolling through a thousand nearly identical sunset photos later. Plus, it’s something to look back on in years to come and still have a giggle!
5. Visit a random local market and have a picnic
Local food markets are little treasure hunts bursting with potential. Wander around, grab whatever catches your eye – smelly cheeses, fresh bread, seasonal berries, strange cured meats, baked things with no label – and lay it all out across a picnic rug. No cutlery? No problem. Use crisps as spoons. Eating this way feels indulgent and joyful, like you’re starring in your own offbeat travel show.
6. Cook a “local ingredients only” meal from scratch
Challenge yourself to cook using only what you can buy locally that day. It could be a few eggs, some foraged herbs, a knobbly vegetable you’ve never seen before, and a wedge of something that might be cheese. Make it work. Cook over a camp stove, a fire pit, or the world’s smallest campsite kitchen. You’ll end up with something weird, maybe delicious, and very memorable.
7. Hold a “no drive” day
Choose a spot that feels good for the soul – maybe by a lake, in the woods, or just somewhere with a cracking view – and don’t drive at all. Spend the day doing absolutely nothing useful. Seriously, the world does NOT need you today, it’s time to let your inner zen shine. Read, nap, stretch, write nonsense in your journal. Watch clouds. Listen to birds. Let the van become less of a vehicle and more of a cosy little home in the wild. It’s the road trip version of a spa day. In fact, pack face masks, and make it a spa day too!
8. Leave a trail of kindness
Tiny anonymous notes are underrated magic. Write little messages like “You’ve got this” or “This sandwich is your destiny” and leave them tucked into menus, slipped between rocks on hiking trails, or wedged into the mirror at a public loo. You’ll never see the reactions, but knowing you’ve left little kindness bombs behind is its own quiet joy.
9. Map your trip the old-school way
Unfold a paper map and chart your course with coloured pens. Highlight the best bits, draw little icons for the places you stopped, and write weird comments only you will understand. There's something incredibly grounding about navigating without a blue dot bouncing around. Plus, when you look back at it later, it’ll tell the story far better than a digital route ever could. Bonus points for going off-piste every now and again, you never know where the unmarked roads might take you!
10. Make a postcard time capsule
Buy the cheesiest postcards you can find in little towns along the way. Write to your future self about what you're thinking, what you're feeling, or how many times you’ve eaten crisps for dinner. Don’t post them. Seal them in an envelope, chuck them in your backpack, and forget about them for a while. Then, one dull Tuesday in the future, open them and remember just how free you felt.
So, why bother going offline?
Because when you disconnect from the internet, you reconnect with everything else – the landscape, the people, the present moment, and most importantly, yourself. Road trips are permission to slow down, make it up as you go, and find joy in the deeply uncurated. You’ll come home with ridiculous stories, incredible memories, a bit of mud on your shoes, and that rare kind of peace that only comes from switching off.
Now go fill up the tank, grab too many snacks, and get out there. The road’s waiting – no signal required.
