Weekend Travel Tips: 10 Best Ways to Enjoy a Getaway

These weekend travel tips will make two days away feel like a week off. You don’t need a long trip or a big budget, just a smarter plan. Whether you’re heading from Las Vegas to the Southern California coast or from Los Angeles to the Strip, a short getaway can reset your whole week. Here are 10 ways to get more out of every one.

10 Weekend Travel Tips for a Better Getaway

1. Hit the Road and Make Stops

A road trip doesn’t have to mean a long drive. Stopping at a couple of places along the way makes the whole weekend feel bigger. Pick a small town within a short drive, then browse the local shops, find a place to eat, and see what’s nearby. Southern California’s Route 66 roadside attractions are a good place to start.

2. Leave Early and Come Home Late

The easiest way to stretch a weekend is to start it sooner. Pack your bags before Friday, load the car before work, and head straight to dinner at your destination. If you can leave Thursday night or take Friday afternoon off, even better. Then stay until late Sunday. You’ll come home feeling like you were gone a week.

3. Leave Work and Devices Behind

Your phone is the fastest way to bring Monday along with you. Leave work email for the week ahead and save the social posts until you’re home. If you want photos, carry a regular camera or take a few quick shots instead of scrolling.

4. Keep the Trip Close

Six hours on a plane or twelve in a car eats the weekend. A drive of around four hours or less is ideal. From Los Angeles, Las Vegas is roughly four hours without traffic. From Las Vegas, Southern California’s beaches, mountains, and theme parks are a short road trip away. Staying close gives you the feeling of being far from home without the stress of getting there.

5. Make Where You Live Your Playground

A staycation can be just as refreshing. Book the boutique hotel you always hear about or a unique rental, and treat your own city like a destination. If the drive is only 30 minutes, that’s more time to enjoy the weekend.

6. Treat It Like a Vacation

A trip you’ve planned feels like a vacation all week. Research what you want to see, book anything that sells out, and leave some open time. Having something specific to look forward to makes the workweek easier, and you’ll get more out of the weekend itself.

7. Go Solo and Make the Rules

Trips with others are fun, but compromise means you won’t always do what you want. Traveling alone lets you decide what, when, and where. You’ll also talk to more locals. Sit at the bar instead of a table, since bartenders usually have great tips and stories. For more ideas, read our guide to traveling solo and making friends.

8. Do Something You’ll Remember

Weekends are perfect for the thing you keep putting off. Take the hike, book the spa day, or finally go skydiving. Pick one big memory instead of filling every hour.

9. Take the Road Less Traveled

The road less traveled only has to be new to you. If you always head east, go west. If you’re a city person, try the country. The goal is to escape your routine and explore.

10. Plan Family Getaways Too

Weekends aren’t only for solo travelers and couples. With kids, plan a mix of activities for them and for you, like a theme park day or time at the beach. If you’re heading to Disneyland, here’s where to watch the fireworks to end the night. Loosen the rules too. Dessert for breakfast counts.

Plan Your Next Weekend Getaway

It’s your time, so use it fully. Treat the things others see as limits, like a short window or a tight budget, as reasons to plan smarter. Heading to Las Vegas? Start with a hotel.

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