Planning a road trip can be an exciting adventure, but it may also feel overwhelming. You have to decide what route to take, where to stay, what stops everyone in the family wants to make and maybe even where to find the best cheeseburger on your route. Fortunately, you now have a helpful partner in planning right at your fingertips.
At this point, we’ve all heard about AI (artificial intelligence), yet many of us may not have explored what it can do.
ChatGPT is a popular AI chatbot created by OpenAI. After its launch in late 2022, it has been improving with each new update and model release. You can ask it to do anything — writing emails or articles, generating images and videos, translating languages and much more.
Let’s look at how ChatGPT can help you create a customized road-trip itinerary with just a few simple steps. Here’s how to use this tool to plan your trip and get some suggestions for what to do along the way.
- Set up a ChatGPT account. In your web browser, go to https://chatgpt.com/auth/login. If you already have an account, click on “Log in.” If you don’t, click on “Sign up for free.” (You can also pay for a subscription to get more features.) Either enter your email address and create a strong password, or use your Google, Microsoft or Apple account.
- Verify your email. Check your email for a verification link and click it to confirm your account.
- Describe your trip and what kind of suggestions you’d like. Once your account is set up, you will see the question, “What can I help with?” with a text box below. Type a description of your trip, including your travel dates and places you want to visit, and ask your question. You might write, for example, “I’m planning a 7-day road trip in New England for my family, starting on September 20. We want to visit Boston, Acadia National Park and Cape Cod.” Be sure to let ChatGPT know where you’re starting your road trip. It can suggest the best routes for covering multiple states like Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island.
- Ask for recommendations based on your family’s interests. For example, if you enjoy hiking, you can ask, “What are the best hiking trails near Acadia National Park?” Or, if you’re interested in historical sites, you could ask, “What are the must-see historical landmarks in and near Boston?”
- Get a detailed daily itinerary. Once you have decided what you want to see, ask ChatGPT to break the trip down day by day. You might type, “Create a 7-day itinerary that includes a mix of nature, history and good food in New England.” In just a second or two, ChatGPT will suggest a daily plan, giving you a list of recommended places to visit, local restaurants and activities. It will also offer tips on driving times between destinations.
- Request suggestions for lodging. ChatGPT can also suggest where to stay. Just ask for options based on your budget and specify whether you want to stay in hotels, motels or charming bed-and-breakfast inns. You might type, “Recommend some affordable hotels in Bar Harbor, Maine.”
- Plan for breaks and extra stops. Don’t forget about rest stops! Ask ChatGPT for suggestions on scenic stops or interesting towns along the way. You might ask, “Where should we stop for a break between Boston and Acadia?” ChatGPT can help you discover hidden local gems on your route.
- Ask for any other helpful suggestions. Once ChatGPT gives you the itinerary, feel free to ask for any tweaks. For example, you could type, “Add a day in Portland, Maine” or “Suggest more family-friendly activities.”
ChatGPT will save all the information from your “chat.” If you log out and back in, you’ll see your questions and the ChatGPT answers at the left side of your screen.
Here’s just one example of the first two days of a New England road-trip itinerary that ChatGPT recommended:
Day 1: Boston (Arrival & Exploration)
- Food:
- Grab a lobster roll at Neptune Oyster (North End).
- Enjoy Italian pastries at Mike’s Pastry or Modern Pastry.
- Have dinner at Legal Harborside (seafood with waterfront views).
- Activities: Walk the Freedom Trail, explore Boston Common, or take a sunset walk along the Charles River Esplanade.
- Overnight: Boston.
Day 2: Boston → Portland, Maine (2 hrs. drive)
- Hike: Stop at Bradbury Mountain State Park (short hike with views of Casco Bay).
- Food:
- Portland is a foodie haven—try Eventide Oyster Co. (best oysters & lobster rolls).
- Coffee at Tandem Coffee Roasters.
- Evening: Walk the Old Port’s cobblestone streets, breweries and shops.
- Overnight: Portland.
Once you start experimenting with this incredible resource, it might be hard to stop! You may be surprised how useful it can be as a virtual travel partner on your next adventure or as a writing coach, an organizer of random thoughts or just about anything else.
