Guides
Part of Fourteen kinds of road trip operator: sorted by what the rules require
Building a two-day itinerary around one guided road trip operator
How to build two days around one guided day: what to do before the guide arrives, how to use the timing they recommend, and what to keep for yourself.
What to take away
- Buy the guide for the hard day and keep the easy day for yourself.
- Ask the operator when their route is quietest, and take that slot if you can.
- Popular sites have crowd patterns that are published. Use them.
- Leave the second day loose so the first day can overrun without damage.
The best use of an operator on a short trip is not to hand over the whole weekend. It is to buy the one day you could not do well alone, and to organize the rest of the trip around that day.
Day one: the guided day
Take the guided day first if the operator offers a choice. It front loads the fixed appointment, gets the harder driving done while everybody is fresh, and leaves the flexible day at the end where a delay costs nothing.
Ask the operator two scheduling questions when you book. What time do they recommend starting, and when is their route quietest. Both answers are free and both improve the day.
Use published crowd patterns
Where a site is busy, the managing agency often says so, and says when. The BLM's page on planning a visit to the Table Rocks in Oregon states that almost 60,000 people hike the trails to the top each year. In spring, rangers lead large school groups on guided hikes from Tuesday to Friday, so visitors who want fewer people should consider early morning or early afternoon on weekdays.
The page also notes that dogs are not allowed, to protect ground nesting birds, and that the trails are for hiking only.
That is a timing instruction and a rule check in one place. Read the equivalent page for whatever your operator is taking you to.
Day two: the drive you keep for yourself
The second day should be a route you can manage without help, chosen so it can be shortened if day one runs long. Regional byway listings are the fastest way to find one.
The BLM's page on byways in Idaho gathers the state's back country routes with short descriptions. One is the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway and Adventure Road, a 36 mile loop through the Lemhi Valley following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. It gains and loses four thousand feet, with steep grades to match.
A short loop with a known climb is an ideal second day. You can drive half of it and turn back without feeling short changed.
The two day shape
| Slot | Content | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day one, morning | Guided departure at their recommended hour | Their timing beats yours |
| Day one, evening | Stay near the operator's base | Short transfer, early start possible |
| Day two, morning | A short loop you drive yourself | Flexible, shortens easily |
| Day two, afternoon | Town, food, and the drive home | Absorbs any overrun |
What to ask before you book the pair
- What time do you start, and how long is the day really?
- Where do most of your clients stay the night before?
- If your day is canceled, is there an alternative date in that week?
- Which nearby route would you drive yourself on the second day?
Where to go next
The categories of operator, and what each actually supplies, are set out in the fourteen kinds of road trip operator. For a weekend with no guide at all, the two day scenic drive itinerary uses the same pacing.
Common questions
Should the guided day be first or second? First, in almost every case. It is the fixed appointment, and delays are cheaper on the flexible day.
Is a half day guided trip worth it? Often, for interpretation. Less so for difficult driving, where the value is in the whole route.
What if the operator cancels? Ask about weather policy at booking, and have your own short route ready as a replacement.
Do operators mind being asked for local advice? Most are pleased to give it, and the answer tells you how well they know the area.
