Travel Photography by Car: Let’s Do This

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Travel photography by car rewards photographers and their partners with amazing sights and memories. Many times the planning part gets in the way of the “let’s go part.”

The logistical aspects of traveling are daunting. Finding hotels, airfare, rental cars, pet care, accommodations that accept pets, accessibility to photography locations requires research.

Combine that with making a plan that maximizes your limited time and it turns enjoyment to work. You almost need a vacation from planning your vacation.

Plus, there’s always another valid reason not to head out to your next journey. Work, kids, family, scheduling conflicts.

Let’s change that!

This article is a bit off my normal path of writing. It’s not about f/stops, settings or gear. Instead it’s about getting out the door, traveling and having awesome experiences with your photography.

You don’t have to fly or travel far away for epic moments. If you have wheels, or access to wheels, you’re more than half-way ready to go.

This past week, I met a friend in a town that was about a 4 hour drive for each of us from home. Our objective? To photograph owls, raptors and landscapes.

Her comment that inspired this blog was, “Sometimes I want to travel but I can’t make up my mind which place to go. It’s easier to stay home and shoot nearby. I’m glad we’re doing this.”

You don’t have to go far, the key is to “go.”

To get into a travel groove, you have to travel. Nothing prepares you for travel and motivates you to travel more than travel itself. Go!

Travel Photography by Car – It’s Easier than You Think

Packing: When traveling by air, you’re limited to luggage sizes and space. When traveling by car, the only limitation is what you want to take with you. Sure, you want to still be practical. After all, you still have to pack and unpack at your hotels along the way. But, you can take those lenses and accessories that you have previously left behind due to space.

Accommodations: Additionally, depending on the nature of your car travel, there’s a different level of flexibility. With all of the apps and online searches, there are deals to be had with hotels, restaurants, rental cars.

If traveling with pets, more and more hotels, VRBO and Airbnb welcome our fur children. The ones with high pet fees? I run away from those. There are too many hotels/rentals that sincerely welcome my dogs with a reasonable pet charge.

Locations: If you’re not frequent car traveler, I wouldn’t start out with an eight hour one way trip. Instead, select an area that’s three to four hours away. Far enough to feel like you’ve traveled, short enough not to be worn out. Shoot for a long weekend in an area you’ve never explored.

Planning the Trip & Your Photography Moments: What do you love to photograph? Let your passion guide your trip. If you love landscapes, nature hikes, woods – look for a national or state park. If it’s flowers, then plan to be there when the wildflowers are at peak. Botanical gardens, local flora and fauna await.

With Pinterests users and bloggers, there’s a massive amount of information from travelers who blog with great intel and detail. Start a search of an area you’re considering and create your own travel board (My travel Pinterest board). Instagram is another excellent source of locations and hotspot sites.

Tip: Check to make sure the area is not having their biggest tourist attraction during the time you’re wanting to go photograph. Earlier this week at the Eben Ice Caves, had I hiked there on a weekend, it would have been loaded with winter enthusiasts. Instead, I hiked early on Monday Morning and there were times I didn’t see anyone. Later in the morning walking out of the woods, I greeted many potential folks that would have been photo bombers had I waited too late.

Travel Photography: The Journey, Not the Destination

When planning our trip, leave time for the journey. Car travel and photography offers many ‘drive by and turn around’ moments. If we’re too focused on the destination, we just may overlook incredible sites.

The best part of my trip to Eben Ice Caves was not the caves themselves. Although, they were cool and I will go back in a better ice year. Instead it was the hike to get there. Blue skies, tall trees and the sound of snow under my feet pulled me away from reality and full force into the moment.

Solo or with a Partner?

Traveling with your spouse, friend and groups offers more eyes and ideas on photography opportunities. There’s safety and fun in numbers. Photographing your partners in action adds another dimension to the images you’ll enjoy when you return.

At the same time, traveling solo has its own rewards. You turn around when you see something that interests you without worrying about someone being impatient. It’s time to connect with you. Plus, you shoot what and when you want to shoot.

Following the trip where I met up with a friend, I drove a couple of hours for my solo trip. Where did I go? The Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

The next two days were filled with hikes (popular areas but not overly crowded) to waterfalls, ice formations and drive-by areas of interest.

Personal Safety

When traveling with others or solo, personal safety is top notch. When going somewhere new, ensure you know as much as you can in advance about areas, weather and traffic. Thirty minutes of research gives you more productive time during your travels.

If driving by car, your tires, battery, oil, brakes need to be in good working order. Yes, I know that sounds like a mother hen, but it’s still a needed reminder!

When checking in to your hotel, ask for a room location that doesn’t require you to carry heavy stuff upstairs. I also suggest unloading your luggage onto a cart at the lobby and take to your room before parking your car if traveling solo. Then, park your car in a lighted area when your hands are free. Unpacking your car at the back of a hotel at night, regardless of the location is not a good thing to do.

I also suggest sharing your location via your phone so that those closest to you know where you are without having to call you. When going out to hike, text or let someone know where you are starting from and your planned route.

Supplies in your car: Since I live in Michigan, I need to be winter ready when traveling. My SUV has a 20 X 16 X 12 inch box with a first aid kit, extra socks, a light jacket, gloves, two towels, a tow strap, a trailer hitch, rubber boots and waders. I just added a cordless tire inflater in addition to having a couple of cans of fix a flat.

In the front, there’s 3 Yetis filled with water along with healthy snacks that could feed multiple people for a few days if needed.

Travel Photography by Car: When’s Your Next Trip

What is the one place within a few hours drive you want to see and photograph? Pack the family, the kids, the friends or just you. Then hit the road. You’ll never regret the journey, the sites or the memories. If you can’t do multiple days, try for one day. Travel motivates travel.