I’ve been traveling, road tripping, and (wild) camping solo for over a decade altogether. And now I’m driving around Australia on my own! I thought it was about time to share some of my best and most important solo road trip safety tips. Keeping myself safe is my number one priority on my solo trips. While some of these tips are Australia-specific, I think most can apply anywhere in the world. This is geared for solo female travelers like myself, but guys should definitely consider these, too! Here are my best 17 safety tips for solo road trips.
TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT.
I can’t emphasize this enough. My gut instinct has been honed over years of solo travel and I have learned to always, always, trust it. If your gut is telling you there’s something wrong about a person or a place, listen to it. Don’t be afraid to lie and say you’re meeting up with a friend/boyfriend to avoid sharing that you’re on your own. You don’t owe anyone the benefit of the doubt.
Have an emergency contact who you check in with regularly.
I always have someone who knows where I’m planning on camping/sleeping each night. Be sure that someone knows a rough estimate of your intended route! This is also important if I’m doing any long/challenging hikes. I want someone to know where I am, and where to send emergency services if something (god forbid) goes wrong. While I’ve been in Australia, I message my parents almost every day to let them know where I’m going to be sleeping.
Let your emergency contact know when they can expect to hear from you.
This can be difficult if you’re in remote areas without phone signal. Sometimes you just can’t plan check-ins in advance. But make a plan with your emergency contact, so if something goes wrong they know at what point they should alert the authorities. Usually, I check in with my emergency contact at least once every day. When I was on Orkney, for example, I knew I’d probably be without signal for the 24+ hours I was on Hoy. So, my friend knew that it’d likely be a while until she heard from me again.
Don’t drive at night.
I avoid driving at night at all costs in Austratlia – it’s when the kangaroos and weirdos come out. It’s simply not safe to drive in the dark with roos jumping out in front of your car whenever they feel like it. There are also some strange people out there, and I’ve heard some sketchy stories from other backpackers/travelers being followed at night. On the first night of my Lap (on the way to Jervis Bay), I drove the last hour in the dark and I promised myself: never again. Wherever you are in the world, try to get to your destination while it’s still light out.
Note entrances/exits where you’re staying at night, and plan your emergency exit route.
This is important whether you’re backpacking, car camping, or just staying in accommodation on your own. I always reverse into my parking spot, so I have an easy access route out. Be ready to go at a moment’s notice – I sleep with my phone, car keys, whistle, and glasses right next to me. If you’re in a hostel or hotel, know where the exit and fire escape are. This is not just a good solo road trip safety tip, but a smart travel tip in general.
Get a whistle.
After #TentGate (ahh, fond memories), I promised myself to always keep my whistle on me whenever I was camping alone. A whistle is an important safety device – you can draw attention to yourself if you’re in danger or injured. If you’re traveling solo, I highly recommend having one on you wherever you go. Buy a whistle here.
Invest in a portable safe.
One of the best items I’ve ever bought for my travels has been this Pacsafe portable safe. It’s made of slash-proof material, and the steel cable allows you to lock it to anything – furniture, pipes, anything sturdy. I have my passport, laptop, important documents, and valuables securely locked away, out of sight, in this portable safe in my car as I drive around Australia. It gives me SO much peace of mind knowing that my valuables are safe.
If you’re car camping, be careful drinking alcohol.
You never know what might happen over the course of the night. You may need to drive later on in case of an emergency. I very rarely drink any alcohol when I’m on my own in Australia. I am the only one responsible for my safety – so I need to make sure that I can drive myself, at any time of the day or night, if something bad happens.
Use an app like Wikicamps to read reviews of campsites before you go.
I’m not sure if other countries besides Australia and New Zealand have a similar app to Wikicamps – I hope they do! Wikicamps has been my absolute lifeline road tripping around Australia. I read reviews of every single campsite before I decide to stay there. I also usually look at the photos of the site. If a campsite or area sounds sketchy, give it a miss.
Be careful posting on social media.
I never, EVER, post where I’m staying in real time. I actually never post on social media in real time – I typically upload everything at the end of the day. This is especially important if your social media profiles are public. Anyone can find out where you are. And while it’s unlikely that someone will come to actually stalk you, you never know. So don’t give them the opportunity, and be exceedingly cautious what you post online.
Carry a few extra days’ worth of drinking water and food in your vehicle.
If you break down while road tripping through a remote area, you could be stuck for some time. In Australia, where there are dangerously extreme temperatures and weather, this is crucial. Always bring extra water and food with you. If you’re stood outside in the sun on the side of the road for hours, you’ll need it to survive.
Know exactly how far your car can drive on a full tank.
When driving through the outback or in very remote areas in Australia, you’ll find that there are very few gas stations. Sometimes, there will only be one place to get fuel in 300km – so you need to get gas there. Plan out gas stops in advance in remote areas, and refuel often. If you have space in your vehicle, invest in a jerry can and carry extra fuel with you in case you run out.
Older couples can be some of the friendliest and safest strangers.
If I need help, they’re the people I seek out first. There are loads of grey nomads traveling Australia – I have encountered so many of them on the road! As a woman on my own, it can sometimes be intimidating to walk up to men traveling together, or even a man on his own. I always would try to find another woman, or a group with a woman in it, to ask. This may be overly cautious on my part – there are so many lovely guys traveling around Australia! But for me, it’s the safest option.
Be prepared for loneliness.
While I travel alone all the time, I very rarely feel lonely. However, that feeling of loneliness does hit me from time to time – and it’s important to be prepared for it. For me, calling family or a friend, watching an episode of a comfort TV show, or going through my travel photos are actions that will make me feel less lonely. These moments are rare for me, but they do happen – so think about what will make you feel less lonely when you’re road tripping solo.
Budget an emergency fund into your travels.
The most important travel safety tip of all time? Give yourself an emergency fund. Hopefully, you won’t need it, and it’ll be extra money in the bank when you come home. Or an extra splurge at the end of your trip! But money can solve a lot of your safety problems – it can give you the ability to extricate yourself from a dangerous situation. If you need to spend more money to go somewhere that’s safer, do it. Your life is worth more than a couple of bucks.
Don’t take unnecessary risks.
I’ve said no to so many hikes and/or adventures because it’s too risky to do on my own. If there’s no one to get help if something goes wrong, I need to be exceedingly cautious. I usually stay within the outer edge of my comfort zone when I travel solo. This is particularly important if I’m somewhere remote, without phone signal. Something as uncontrollable as a change in the weather can mean a disaster for a solo traveler. While yes, it means you miss out on things, it means you’ll still be alive to do them another time.
Prepare what you can, but HAVE FUN!
Yes, there is so much research and preparation you do for a solo road trip. And yes, all of those steps are important to ensuring you have a good time. But most of all, remember to have fun on your road trip! Enjoy the journey and soak up every experience you can! A solo road trip is exciting and fun, and one of the most meaningful travel adventures you can have.
Staying safe is so important when you’re road tripping solo. While you have the freedom to do whatever you want, there’s no one there to look out for you. These are my top tips for staying safe on a solo road trip. I hope it helps you plan for your next adventure, and feel safe as you road trip solo!
What are your road trip safety tips? Share your advice in the comments!
You might also like my posts:
A Backpacker’s Guide to Buying a Used Car in Australia
Moving to Oz on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life in Australia
Experiencing My Worst Camping Nightmare in the Peak District
The Best Travel Safety Tips for Night Trains
7 Challenges I Faced on My Solo Trip to Russia, and the Lessons I Learned
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