5 Roadtrip Tips for Black Travelers: Advice from Experts in Adventuring
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Road trips are one of the greatest ways to explore a country. It allows you the freedom to go wherever, whenever. With the increase of travelers getting into vanlife and RV’ing as well, road trips seem to be on everyone’s mind! But, unfortunately, road trips pose a different obstacle for BIPOC travelers. Such as, well…racial discrimination.
Especially in North America where countries were created on the back of slavery and Indigenous colonization, racist tension still looms in cities and towns across the continent. So much so that author Victor Hugo Green published an extensive travel guide, The Negro Motorist Green Book or “The Green Book,” to help aid Black travelers in their journey across the USA and Canada during the Jim Crow era. But what about roadtrip tips for Black travelers TODAY?
I’ve rounded up some of the best advice from experienced Black roadtrippers, from how they stay safe in small rural towns to what they pack in their bags!
But why tips from Black travelers exclusively? Why not from all travelers of color? Why not from allies?
First of all – if you are questioning why something is available for a specific demographic to combat disadvantages- check yourself.
Second – Even within non-white communities, anti-Blackness is an issue. The Black experience is unique, and Black travel especially has nuances that are not necessarily experienced by other people. With that said though, all of these tips are applicable to anyone else, especially other Indigenous people and people of color. Plus, it might just open your eyes to how others travel the world. Diversify your media and all that.
So saddle up and get your notepads out, because here are the top roadtrip tips for Black travelers! And yanno, everyone else too!
Tip #1: Avoid Empty Gas Stations and Driving Late at Night
By Kabrina from Champion the Distance
Make sure you plan out your driving times in advance. Leave at times that prevent you from traveling too far too late at night (1-4am). You don’t want to be one of the only ones on the road. Aside from the usual risks of driving at night (falling asleep, lower visibility, etc), there are also fewer witnesses on the road in case anything were to happen.
On a similar note, if possible, avoid filling up at small-town gas stations. Try to service your cars during the day and in larger cities. In fact, you may want to adjust your route to travel through larger towns, even if that means adding a bit of time to your journey. Safety (and mental comfort tbh) should be your number one priority as often as possible.
Tip #2: Turn Down Your Volume in Towns
Corritta from It’s a Family Thing
One of the unfortunate parts of going on a road trip is DWB, driving while black. If you are a black family, be careful when listening to music. If it is too loud, you can draw the wrong attention and end up being stopped by the police.
While on a road trip with our toddler, we were listening to one of our favorite Sesame Street songs via BlueTooth. I must admit it was kind of loud because it is one of my favorite songs as well, the joys of being a parent of a toddler. We needed to stop for gas, and a police officer pulled behind us.
When I got out of the car to pump gas, he was questioning us about where we were from and where we were headed. I was not happy about this because we did nothing wrong, and there was no reason to question us. I asked why did he stop to ask me these questions, and his response was, “because I can, and I was curious.” How discouraging is that? I can’t listen to Sesame Street in my car with our son without being “suspicious”.
Tip #3: Have a Physical Map and Itinerary/Guide
By Alyssa from Teacher Noire
As mentioned above, look up The Green Book. Not only for historical context of traveling and road-tripping while Black, but also for actual great suggestions. It’s like a handheld AAA (American Automobile Association, provides insurance and travel services). If you’re traveling around the St. Louis area, there are tons of suggestions on places to stay and eat, all with historical significance!
Also, grab an actual road map. It always a good back up resource! There is a high probability that you will lose signal while driving, and you might not be able to access an online map. And if something happens to your phone, you might not be able to get to your offline map either!
Tip #4: Research the Area
By Dana from Final Rant
Research. Research. And more research!
That goes for any kind of travel, but especially for road trips. Sometimes, you’ll only be passing through for a day or two. Research the area that you’ll be in before you get there. That way, you’ll know what to expect, what to look out for, and what activities you may want to partake in.
Along with using Google searches, and Pinterest, and Facebook groups to prepare for your trip, I also recommend following Black travel bloggers! They are upfront about their own experiences (and discrimination in cities), so while you may not experience the same, it’s good to be mentally prepared just in case.
Tip #5: Support BIPOC Businesses
By Hillary from The H Word Blogs
See what Black owned businesses or businesses owned by POC you can support along the way and once you reach your destination. Think lodging, restaurants, tourist attractions etc. They’d be thrilled to have your support. Show some extra love by leaving a review on sites like Yelp or share your experience via social media and tag the business.
You already know the barriers put up by white supremacy that make owning a business harder for BIPOC. So show them some love on your road trip too, and help give back to their local communities!
Roadtrip Tips for Black travelers: Conclusion
These are just some roadtrip tips for Black travelers that have allowed all of us a little extra peace of mind. I will be excited for the day that I don’t have to constantly act extra friendly to combat someone else’s potential pre-conceived biases towards me – but, alas. The global world is STILL working on dismantling white supremacy.
Are there any other roadtrip tips for Black travelers that you know of that have helped you on your journeys? Please share in the comments below!
“There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States. It will be a great day for us to suspend this publication for then we can go wherever we please, and without embarrassment.”
— Victor Hugo Green, “The Negro Motorist Green Book”
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I wish I had looked for this before I drove from Portland to Vegas and back with my dog. Siri thought it would be funny to send me thru the Aryan outback! I saw white supremacy symbols on buildings and was on roads where sometimes I didn’t see another car for 20 minutes. I was in major fear! I changed my route mid way and added an hour just to be able to come back thru Sisters, Bend, Salem, etc and not fear for my damn life. Hate this place but stuck living here so thank you for this!
First, thank you SO MUCH for reading!!! And yesss coming from Portland myself – GIRL I KNOWWWW!! Some of these lil towns in the PNW….good for you for changing your route! Safety is a VERY real concern
Stay out of upstate New York, period. If driving cross-continent use I-80 instead, it’s safer. Plan your rest stops to be in Connecticut and then OHIO. That’s the safest. Both New York and Pennsyltucky are equally dangerous but as of yet I’ve never quite been hauled out of the car, had it searched 400 times and arrested, in Pennsyltucky. New York, yes. That “felony” charge and conviction that I couldn’t get out of because I couldn’t get out of jail and get HOME to get a decent lawyer (like the ACLU) will keep me unemployable for the rest of my life. To Hell with New York.
Wow I am so sorry you experienced that!!