![]() ![]() ![]() We ventured especially far out on a limb to get around that logjam, winding up on a couple incredibly scenic (and incredibly slow) forest service roads that provided some great photo ops…. That particular year involved especially bad traffic for whatever reason, meaning that both the highway and back roads that we typically used were clogged with cars. Our typical route to and from my parents‘ house is a blend of highways and byways that I’ve developed over years of experimenting with different options. Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go! Totally cliché, I know, but we tried that exact route a few years ago coming home from my parents’ house after the Thanksgiving traffic on the highways AND byways became a snarled mess of accidents and brake lights. This naturally forces you to leave the highway for a bit, and the obvious added bonus of having fresh bread/cheese/beer/etc for dinner will be a huge perk! Save some portion of your weekly shopping – bakery, butcher, winery/brewery/distillery, etc – to pick up fresh on your way home from work. The more major roads that your potential route intersects with, the greater the probability is of you running into a lot of stop signs and traffic lights along the way.Īnother way to find relaxing back roads options for your commute is by finding interesting shops, restaurants, or taverns along the way you want to check out. ![]() Avoid this if possible! THIS is the kind of commute you should be seeking!Ī great way to prevent this aggravation is to find roads that bypass town entirely and have the fewest number of major intersections along the way. Look for alternate roads that track in a similar direction as the highway(s) you would normally take that are indicating green (clear) traffic… and the curvier the road is, the better off you’ll be! One thing to be aware of: if you see a road that has alternating stretches of green with dashes of red along the way, that’s often an indicator that the road has a lot of stop lights. Before you leave the office one evening, take a peek at Google maps with your Traffic indicator on. Yeah, “Avoid Highways” on Google Maps is helpful, but it’s far better to experience the road in person to know for sure. The idea is so simple that it seems almost silly: explore routes to and from work that you’ve never taken before. But how? How to Take Back Roads on Your Commute to Work There’s no better way of relaxing after a difficult day at work than to incorporate a meandering jaunt along some traffic-free back roads… and the further out in the country you can get, the better. That being the case, you are in dire need of some back road meditation during your commute, especially on your way home. I am very intentional to go the back way around most traffic jams I might experience. It’s not that I haven’t been in one from time to time… it’s just not something that I experience hardly ever anymore. But for many of you, I suspect that much of your commute probably looks more like this: I have to be honest here… I searched all through my phone and couldn’t find a single picture of a traffic jam. Some of you may already be doing this by default, because of where you live and/or work. The quickest and easiest way that you can take back roads on a regular basis is by incorporating them into your daily commute. If your sole intent is to get where you are going as quickly as you possibly can, you’re probably on the wrong website anyway! Commuting on Back Roads The entire purpose of Take Back Roads is to make your driving experience – every driving experience – more relaxing and more enjoyable. I would like to start off, however, with a very simple tip that applies universally: take your time and enjoy your trip, no matter where you are going. I’m going to break down my advice into three main types of situations where you will be taking back roads: Commuting Holiday Travel Road Trips & Vacations Occasionally, it can be as easy as switching your Google Map directions to “Avoid Highways.” But if you want the full experience of getting off the highway and exploring the countless back roads this country has to offer, there are a few pointers and suggestions I’ve learned since first starting Take Back Roads. Looking for a great playlist of excellent driving music? Click HERE. Looking for personalized help in planning your trip? Click HERE. But I’ve learned quite a bit over the past several years of travelling on back roads, and continue to learn more each year about how to maximize my travel experiences. It also seems like this is a post I should have written in 2013, back when I first got started. It seems like it should be relatively simple to take back roads when you travel. ![]()
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