Alright here we go. My last solo trip was this road trip through Colorado and Utah and man it was equal parts amazing and me questioning every life choice.
I mean I drove out alone because my buddy got sick last minute and I almost canceled but then I was like screw it. Got to Arches National Park at like dawn, no one around, just me and these huge red rocks. Felt kinda powerful but also lonely? Idk both at once.
Why Solo Travel Hits Different in 2025
Everything feels so expensive now and group trips mean splitting Airbnbs and arguing over dinner spots. Traveling alone? You just do what you want. I stopped at random diners, ordered whatever looked good, stayed as long as I felt like. No “are we ready to leave yet” nonsense.
Plus with work being so stressful lately—endless zoom calls and emails—solo travel is like hitting reset. I hiked alone in Zion and talked to literally no one for hours except this one chipmunk that kept following me. It was peaceful af. But yeah sometimes I got anxious about bears or whatever.
Solo Travel: How To Feel More Comfortable Dining Alone
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Something like this diner moment—sitting alone with coffee, scrolling maps, pretending I’m busy but really just thinking.
The Cringey Parts I Won’t Lie About
Okay real talk solo travel can be super awkward. Eating alone still weirds me out sometimes. In Salt Lake City I went to this fancy-ish place and the waiter kept asking “just one?” like yeah just one leave me alone lol. I ended up staring at my phone the whole time feeling dumb.
And yeah I talk to myself on trails now. Out loud. “Don’t trip dummy” “okay breathe.” People probably think I’m nuts but it helps.
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See that lost confused vibe? Been there too many times.
Tips From Someone Who Messed Up A Lot
If your thinking about solo travel here what sorta worked for me (and what didnt):
- Dont overplan. I tried making a strict itinerary once and hated it. Now I just pick a general area and wing it.
- Bring a portable charger bc my phone dies fast when using maps all day.
- Tell a friend/family your rough plan daily. Safety thing even if you feel independent.
Start with a short trip if your nervous. I did a weekend in the Rockies first and it wasnt scary at all.
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Dawn hikes alone like this? Worth every bug bite and sore legs.
Okay Wrapping Up Kinda
Solo travel in 2025 isnt glamorous all the time. Theres bad wifi, lonely dinners, getting lost, overthinking everything. But theres also these moments where you feel like damn I can do hard things by myself. I came back from my last trip more confident even if I still make dumb mistakes.
