Nothing screams "ALIVE" more than a road trip cross-country. If you're in college and you're feeling crazy: road trip. If you've sunk too far into routine that you can't see past the monotony: road trip. If you need a low-budget vacation: road trip. If the election's got you down and you need to see beauty in our country again: road trip. If you don't have anything else to do: road trip.

Trust me. It's relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time. I just got back from one myself, and it's one of the best things I've done all year! Beach one day and mountains the next, and miles of pavement in-between: quite possibly paradise, if you ask me. So here's why you need to go on a road trip ASAP!

1. It's your chance to get away.

Honestly, what are the odds you'll see anyone you know five hundred miles away? Unless you're staying with relatives or someone along the way, in which your chances would be pretty good, I guess.

2. You'll see a ton of cool things.

In our case, we saw a covered bridge (those things are rad. Seriously. Go find one), a glorious beach, beautiful mountains, and two really attractive Russian guys. Still haven't gotten over those two Russian guys.

3. It's a bonding experience.

If somebody's stuck in a car with you for a thousand miles, you're gonna learn allllll about them. There's nothing like confined spaces to really make that friendship blossom.

4. You're going to have so many stories.

So remember that time we drove down that empty highway at night and thought we were going to get chased by zombies because if the zombie apocalypse began, it was going to be right there, right then? Yeah, that was rad.

5. Something'll go wrong, and that's okay.

Sometimes it'll be car trouble. Sometimes, it'll be forgetting to pack flip flops for the beach and realizing that no store around actually sells flip flops even though it's a beach town because it's the middle of WINTER, but hey, that's alright, Walgreens didn't kick us out for being barefoot.

6. You'll learn not to try to eat an extra-crunchy granola bar in traffic.

Here's a hint: leather seats do not pair well with crumbled oats. For the next five hours.

7. You'll appreciate the wonders of the PB&J.

It's a staple road trip food. Part of the experience, guys. Also, it's super cheap just to pick up a loaf of bread, some peanut butter, and a jar of jam (MAGNIFICENT PEACH PRESERVES, in our case. We are passionate about our preserves.) and eat that for every meal there on out. That way, you can save money for the important stuff-- like the four hundred postcards I bought in the Smoky Mountains.

8. Jamming out.

Because you've probably made a road trip playlist already, and it is killer.

9. There's a lot of driving.

Yeah, that might not sound like a good thing... But have you ever seen the highways in North Carolina at sunrise? They SPARKLE. Straight-up sparkle. It's like that bridge in Asgard in Thor. Also, night driving is way cool. Unless you're on a deserted country road. It's just creepy then. But still worth it. Although be warned: you will develop a special kind of dislike for semi trucks.

10. You'll feel more alive than you ever have before.

You'll want to go home because there's nothing like that mattress you've been wearing in for the last ten years (...how long are mattresses supposed to last, anyway?), but you won't want to leave the road either... Because on a road trip, you're never "coming from--", You're always "going to--" And honestly, that makes all the difference. No regret here, folks.