These are just some things that I have done while traveling solo throughout the years. These have worked for me. I’m not saying that I haven’t been in sticky situations before, but it my experience it has always been closer to home. I am not sure why that is the case, perhaps being overly comfortable, just people in general, or a bit of both.
Keep Confident
The biggest advice that I can give is to be confident, even when you’re scared you can still be confident. Your confidence will reflect in your body language.
You can be scared as hell inside, but still be confident at the same time.
The mindset shift that unlocked it for me: I told myself that doing things outside of your comfort zone is good for you, and that I could actually do it. That reframe changed everything. It stopped feeling like something I had to survive and started feeling like something I was choosing.
Get started
If you are uncomfortable with the idea, start with group activities. You don’t have to travel there with someone that you know.
I wanted to get back into the outdoors, so I joined several outdoor groups on Facebook. From there I went with a group that was going to Stone Mountain to see the sunset and Strawberry Moon rise. Everyone within the group hiked the mile long trail at different paces. Sam and I joined the smaller crew that went up using the vehicle road. It made the overall distance shorter and easier to manage instead of going over the tall rocks and incline.
When it comes to finding a place to stay solo, look into HipCamp where you can read real reviews and contact the host directly. Knowing there’s a real person on the other end: someone you can call or text if something goes wrong: makes a big difference. That safety net alone can take the edge off.
Tell Someone
A huge safety factor, no matter who you are, is letting people know where you’re going.
At minimum, tell one person where you’ll be and drop them a location pin. Then set a check-in window: if they haven’t heard from you by a certain time, they call local authorities. It sounds extreme until you actually need it.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. No reservations, no itinerary: just a location and a deadline.
My friend Manse sold everything and hit the road in an RV to travel the US. Throughout most of the trip he would check in with me and our mutual friend Sarah. He even kept a shared Google Sheet with his plans and routes that Sarah and I both had access to. Before heading to Glacier Park he and I had talked, but I didn’t realize he’d be without cell service for a stretch. After about five days, Sarah and I started to worry.
The last I knew, he had been in some small town at a local dive bar. I tracked it down and called. The bartender remembered him and said that five days off the grid with what Manse was doing sounded about right. It helped a little, but the worry didn’t go away until we actually heard from him.
About two days later he called. Said he heard both voicemails Sarah and I had left. He laughed it off, but I could hear it in his voice: he appreciated it more than he let on.
That’s the whole point. Let someone know. It matters.
Solo travel doesn’t have to start with a cross-country road trip or a week in the backcountry. Start small. A day hike, a local group meetup, a one-night camping trip close to home. The point is to just start. It gets easier every time, and you’ll surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.