Solo Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

What I’ve learned traveling alone as a young traveler working toward all 50 states.

A lot of people ask me how I travel and hike alone.

I understand why they ask. For a lot of people, the idea of getting on a plane by yourself, landing in a city you do not know, checking into a hotel alone, eating alone, or hiking a trail by yourself sounds intimidating. But the more I travel, the more I realize that solo travel does not have to be scary.

For me, solo travel has become one of the best ways to learn about myself and the country at the same time.

I am working toward visiting all 50 states, and most of these trips have been solo. That means I have had to figure out flights, hotels, restaurants, airports, transportation, hikes, weather, delays, rough neighborhoods, and everything else that comes with travel on my own. Sometimes that can sound like a lot, but it also teaches you how capable you really are

Me at Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City

I’ve always said that if you want to learn a lot about yourself, travel solo.

When you travel alone, there is no one else setting the pace. You get to decide what matters to you. You can spend more time at a historic site, take the extra hike, try a local restaurant, sit in your hotel room and recharge, or completely change the plan if something is not working. You learn what kind of traveler you are because you are not adjusting the whole trip around someone else.

That is one of my favorite parts of it.

Solo travel also forces you to be more aware. I do not mean scared. I mean aware. You pay attention to your surroundings, you research where you are staying, you check the weather, you download your maps, you keep your phone charged, and you trust your instincts.

That is especially true when hiking alone. I have had people ask me how I hike by myself, and the answer is not that I am careless. It is actually the opposite. I try to be prepared

The foothills of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City

If I am hiking, I look up the trail ahead of time. I check the difficulty, the distance, the elevation gain, and the weather. I bring water, and after hiking Saguaro National Park in the Arizona heat, I learned very quickly that sunscreen and bug spray matter too. I download maps because cell service is not always guaranteed. I also try to choose trails that make sense for my experience level, especially when I am in a new place.

That is the difference between solo travel being scary and solo travel being empowering. Preparation gives you confidence.

Some of my favorite travel moments have happened when I was by myself. Hiking through Saguaro National Park, walking around Old Town Albuquerque, taking in the incredible views in Denver, exploring Salt Lake City, and visiting historic sites in Philadelphia all felt different because I had space to actually take them in.

There is something powerful about standing somewhere new and realizing you got yourself there.

At some point, you also have to stop waiting for someone to come with you, because they might not be coming. That sounds harsh, but it is true. People have different schedules, different priorities, different budgets, and sometimes different levels of interest. If you keep waiting for the perfect person, the perfect group, or the perfect timing, you may end up not going at all.

Just go.

That does not mean be reckless. It does not mean ignore safety. It does not mean book something with no plan and hope everything works out. It means stop letting the lack of someone else’s availability decide whether you get to see the world.

I also think some people look at solo travel with pity, like eating alone, flying alone, or hiking alone automatically means you are lonely. But there is no need for that. There is a big difference between being alone and being lonely.

For me, solo travel has not felt sad. It has felt like independence.

Not every solo trip is perfect. Sometimes flights get delayed. Sometimes the weather is bad. Sometimes a city does not match what you expected. Sometimes the hotel service is not great, the area around the hotel feels off, or the restaurant you were excited about ends up being overhyped. But even those moments teach you something.

That is part of the journey.

That is why I think more people should try solo travel at least once. It does not have to be a huge international trip or some extreme adventure. Start with a weekend in a nearby city, a short flight, a national park, a beach trip, or even a day trip somewhere new.

Start simple. Plan well. Trust your instincts. Give yourself room to enjoy it.

Solo travel does not have to be scary. Sometimes it is exactly what you need to realize how capable you are.

If you enjoy honest travel stories, solo travel reflections, hiking guides, and following the journey toward all 50 states, subscribe to Mike On The Move and follow along.