Cars are great, but a motorcycle offers you sweeping views and lets you feel the road and live in the moment. So why not make your next vacation a motorcycle trip? It’s the perfect way to combine your passion for riding with an unforgettable trip. If it sounds good to you, then read on for some planning tips.

Start planning early

Motorcycle road trips are a unique sort of vacation, but there’s at least one thing that they have in common with just about every sort of vacation out there: The earlier you start planning, the less stressful planning will be and the better your trip will be.

Planning early gives you plenty of time to make key decisions, and it also helps you secure hot tickets and in-demand reservations. So be smart and start planning ASAP.

Pick a place with bike-friendly weather

If you’re going on a motorcycle trip, you need to choose a destination that will be safe to ride in. Steer clear of places with ice and snow, and be wary of areas with a lot of rain. It’s obviously not safe to ride in these conditions — and when you have a whole trip laid out ahead of you, missing hours of riding while you wait out a storm can really do some damage to your itinerary.

So head somewhere bright and sunny, like Florida. Be conservative with your planned mileage between hotel rooms and other stops. You don’t want a brief rainstorm in sunny Florida to throw off your whole schedule.

Know where to stop (and find reasons to stop)

Finding last-minute lodging can be stressful. While motorcycle trips are liberating, being too spontaneous can backfire and make you feel uptight and stressed.

Your bike is a big part of this trip, but it’s not the only part. Find reasons to stop and get off of your bike — even if it’s just to get on another type of vehicle. Switch things up and consider going on boat tours near Jupiter, Florida. There’s so much to see and do on a trip like this, especially in warm and beautiful places like Florida.

Make sure that your motorcycle is in perfect shape

If you’re going to get to and from all of these attractions — and if you are going to do so safely — then you need to make sure that your bike is up for the trip. Bring your motorcycle to a trusted mechanic and get a full tune-up. Get any necessary repairs done and use genuine replacement parts where needed.

Make sure that you have all of the gear you need to ride in safety and comfort. Replace old gear, especially helmets, which become significantly less effective after a few years, and invest in quality material from reputable retailers like Chap Moto.

Know and respect local laws

Depending on the state you’re headed to, your obligations and options on a bike can change significantly. Some states allow lane-splitting, for instance, while others do not. You are, of course, obligated to know and follow state laws, so be sure to do your research before you embark on your exciting trip.

A motorcycle road trip can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience or an annual tradition. Traveling on the open road on a bike you love will be something that you remember forever, and so will many of the attractions you see during the stops that you make. Plan wisely, and make the most of your trip.