How AI Can Be Your Travel Buddy

Weekend fun with an AI Planned Road Trip!

Planning a trip can feel overwhelming — from figuring out the best routes to knowing which family-friendly stops you’ll actually enjoy. That’s where AI comes in. Think of it like having a personal travel buddy who knows your preferences, suggests smart options, and even helps you imagine what your adventure will look like.

For this weekend, I asked AI to help plan a Sunday Scenic Drive in Austin and the Texas Hill Country. I wanted something under 2 hours, avoiding highways if possible, with family-friendly stops like farmers markets in Austin, local parks, and scenic overlooks. With one quick prompt, AI gave me options that fit exactly what I needed for a family-friendly Austin day trip.

And it’s not just for scenic drives. Whether you’re planning a road trip, a picnic, or creating an itinerary for a longer vacation, AI can take the stress out of the details.

AI Travel Buddy Prompts

Here are a few tested-and-tweaked prompts you can copy, paste, and make your own. Just fill in the blanks to match your trip.

The Sunday Scenic Drive Prompt

Perfect for a quick day trip or weekend outing.

Copy this: “Please write me a Sunday scenic drive in [City, State]. Make it under [___] hours, no highways if possible. Bonus if there are farmers markets or family festivals we can stop at. Keep it fun, family-approved, and authentic. Also, please give me a loose schedule for the day with suggested times for stops, starting around [Start Time] and wrapping up by [End Time].”

The Weekend Getaway Prompt

Helpful for finding hidden gems near Austin or wherever you are.

Copy this: “Please create a weekend getaway itinerary for [City, State or Region]. Include family-friendly activities, local food spots, and scenic stops. Keep each day under [___] hours of driving, and add suggestions for coffee shops, picnic spots, or markets. Please include a loose schedule with suggested times for activities.”

The Vacation Planner Prompt

For when you want the full vacation experience without the overwhelm.

Copy this: “Please build me a [number of days] vacation itinerary in [Destination City, State, or Country]. Include cultural stops, local restaurants, and kid-friendly activities. Keep the schedule loose, with suggested times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus one or two highlighted activities each day. Please also add optional evening activities if we still have energy.”

The Packing Helper Prompt

Because who hasn’t forgotten socks or chargers?

Copy this: “Please create a packing list for a [type of trip: road trip, beach vacation, hiking trip, etc.] for [number of people], including [ages of kids, pets, or special needs]. Make sure to include food/snack ideas, clothing, travel essentials, and items people often forget.”

Why This Works

The magic of AI isn’t just that it spits out ideas — it’s that you can be as detailed or flexible as you want. By giving it your boundaries (like time limits, no highways, or family-friendly requirements), you get a plan that actually works for you.

And the best part? You can rerun the prompt as many times as you want until it matches your vibe. Need it more coffee-shop focused? Ask it. Want a Jeep-friendly route in Austin with photo stops? Add it. Want a laser focused schedule instead of a loose one? Ask!

With AI, planning isn’t stressful — it’s a collaboration. So next time you’re craving fresh air, good tunes, great coffee, and noms, let AI help you map it out.

Use your AI, get planning and get out there and explore!

xo

Brooke