A road trip is defined as "a journey via automobile, sometimes unplanned or impromptu", thus encompassing any journey by automobile, regardless of stops en route. Road tripping professionals break down the road trip into several classifications:

• The Classic/Touring Road trip: a cross-country journey with the intent of sight seeing.
• The speed run: From point 'A' to point 'B' as fast as possible, with no unnecessary stops.
• Relocation: A road trip centered on relocating from one location to another.
• Park Hopping: A road trip centered on ‘hopping’ from National Park to National Park. This is not always limited to National Parks, but may be extended to trips to any government land (forests, monuments, etc.).
• Regional Trips: Inner-county and trips within a state, but may be extended to short trips into neighboring states.
• International trips: Road trips to the United States, Canada, Mexico, or within other foreign destinations outside of the traveler's home country.
• Ultimate Road Trips: Usually are months in length and encompass large goals, such as driving through every state in the contiguous United States or most provinces in Canada.
• Caravanning: Road trips involving multiple vehicles traveling together.