Rich Kiker is the Director of Online Learning at a K-12 school district in Pennsylvania, a blogger, an online professor, and a Google Certified Apps for Education Trainer. Other consulting roles include eLearning design, social learning, technology pathways development, and 1 to 1 computing. He can be reached at 
There’s no better time to hop in the car and take a road trip with your friends than in college. Whether it’s a seven-day trip or quick weekend getaway, road trips are much more affordable and fun than flying to your destination. If you’ve got the travel bug and don’t mind putting the mileage on your car, then gather up your buddies and check out one of these top seven road trip destinations for college students.
- Panama City, Fla.:
Panama City, Fla., is a popular destination for college students, and for good reason: this place knows how to party! Known for its white sandy beaches and emerald green waters, Panama City Beach is as gorgeous as the people who vacation here. Whether you want to lay out, shop, fish, or ride jet skis, Panama City Beach has something for everyone.
- Daytona Beach, Fla.:
Daytona Beach is another Florida destination worth visiting in college. Known for its beaches, motorsports, and wild nightlife, Daytona is a great place to let loose with friends and party it up before heading back to class. Daytona also has plenty of affordable hotels and restaurants, so you won’t have to break the bank.
- Las Vegas, Nev.:
Sin City is the place to go if you like to party, gamble, and have an all-around good time. College students from all over the U.S. migrate to Las Vegas for the wild nightlife and entertainment. Be sure to save up or travel on the cheap because Las Vegas can get very expensive, especially if you plan on going to the casinos.
- South Padre Island, Texas:
South Padre Island is a popular destination for college students who want to kick back and have a good time on the beach. With huge crowds during spring break, summertime is the perfect time to visit Padre. When you’re not partying like a rock star, you should check out the island’s renowned fishing, dolphin watching, and watersports.
- Gulf Shores, Ala.:
Gulf Shores, Ala., has long been a popular destination for college students from the Deep South and beyond. This coastal city is known for its sandy white beaches, renowned fishing, and excellent golf resorts. And if you love music, Gulf Shores is the place to be with its nightly concerts and weekend-long music festivals.
- Breckenridge, Colo.:
If you’re looking for a fun and affordable place to ski this winter, grab your friends and make your way over to beautiful Breckenridge, Colo. This popular ski resort has a nice selection of affordable hotels and restaurants and reasonably priced ski lift tickets. Can’t make it in the winter? No problem. Breckenridge and the rest of Colorado are just as gorgeous and fun to visit in spring and summer.
- New Orleans, La.:
When it comes to fun and affordable college road trip destinations, New Orleans always makes the list. “The Big Easy” is the birthplace of jazz, so it’s no surprise that the city boasts some of the best jazz clubs and music festivals in the world. Did we mention New Orleans’ famous Cajun cuisine or its infamous Mardi Gras parade? New Orleans is the place to let down your hair and have a great time with friends.
