A common question we get from aspiring travel therapists is how travelers handle transportation between travel contracts and while on assignment. Whether you’re dealing with an old car you don’t trust for a cross-country haul, or you’re heading to a “non-contiguous” state like Hawaii or Alaska, transportation is a major logistical piece of the travel therapy puzzle. In our latest video, we broke down the different ways to handle your vehicle (or lack thereof) while on the road.
Here are the primary transportation options for travel therapists:
1. Driving Your Own Vehicle
For the vast majority of travel therapists, the best option is simply to drive your own car to the assignment. It gives you the most freedom and is generally the most cost-effective method.
We do sometimes hear from new grads in particular that are worried about the trustworthiness of their vehicle to hit the road as a traveler. If you’re someone with an older, high-mileage vehicle, don’t panic. You don’t need a brand-new car to start traveling. Consider taking your first one or two contracts closer to home (within 2-4 hours). This allows you to build up your savings so you can purchase a more reliable vehicle before venturing out to locations further away. This is what we did during our first six months as Travel PTs when we were new grads in 2015.
2. Shipping Your Car
If you’re moving from one coast to another and don’t want to spend 40+ hours behind the wheel, shipping your car is an option that many travel therapists choose.
- Pros: Saves miles on your car and saves you the exhaustion of a solo road trip.
- Cons: It can be expensive, and there are risks of delays or minor damage.
- Note: Many shipping companies allow you to put some belongings in the trunk/back seat, but they usually aren’t liable for theft, so keep your valuables with you on the plane.
3. Buying or Renting Locally (Hawaii & Alaska)
If you’re headed to Hawaii or Alaska, the logistics change significantly. Shipping a car to these locations is rarely worth it for a 13-week contract. While you can drive to Alaska (and we did!), it’s a big trek that not everyone is up for.
Many travelers buy a “beater” car once they arrive in Hawaii or Alaska, drive it for the duration of the contract, and then resell it for roughly what they paid.
You can also consider renting a car in these locations, but look into apps like Turo, local Facebook groups for healthcare travelers, or ask around to save money compared with a rental agency. In Hawaii, we found a private individual who rented us a car for about a third of the price of a major rental agency.
Also keep in mind that some very remote Alaska locations will actually provide both housing and a vehicle because of the extreme logistics involved in getting there. Ask your recruiter if they know of any contracts like this which can save you some hassles on the transportation logistics.
4. The RV & Camper Approach
If you plan on living the “RV Life,” your transportation is tied to your home, so there are some unique logistics to consider here. When we traveled in an RV, we opted for a 5th wheel pulled by a heavy-duty truck. Once we unhooked at the campsite, the truck became Jared’s primary vehicle for commuting to work, while Whitney had a car she drove separately.
If you choose a motorhome, you will almost certainly need to tow a smaller car behind you. Commuting in a full-sized RV is usually impractical (and impossible in many hospital parking lots!). Some RVers also choose a Toy-Hauler RV so they can put a small vehicle or motorbike in the “trunk” to drive locally.
5. Traveling as a Pair: One Car or Two?
For couples or friends traveling together, the “one car” dream is tempting, but it can be difficult.
Unless you are working at the exact same facility or very close by, having only one car requires a lot of coordination and “dropping off/picking up” which can get old quickly. We have met some travelers that make it work, but it’s usually not the most feasible option long term. We did make it work together with only one car when we went to Alaska and Hawaii though.
Most travel pairs drive two cars to the assignment so they have independence, and this opens up more options for jobs at each new location. If driving separately for the road trip isn’t ideal, some choose to tow the second car so they can carpool on the road trip, or ship the second car.
6. Public Transportation: Is it Viable?
Can you travel without a car entirely? Technically, yes—but only in a handful of U.S. cities like NYC, Chicago, Boston, or DC. Relying on public transit significantly limits the number of contracts you can accept. Most therapy settings (especially Home Health or rural Skilled Nursing Facilities) absolutely require a reliable vehicle while on assignment. So generally speaking we don’t think this is the most viable option for travel therapists.
Final Thoughts
Your transportation choice should align with your financial goals and your sense of adventure. If you love a good road trip, drive! If you’re headed to Hawaii, look into the local rental market. If you’d rather ship your car, there are definitely options to do so. As a traveler, there are always lots of logistics to consider, but that’s part of the adventure!
To watch our full discussion on transportation options for travel therapists, check out the video we recently did here: Transportation Options for Travel Therapists
If you have questions about getting started as a Travel Therapist, reach out to us here at Travel Therapy Mentor. You can learn more by checking out our free Travel Therapy 101 Series, and we can help connect you with the best travel therapy companies and recruiters by filling out our personalized recruiter recommendation form.
Additional Resources:
- Packing and Moving for Travel Therapy Jobs
- Shipping Your Car Across the US for a Travel Therapy Job
- Working a Travel Therapy Contract in Alaska
- Working as a Healthcare Traveler in Hawaii
Written by Whitney Casazza, PT, DPT – Whitney has been a traveling physical therapist since 2015. She has become an expert in the field of travel healthcare through her experience, research, and networking over a decade. She and her husband and fellow Travel PT, Jared, are the Travel Therapy Mentors.
