Hit the Road for a Thrift Trip

They’re eco-friendly, deal-focused and lots of fun. Use National Thrift Shop Day on Aug. 17 as your excuse to plan one now

a compilation image of a coffee cup, an empty road, a wardrobe rack, two people sitting in a van, a vintage store sign and a purse

On a thrifting road-trip adventure, you can find sustainable treasures. The journey is about the thrill of the hunt and having fun with people you enjoy spending time with.

AARP (Getty, 7)

Berit Thorkelson,

AARP

Published August 13, 2025

My first thrift-centric road trip was just me and a friend headed toward a campsite in northern Minnesota, in a pickup truck with our gear and plenty of space for secondhand treasures.

It was the 1990s, when the internet existed only on desktops, leaving us to rely on phone books chained to pay phone booths and our imaginary internal deal-finders to pull us toward towns with fruitful thrift stores. We found them, and though I can’t recall our exact scores, I do remember an adorable small-town café and a late night by the campfire filled with laughter and conversation. Some version of a thrift trip has been a constant within my travel repertoire ever since.

I think of them as leisurely treasure hunts that help me fill my home and closet with unique, eco-friendly and at times nostalgic finds while exploring a destination with people I love. I’ve enjoyed them with Generation X friends and, more recently, my Generation Z kids, who love that they can splurge on multiple unique T-shirts or on-trend basics for the price of one new piece.

a mom and daughter standing outside a storefront

The writer and her daughter like to visit small community thrift shops like Tusen Tack in Braham, Minnesota, which are typically staffed by volunteers and benefit local programs.

Berit Thorkelson

Their generation is driving the current secondhand surge as they discover the benefits and charms that Gen Xers and boomers have long understood. Individuality, sustainability and budget-friendliness — especially ideal for older adults on a fixed income or anyone navigating a tight economy — rank among the top reasons people buy secondhand, according to ThredUp’s 2025 Resale Report.

“Thrifting is a great way to find unique, well-made clothing while cutting back on waste,” says Terran Fielder, a Gen Z media specialist at EarthDay.org, the organization behind Earth Day. She recently went thrifting with her Gen X mom in New York City. “Doing it with someone who has a strong sense of personal style, especially someone older who’s seen trends come and go, makes it even more fun and meaningful.”

With National Thrift Shop Day coming on Aug. 17, AARP spoke with some longtime thrift trippers across the country for tips and tricks on making the most of your own journey.

How to plan a thrift trip

A little work ahead of time sets you up for a successful thrift trip.

Pick a destination. Maybe it’s a town you’ve been dying to explore, a friend you’ve been meaning to visit or an event, sale or market you’d like to attend. Make it the peg to plan your trip around. I’ve hinged mine on a small-town farm-to-table restaurant in my home state and hot springs three states away.

a mom and daughter smiling while sitting in a restaurant

The writer and her daughter take a break from recalling the day’s secondhand scores to snap a selfie at their destination restaurant — Leader in Cambridge, Minnesota — on a fall thrift trip.

Berit Thorkelson

Plan your loop. For maximum thrift store variety, you’ll want to take different routes there and back, says Cynthia Traxler, 68, founder of Review-Reuse-Repair.com. She lives near Boulder, Colorado, and has logged thrift-trip loops as long as 4,000 miles.

Sketch in stops. Washington D.C.-area Gen Xer Jenna Sondheim, who posts her vintage home finds and style tips on Instagram at @estateofeclectic, uses her navigation app to scope out stores along her route. If you’re unfamiliar with this helpful, easy-to-use feature, do a little research to find out how it works on your preferred platform, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze. Sondheim prioritizes charitable community shops. “I get to support the local economy and chosen cause,” she says.

Do your research. Many places don’t have websites, so Sondheim scours online ratings, taking comments with a grain of salt. Since scoring treasures is unpredictable, she focuses on input given on two key categories: pricing and cleanliness.

Traxler relies on Reddit online communities to help ferret out shops and information. She recommends typing in the city and the keywords “thrift,” “secondhand” and “cheap.”

Resist overscheduling. Stops often take more time than you think, says Ann Couser Kittredge, 60, who writes about her thrift-centric RV adventures in New England on her blog Dabbling & Decorating. She recommends picking two or three shops a day to focus on and typically reserves a couple of hours for lunch and regrouping. Extra time also leaves space to follow whims, like an unexpected citywide garage sale or a roadside orchard — both of which have happily stolen my focus. “You’re better off having downtime and going to something else local than being miserable,” Kittredge says.

a split image of a sign that reads vintage market and a yard sale

Ann Couser Kittredge refers to New England as barn sale central. She found these items during one of her thrift trips.

Courtesy Ann Couser Kittredge/Dabbling And Decorating Blog

Details, details. Dig a little deeper into the shops, events and other businesses you’re most excited to visit. Check the days they’re open, hours, special senior discount days, accessibility and ticketing or reservations, when applicable. It’ll help you solidify a working route that minimizes disappointment. I’m speaking from experience when I say it’s no fun to drive all that way just to encounter a locked door.

Prep for a thrift trip

Get ready to find, evaluate and score deals on the road.

Make a list. It’s a good idea to detail your wants and needs, even though in thrifting there are no guarantees. Sondheim keeps a list on her phone. Take a walk through your home to jog your memory. Items can be as mundane as “silverware drawer organizer” or as eccentric as “large-scale art for living room.” Add dimensions as needed. You may be surprised at how the thrift delivers.

a woman looking at a painting at a yard sale

Thrift stores and yard sales are budget-friendly shopping opportunities.

Theo Stroomer

“I wanted a … nice little roller bag, not too large, and I actually had the brand Sherpani in mind because they make really nice little bags,” Traxler says. “It just showed up [at a thrift store] two weeks later. It still had the tags on.” She insists the manifestation wasn’t a one-off experience. As a veteran thrifter, I can attest.

Check in with your fellow thrift trippers. Get an idea of what types of things people are looking for, how committed they are to thrift shopping and what they’re most excited about. Setting expectations ahead of time will allow you to keep an eye out for each other, both deal- and energy-wise, and help ensure everyone walks away happy.

Make sure you have enough space. Your needs will depend on the number of shoppers, the length of the trip and what everyone is looking for. If furniture is on the wanted list, you may need to secure a trailer or check into shipping companies and fees.

3 thrift trip recommendations

Our featured veteran thrift trippers offer destinations worth building fall trips around.

Mid Atlantic Antique & Garden Festival

Poolesville, Maryland

Oct. 25, 26

Sondheim says it’s a pretty fall drive to Aix La Chapelle Farm, where she appreciates the antiques selection. The festival hosts over 60 curated vendors as well as food trucks, local wine and craft beer.

Chandler & Company

Berwick, Maine

Open select Saturdays from Memorial Day weekend through the end of November (check the Facebook page for the latest information); year-round by appointment

New England is barn sale central, Kittredge says, and Chandler & Company is one of her favorites, in part because of the owners’ kindness and the three-day expanded vintage sale they also host in the fall, Oct. 3-5 this year. Vintage home goods fill the barn and adjoining farmhouse grounds.

Roaring Fork Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Open year-round Monday through Saturday, as well as online

This is not your average ReStore, Traxler says. It’s a 40,500-square-foot space where chandeliers, terrazzo consoles and other donations from multimillion-dollar Aspen homes are artfully arranged. She says it’s well worth the trip, especially if you add in an area hike and hot springs.

Gather thrift trip essentials. Make sure you pack these items:

Cash: It’s nice to have this on hand for garage sales and the odd cash-only thrift store. It can also help you score deals, especially on the last day at big markets. Kittredge has gotten items at less than half price this way.
Small tape measure: This is essential for specific furniture purchases, which tend to look smaller in the store than they will be in your home. It also helps when making clothing purchases in thrift stores without dressing rooms.
Bags: Regular reusables are great for stores and sales. Kittredge recommends upgrading to a foldable rolling tote for bigger markets so you can easily haul a whole afternoon’s worth of purchases from multiple vendors and stash your water and a jacket, too.

Thrift trip tips on shopping and more

Ensure your trip is safe, fruitful and fun.

Talk to shopkeepers. “They can be a great resource,” Sondheim says. She asks about specific items or restaurant recommendations.

Ask for a discount. “I’m always amazed how many people don’t ask,” Kittredge says. “You should get 10 percent off, no matter what.” At sales, markets and, yes, even thrift stores.

Stay safe. Trust your gut, especially when exploring an unfamiliar location. Sondheim was recently thrifting in a big city and got all the way to the parking lot before deciding to skip one, based on the neighborhood’s vibes. “Nothing is worth your personal safety,” she says.

a man looking at a rooster figurine at a yard sale

All sorts of items, such as utensils and lawn furniture, can be found at yard sales.

Theo Stroomer

Go with the flow. A lot is up in the air on a thrift trip, where the timeline is flexible, everyone’s goals vary and amazing scores are not guaranteed. Focus on the thrill of the hunt and having road trip fun with people you enjoy spending time with. Those are the more reliable treasures.

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Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star-Tribune's travel section.