One of the best parts about working as a traveling occupational therapist? The freedom to turn any corner of the country into your own backyard. Your life isn’t just about shifts and schedules—it’s about mornings spent watching sunrises over unfamiliar skylines, weekend hikes in hidden parks, and those local diners where they remember your usual by the time you come back. This lifestyle is all about discovery, and no one gets that better than the OT travelers who live it every day.
So we reached out to our community of travel therapists to share the places that made them pause and breathe. The cozy cafés tucked off the main road, the scenic drives that helped clear their heads, the parks where they found a moment of calm, and the quirky spots that brought a smile after a long day. What came back is a living, breathing Google Map packed with their personal road trip routes, off-the-beaten-path finds, and can’t-miss experiences all across the U.S. Whether you’re gearing up for your next assignment, taking the scenic route there, or carving out joy between shifts, consider this your invite to explore like a local—with guides who’ve already been down the road.
Some of the best travel moments come from unexpected discoveries—those places you stumble upon without planning. As a travel occupational therapist, you have more opportunities than most to find these hidden treasures. It might be a peaceful trail to unwind after a shift, or a local café where the staff remembers your favorite order by the time you return. These little finds turn ordinary assignments into meaningful experiences—stories you’ll carry with you long after your contract wraps up. Here’s a glimpse of just a few of these gems on our map:
These aren’t simply suggestions—they’re an open door. An encouragement to explore without a strict plan. To stay curious about the everyday moments that don’t make the guidebooks but somehow leave the biggest impression. It’s those quiet corners and unexpected stops that often become your favorite parts of the journey.
Road Trip Favorites from Fellow Travelers
For travel OTs, the journey between assignments isn’t just about getting there—it’s a chance to see the country in a way few get to. With flexible contracts and downtime in between, you can swap quick flights for a scenic drive and soak up the journey itself. Inside the map, you’ll find:
Whether you’ve got a long weekend or a full week off, these routes are made for open windows, favorite playlists, and unexpected stops.
This map is a reminder that being a travel occupational therapist is about more than hopping from one assignment to the next. It’s about building a life rich with stories. Balancing your work with moments of discovery. Finding a sense of home again and again—in new places, with new people, and fresh memories waiting to be made. Wherever your next contract leads, we hope this map helps you see a little more, feel a little more, and fall a little deeper in love with the journey.