I don't make designated scouting trips. I only have so much time to hunt, so when that time is nigh I just go hunt. I'm fortunate to have large tracts of public ground that I can head out into though, so if I don't find coyotes in my first, or second, or third, or whatever location I just head on down the road.
However, whenever I'm out in the sticks for any reason - hunting doves, rabbits, oryx, elk, deer, wood cutting, camping with Scouts, whatever - I'm also hunting coyotes. I always keep a look out for tracks, droppings, sign of prey species, good cover, easily available water sources, likely looking spots, places to set up and call, and so on. Never stop looking for new areas. Pay attention to what the sign tells you. Mark places in memory or on your GPS. It doesn't hurt to look over those spots later on the 'net if you have time. Satellite imagery can help you find access you didn't know about or better ingress for a given set of conditions. For instance, our prevailing wind is out of the west or southwest, so I look for roads that run north-south so I can jump off and head into the wind without overthinking it.
In short though, I think you learn more about the critters you hunt by getting out there and hunting them. If you're going to burn gas and shoe leather, you'd just as well be trying to put some fur down.