Road Trips are good for the soul. Driving across the country has brought poets, artists, teenagers, and families a sense of freedom and connection. If you’re planning your own trip, let us help you in the process with ten essential tips.
1. Clean Your Car
Maybe you have some gum wrappers filling up your cup holders and there’s been a strange smell in the back of your car for a while. Well, it’s time to take care of the problem. Clean and organize your vehicle thoroughly before you depart.
Bring along any supplies you like to use, since you’ll definitely be maintaining that mess while you’re on your trip. Trust us; you’ll feel a lot less claustrophobic in your car if it smells clean and fresh. Maybe even try out some essential oil diffusers for some aromatherapy.
2. Check Your Vehicle
Remember when you were first learning how to drive? Your instructor probably taught you that the first thing to do, before even entering the vehicle, is to do a full check of the exterior.
It’s also essential that you have your mechanic do a full check of the fluid levels, brakes, tires, and anything else that could maybe cause trouble. Have a spare tire fully inflated and keep jumper cables on hand.
3. Insurance & Roadside Assistance
If you’ve driven at all before this road trip, which we hope you have, we’re sure that you’re aware that to operate a vehicle, you need car insurance. Double-check your plan with your agent to make sure you’re covered where you need to be.
You may also want to consider making sure that you’re eligible for free roadside assistance. There’s nothing worse than being stranded on a country road except maybe for being stuck on a highway. With AAA or any other plan, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll have help when you need it.
4. Be Flexible
It’s essential to be flexible when you’re driving across the country. You don’t want to go into a road trip with absolutely no plans, or you might just find yourself bored more often than not, but be okay when things don’t go the way that you expected. It’s all part of the fun.
5. Avoid Highways
Unless you’re on your way to an event, there’s no point in driving on I-95 for your whole road trip. Take the scenic route. Also, avoid roads that are referred to as “blue highways” that are mostly nothing but gas stations and strip malls.
6. Anticipate Problem Areas
Are you going to be driving through DC? If so, avoid rush hour at all costs! You don’t want to spend your trip stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Keep potential problem areas in mind when you’re timing your journey to save yourself some serious stress down the road.
7. Divide the Labor
Some people are great navigators; others are better motorists. Unless you’re traveling solo, make sure you divide up tasks so that one person isn’t stuck balancing all of the responsibilities. Take turns behind the wheel.
8. Make a Great Playlist
The days of burning CDs for a long road-trip are long gone. While we miss them, we can’t complain about the seemingly infinite library of tunes that we have at our fingertips. Make a playlist that’ll keep you lively and awake, switch up the genres, and have some fun!
9. Keep Your Documents Handy
Before you go anywhere, define a special place for all your essential documents. There’s not a lot more nerve-wracking than when you get pulled over by a traffic cop, and you can’t find your license and registration without rummaging through the glove compartment. Save yourself the anxiety and keep them somewhere you can easily find them.
10. Get an Airbed
Imagine this: you’re tired after a long day’s drive, but it’s almost sunset, and you’ve pulled over at a perfect spot overlooking the Rockies. If only you could be comfortable and take a nap for just a few minutes. This is the moment you’ll be so happy you have a compact and easy to blow up airbed. You’ll be glad you brought it along.
Conclusion
A long road trip can be an incredible journey. As long as you keep these ten tips in mind when you’re planning your ultimate adventure, you’ll be sure to have a great time. Just keep truckin’ on!
Love traveling.
