Embarking on a road trip is more than just a journey from point A to point B; it’s an adventure filled with memories waiting to be made. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country expedition, mastering the art of the road trip requires careful preparation and foresight. In this guide, we’ll delve into 20 essential tips to ensure your road trip is not only successful but also unforgettable. From packing essentials to navigating unfamiliar roads, these tips will help you navigate the highways and byways with confidence, making every mile a memorable part of your journey.
Plan an itinerary for your road trip
Road trips are all about adventure, but having an itinerary will ensure that you don’t wander so much that you’re burnt out on driving. Use Google Maps to research your trip well before departure, and make sure to download your route for offline use in areas where phone service may be limited.
…with plenty of stops along the way to keep things interesting
Even if your road trip is only a few hours long, it’s still nice to get out and stretch your legs every once in a while. Search along your route for rest stops, fun roadside attractions, and other activities that can offer a short break from the monotony of driving.
Get your car checked out by a mechanic before heading out
Before heading out on your trip, make sure that your car is in traveling condition. Check the oil, tires, and headlights, and ensure that everything is in proper working order.
Give your car a good deep-cleaning
No one wants to travel in a dirty car. Take yours in for an inexpensive detail job, or DIY it by vacuuming all your surfaces, removing any trash and junk from your backseat, and wiping down cup holders.
Pack lots of snacks
Sure, there will be plenty of gas stations along your route, but they don’t always have the best (or healthiest) snacks. Shelf-stable snacks like peanut butter, crackers, beef jerky, and trail mix are excellent for road trips.
Create good playlists
If you’ve got a long drive ahead, preventing boredom is essential. Load up your phone with music you love, and make sure you’ve got plenty of up-tempo tunes to help keep you awake during those late-night stretches. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music offer tons of playlists perfect for road trips across a variety of musical genres.
…or download some compelling audiobooks or podcasts
If you’re tired of listening to music, switch to something more narrative. Download a serial podcast or audiobook, and spend your drive absorbing new knowledge instead of just watching the scenery pass by.
Use a maps app to avoid traffic on the fly
Traffic and accidents can be hard to predict on a road trip. That’s where apps like Waze and Google Maps come into play. Thanks to user-generated reports, these apps can tell you about upcoming slowdowns, accidents, and even debris on the road to help make your trip even safer.
Create a kit of road trip essentials in the car
When you’re road-tripping, it’s important to make sure that your car is stocked up with the essentials. Make sure that you’ve got jumper cables, a first aid kit, and a couple of extra gallons of water in the trunk just in case anything goes awry. Back-up phone battery packs and tools for changing a tire or making quick repairs can also be handy.
Skip junk food in favor of healthier snacks
As tempting as it might be to snack on chips and candy, choosing healthier snacks will make sure that you don’t feel terrible at the end of your road trip. Choose protein-heavy options like jerky, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese if you’ve brought a cooler, or bring along some high-protein nutritional bars to keep satiated during the drive.
Bring a cooler to keep drinks and snacks cold
Even if it’s just a tiny cooler, having chilled drinks and a space to store snacks that aren’t shelf-stable can be invaluable on a road trip. Tuck it behind the front seat, or store it in the trunk to encourage the occasional pit stop.
Bring a refillable water bottle
Skip the plastic, single-use bottles of water and bring your own reusable aluminum or glass bottle. Rest areas, gas stations, and even some restaurants and coffee shops will offer to fill up your bottle for free, and you’ll stay hydrated.
Schedule rest stop breaks every few hours
As tempting as it is to try to make it to your destination in the shortest time possible, it’s important to take a break every few hours. Plan a few pit stops along your route, either at gas stations or rest stops, and spend a few minutes stretching and walking around to get the blood flowing and help energize you for the rest of the drive.
Plan your departure and arrival times around rush hour traffic
If you’re traveling to a city, it’s important to know when the traffic will be worst. Try to plan your departure and arrival times around rush hour, even if that means leaving a little earlier (or arriving a bit later) than you might have hoped.
Consider a scenic detour
The United States is absolutely replete with gorgeous scenic byways and hidden gem highways offering some truly stunning views. Search for scenic byways along your route, and consider taking a detour to take in some natural beauty before making it to your destination.
Switch out driving duties with your fellow travelers
If you’re driving with other adults who have driver’s licenses, make sure that you’re splitting up the time fairly. Driving while extremely tired can be dangerous, and it will just make the trip more enjoyable if everyone capable is sharing the load.
Save room to stretch by not overpacking
There’s only so much room in a car, and considering all the supplies you’ll need, overpacking is a definite no-no. If you do find that you’ve got too much stuff, consider lightening your pack or renting a larger vehicle to accommodate everything you’ll need.
Consider investing in a dash camera for a cool souvenir from your trip
Dash cameras are an inexpensive and fun way to bring home a totally unique souvenir from your road trip. Just mount the camera to your dash, and start driving. Once you get back from the trip, you can review the footage and see the sights in a whole new way.
Play classic road trip games to keep things interesting during long drives
Sometimes, long drives just get boring, and there’s nothing better than old-school car games to keep things interesting. Try “I Spy,” or the license plate game, and see how quickly everyone in the car gets excited to play.
Don’t overdo it or drive tired
As tempting as it is to drive 10+ hours a day, that’s also a really great way to burn yourself out in a hurry. Stick to a daily driving schedule, maybe 6-8 hours per day, and still make sure that you’re planning a few stops along the way.
