Taking a road trip can be an event of a lifetime you should put on your bucket list. Whether you are looking for a frugal trip to take with your family, a spring break holiday with friends or you want to have fun with your significant other, road tripping is an experience you shouldn’t miss.
Most of us want to break the routine now and then, and what’s better than adventure packed vacation?
People who take road trips are optimistic and spontaneous. However, if you want to have the best time, preparation is a step you shouldn’t skip. You can still be casual while well prepared and rational, so nothing ruins your plans.
Here are a few hacks to look at before commencing your drive:
1. Have Plenty of Maps, Even the REAL Ones
Sure, planning your trip on Google Maps is a piece of cake, but it shouldn’t be your only resource. Use digital maps to outline your trip and test diverse routes – based on the sights and places you’d like to see. But be sure to get hard copies of your maps whether you buy them or print routes at home.
Even if you save a few maps on your phone to be available offline, your phone can stop working when you least expect it, and you don’t want to lose it over your location in the middle of nowhere.
Some of us don’t have an innate sense of direction.
2. Learn Where the Gas Stations Are
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Since you are not just a passenger on a plane, you also need to think about fuel.
First, map out the gas stations on the route so you can count how many stops you need to make on your itinerary. Then load a gallon of gas for backup in case any of the gas stations on the road don’t work.
Whether you use your own car or a rental, check the tires before you go, and hire a mechanic for a maintenance check-up. If your road trip will be inside the States, think about joining AAA (Automobile Club of America) beforehand, if there is availability in your area. They can offer help when needed and serve as an extra source for maps and trip planning.
3. Turn Up the Tunes
There isn’t a lot of things that fit so well together like music and an open road. Now that you have your maps and tank ready, you are good to go and relax while you’re at it. Consider mixing various playlists to suit the needs of all passengers.
While you wait to reach your next destination, music will provide entertainment on the go.
You don’t need to visit people packed places to feel hyped, a good set of tunes will lift your energy. So, buckle up and banish boredom with the endless road and curated summer vibes.
4. Bring a Cool Bag and Other Essentials
Packing ten different shoes isn’t necessary for this type of travel, but some snacks are. Bringing a cool bag is a great idea as you won’t be in a rush to eat.
While it’s most likely you’ll pack basics like a bottle of water and a sandwich, there are other, overlooked essentials that could come in handy on your road trip:
- Cable Charger
- Sunglasses
- Energy Bars
- Camera
- Comfy clothes
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
Driver’s license aside, the most important essentialof them all is your travel buddy. Unless you are planning a solo trip, finding the right companion to share this adventure with is vital.
Trips can make or break a friendship, even a relationship, and many couples fight only on their vacations.
So, think about mutual interests, tastes, and personalities – could you endure being stuck in a car with that person for a few hours without a conflict?
5. Load Your Phone with Useful Apps
You can’t be certain you will have an internet connection at every stop of your road trip, but why not leverage technology and be on top of useful information?
Before you go, check and install some of these apps on your phone:
- Roadtrippers– lots of useful information, from route planning to camping sights.
- Iexit– this app covers interstate roads and informs you what’s on the next exit and where to stop. It also shows gas stations along the way.
- Toilet Finder– this app locates the nearest toilets across the world, even without the internet connection
- Hotel Tonight– if you decide to spend the night off the road, this app will let you book a room last minute.
There is something alluring in adopting the road as your travel guide. You control the direction, the sightseeing, and the pace.
Nevertheless, these roads can take control over you.
If you travel smart and prepare for unforeseen obstacles, not only your trip will be a smooth sail, you will allow this trip to be as an enriching and life-changing experience as it could be. It will stay with you forever, and you better remember it with a grin on your face.
About the Author
Michelle is a writer and a solopreneur who enjoys cycling and mixing-up smoothies. Always interested in ways which can help individuals reach full potential in life, she enjoys producing stories on lifestyle, and share a few tips. Outside her keyboard, she enjoys visiting cozy coffee shops and taking long urban strolls with her SO. Reach out to her on Twitter.
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