A car trip, whether on your own or with those you love, is one of those essential life experiences that everyone should embark on at least once in their lives. There’s nothing like taking to the open road, throwing on your favorite tunes, and seeing all the land has to offer.
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Like anything in life, things can and will happen that can make your car trip less than ideal. So, to help you prepare as much as possible, we’ve compiled this brief list of the top 5 tips for a stress-free car trip.
Table of Contents
1. Keep Safety In Mind
One of the most important things to keep in mind before heading out on a road trip is to make sure your vehicle is up to the job of getting you where you need to go. After all, you don’t want to get stranded out in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down vehicle. Of course, this is even more important to remember if you’re planning to travel with family, friends, or your pets.
Before heading out, be sure to get a basic inspection and maintenance appointment to verify that your vehicle is road-worthy and in good enough shape to get you wherever you’re trying to go and back. You want to have essential components like your brakes, tires, lights, engine, and more checked to ensure they’re in excellent shape. If anything needs replacement or is nearing needing replacement, be sure to take care of it before you head out.
2. Have Essentials On Hand
Car trips can be very long — and if you’re not prepared, it can become tedious, boring, and stressful. Therefore, you’re going to want to have plenty of core trip essentials on hand, including things to keep you entertained and things to keep you full. After all, there’s nothing worse than being stuck on a stretch of highway hungry, miles from the nearest rest stop.
Before you head out, make sure you keep some snacks on hand. While allowing yourself to enjoy some treats on your trip is okay, you will want to have some heartier, healthier, and more nourishing snacks available to get you through those long stretches. After all, M&M’s are delicious but won’t fill you up; however, some almonds or jerky may be just what you need to hold you over until your next stop. If possible, you may want to consider bringing a cooler and preparing some small meals to have with you too.
Also, consider having other essentials on hand, like charging cables for phones, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, napkins, and more. You’re also going to want to have some basic entertainment available. Consider adding CDs to your travel pack, or loading audio files directly to your phone to ensure you have something to listen to on those stretches where you can’t stream or listen to the radio due to a lack of service.
3. Pack What You Need
While you may read the advice above and start thinking you need to have everything possible available, this is the exact opposite of what you want to do. While it’s good to have what you need and be prepared, even a little over-prepared in some cases, you do want to be mindful when packing to not go overboard. After all, you don’t want to have to unpack a week’s worth of goods at your destination when you’re only going to be there for a day or two.
Bring essentials like medication and toiletries. Pack enough clothes to ensure you’re prepared for each day you’re going to be out, and consider having an extra set available if something happens.
If you’re traveling with smaller children, try to have them pack a small sack filled with their favorite toys and games to help keep them occupied and entertained. If you’re traveling with pets, be sure to have food, treats, collapsible food and water dishes, and even a few toys to make the journey good for them, too.
4. Plan Your Route Ahead
Knowing how you’re going to get somewhere is just as important as knowing where you need to go. Therefore, before heading out on your journey, make sure you plan out your route. Consider core factors like toll roads, scenic paths, overall mileage, the weather, construction, available food and rest stops, and more to ensure you’re getting the most out of your trip.
While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with having a tightly planned route for your journey, it’s important to remember that things can happen, so you may want to leave room to expect the unexpected. In addition, consider looking up alternate routes to compensate for road closures and delays you may encounter along the way.
5. Leave Room To Enjoy Yourself
This piece of advice directly feeds into the previous tip. While you want to plan properly for your journey, you ought to remember that road trips are supposed to be fun.
Consider leaving some flexibility in your scheduling, not only to compensate for delays but to allow for spontaneity. Furthermore, try planning some scenic routes and stops, so you can enjoy gorgeous sites while you’re getting where you need to go. If possible, consider integrating additional destinations along the way to maximize your mileage.
Being Ready For The Road
Before heading out, you’ll want to keep the tips above in mind to ensure you’re ready for the road and getting the most out of your car trip. By being prepared and allowing yourself a little flexibility, you can craft the best road trip for everyone involved and create memories that will last a lifetime.
