Please welcome guest contributor, Samantha, media relations specialist at Caliber Collision, as she shares how to prepare for the ultimate road trip!
Whether it’s a two-hour drive to a neighboring state or a twenty-hour drive across the country, road trips are the perfect start to any vacation. Depending on your destination and the size of your group, traveling by car might be the ideal mode of transportation for your trip.
Not only will a road trip provide loads of laughter and memorable moments, it might be the most cost-effective way to travel. When planning for any vacation, especially a road trip, preparation is the key to success. By following these tips, you can get a jump-start on your ultimate road trip (this post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy).
7 Tips to Prepare for the Ultimate Road Trip
Tip #1 – Check Your Car Maintenance Beforehand
Before you start your road trip, check and double check that your vehicle is properly maintained. Check your brakes, tires, windshield wipers, oil, battery, belts, and transmission fluid. And, if you have experienced any car trouble in the past, it would not hurt to have your vehicle examined by a professional.
Many people sign up for a membership with a roadside assistance program so they are covered no matter where they are. On your road trip, you will be traveling by vehicle so it’s important to make certain your vehicle is in proper driving condition.
Tip #2 – Update Your Playlist
For a road trip, your playlist is crucial. Take the time to download some new music so it will excite and energize you for your drive ahead. Throwback songs are great because you have not listened to them recently so it will be like listening for the first time again. Many people enjoy listening to podcasts and audio-books so these are great options to help spice up your playlist. And, you can also check your local library for both children and adult audio-books.
Tip #3 – Make Sure You Have Emergency Supplies
You never want to think about the worst possibility happening, but should be prepared for it to occur. You should always keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, especially during a road trip. Many store carry pre-made emergency kits, or you can make your own kit by stocking a storage box with Band-Aids, gauze, a flashlight with extra batteries, basic medicine, hand sanitizer, duct tape, jumper cables, blanket, several bottles of water, and a few snacks (examples: granola bar, package nuts, etc.).
It’s also smart to carry both cash and at least one credit card in case you have an emergency situation. As the saying goes, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
Tip #4 – Stock Up on Snacks
You can’t have a road trip without an ample supply of snacks. Some great choices are chips, cheese crackers, energy bars, nuts, graham crackers, fruit snacks, trail mix and homemade cookies. And, you can buy snacks in individual sizes or portion them out yourself so you don’t eat more than the correct serving size. You might consider rationing out your food supply so you have enough to last you both there and back.
Tips on how to prepare for the ultimate family road trip to ensure the success for the road trip of your dreams. #roadtrip #roadtriptips Click To Tweet
Tip #5 – Use Technology to Your Advantage
In this day and age, technology is always present and can be a great asset during a road trip. You can download different apps to help during your road trip. For example, Waze alerts you to traffic conditions and GasBuddy gives you gas prices of gas stations nearby. Since you’ll already have your phone with you, take the initiative to download these apps to help alleviate potential stress.
Tip #6 – Pack Accordingly
When you’re on a road trip, it can be a real bummer to realize you left something at home. Of course, you can always stop and buy the forgotten item along the way, but it will save you time and money to plan ahead. A few days before you leave, take time to make a list of everything you will need on your road trip. From snacks to entertainment options to blankets, make sure you have your bases covered when packing for your trip.
If you have more than one driver, consider bringing a pillow and blanket so others can sleep and trade off driving responsibilities. Making sure all your snacks and entertainment options are within each reach of your seat is crucial because it will eliminate frequent stopping to grab an item from the back.
Tip #7 – Clean Your Car Before Starting Your Journey
Think about it…would you rather spend ten hours riding in a dirty, filthy car or a clean, organized one? Having a clean car, both inside and out, can help improve your attitude before you even begin your road trip. During your road trip, have plenty of napkins, paper towels or disposable wipes available to wipe up spills or clean dirty hands. Use a plastic shopping bag as your trash bag so you can contain your mess and avoid a dirty vehicle.
Road trips can be loads of fun whether they are by yourself, with a group of your friends, or part of your family vacation. By following these simple tips, you will be prepared for the road trip of your dreams.
Author Bio: Samantha handles media relations for Caliber Collision. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, traveling, baking, and playing with her puppy, Emma. She likes to make a difference in her local community by volunteering at several organizations.
Photographs taken and provided by Carole of Toot Sweet 4 Two. From top of post to bottom:
Yellow brick road in Wynola, California; Princess P and her Grams checking under the hood of a car; traveling Highway 73 in Southern California; the road to Julian, California during apple season; Princess Sweetie Pie and Princess P with mom, Tiffany, at car show in Southern California
Other posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two’s archives
Vehicle Emergency Kit: are you Ready?
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The last thing I want is to be stranded instead of on the way to having fun. My husband and I just went on a road trip a few weeks ago and I made sure that we took our vehicle in to be looked at and had the oil change just to make sure everything was up to par. We have a roadside assistance program to be on the safe side though just in case. We make sure to have great music and snacks too, those are also essential. Great tips, thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Sounds like you are doing exactly what everyone should do when preparing for a road trip! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience!