Some of the most memorable vacations happen in the form of a road trip. Just make sure yours is memorable for the right reasons.
Whether youâre hitting the road for a few hours or embarking on a legendary cross-country drive, these tips will help stave off boredom, reduce arguments and keep you safe.
1. Devise a plan with your passengers.
âPerhaps the major pitfall on a road trip is not so much about the route or sights, but the other people,â said Paul Johnson, founder of NorthOutdoors. Even BFFs can become mortal enemies by the end of a long, painful trip, so getting on the same page before you depart is crucial. âGet some agreement upfront on what you are trying to do. Are you trying to get somewhere as fast as you can? Or is this an exploring, meandering trip where the goal is to get lost and see new places?â Johnson said.
2. Agree on a budget.
If youâre traveling with other adults, youâll need to decide on a budget for the trip together. For instance, will you be sticking to homemade sandwiches for lunch or hitting the local hot spots on Yelp? Will you be car camping or sleeping in hotels? âIt is good to know upfront what the expectations are so you can avoid those tense times during the trip,â Johnson said.
3. Put together the perfect playlist ahead of time.
Fumbling with your phone while driving is not only unsafe, but it can really kill the vibe of a relaxing drive set to the perfect soundtrack. Plus, youâre bound to hit a few areas without radio coverage or cell service. âThere are many areas where internet, GPS or even satellite signal for XM radio isnât available,â said Angella Jensen of Angieâs Awesome Adventures. In this case, having a few playlists downloaded ahead of time will save you from any awkward silence. âInclude as many upbeat, fun songs as you can,â she said. âThis will keep the energy level high and in a good place if you find yourself in a situation where nothing else is available.â
4. Pick out a few podcasts, too.
Even your favorite songs can get old after a while. To break up the monotony, try listening to a podcast. Whether you want to learn a new skill or get lost in a true crime thriller, thereâs something for everyone. Some popular options to consider include Why Wonât You Date Me, Safe for Work, The Mortified Podcast and In the Dark.
5. Decide on your must-sees.
If you want to do some sightseeing along the way, itâs a good idea to figure out your key stops before hitting the road. âResearch and plan these things out so you know exactly where and why youâre stopping, rather than traveling for countless hours in one stint,â said Juma Brown of FlyerDiaries. âThis will reduce the amount of time spent being bored and get yourself many extra opportunities to make memories.â These anchor stops will also dictate how much driving you need to do each day to stay on schedule.
6. But also plan for extra time.
Though itâs important to stick to a schedule, donât be so married to your timeline that you miss out on other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. âItâs the roadside attractions like giant lobster statues, stuffed gopher museums and interpretive view points that really make a road trip special,â said Jenn Stolfa, a writer for Take Them Outside. âNot only will you enjoy to get out and explore some local culture, your body will appreciate a chance to stretch and move. And if you happen to be traveling with kids, these stops will break the drive, helping them manage the long sitting times in between.â
7. Ask locals about the best spots to stop.
Need food or looking for a bit of entertainment? Travel websites like TripAdvisor are great for reviews, but they might not be the best way to uncover hidden gems. âThe advice of locals can be invaluable for things like attractions and places to eat,â said Chris Wain of Africa Travel. âDonât be afraid to ask people in local stores and cafes about where the best place to get an evening meal is, where is the best place to stay or which route will get you to the local attraction fastest. Locals know the area better than any review site, so their knowledge should never be dismissed.â
8. Carry some cash.
Big city folk may be used to swiping a card to pay for travel expenses, but thatâs not always possible in small towns. Independent gas stations, national parks and other stops may require you to pay cash, so always keep some on hand.
9. Get serious about snacks.
Snacks can make or break a road trip. Just donât go overboard on the junk â your body will thank you. âWe see people often throw their healthy eating habits out the window just because they are road tripping,â Johnson said. But if you load up on Big Gulps and Doritos, it can lead to fatigue and some, er, emergency pit stops. Try to snack on fruit, protein bars and veggies, and donât forget to drink plenty of water. âA secret weapon is to stop at a grocery store â even tiny towns have them â to get your lunch, rather than the roadside burger joint,â Johnson said.
10. Opt for truck stops over rest areas.
Truck stops arenât just for truckers anymore. They can be safer and more accommodating than remote bare-bones rest stops, with plenty of lighting, facilities and foot traffic. If you have the choice, plan your breaks for truck stops.
11. Get on the road early and stick to daylight hours.
If you want to beat the traffic, get going as early as possible, even if this means starting your day around 4-5 a.m. âSetting off at this time means that the sun will start to rise an hour or so into your journey, which can make for sensational views of the sunrise in different places every day,â Wain said. âPlus, it is still before the roads become busy with commuters trying to get to work. This makes your journey far less hectic and, as a result, safer.â
Speaking of safety, itâs also a good idea to end your dayâs drive once it starts getting dark, as nighttime is by far the most dangerous time to drive thanks to more drunk and drowsy drivers. Not to mention, critters love to come out at dusk and often end up in the road â and that is not where you want to unexpectedly come across wildlife.
12. Get gas every time you stop.
Making a pit stop? Get some gas. Driving past a small town? Fill âer up. Even if you have a healthy half tank left, it never hurts to stock up on fuel for those long stretches where thereâs no gas station for miles.
13. Dole out games and goodies along the way.
If youâre traveling with kids, donât hand out all the activities and treats right at the beginning of the drive. Instead, Stolfa recommends saving some games, books and snacks for later when distractions are desperately needed. You can also dole out a convenience store allowance for the kids to buy their own snacks as the trip progresses.
14. Schedule exercise breaks.
Another tip if you have kiddos in tow: Make sure thereâs time each day for them to get physical. âTake them to a park or simply have them walk with you on a treadmill in the hotel gym,â said Mike Miller, founder of Wilderness Times. âThe last thing you want are your kids to be filled with energy, bouncing off the walls, asking you, âAre we there yet?!â 53 times an hour.â
15. Learn how to change a tire.
Knowing how to change a tire is an important skill, especially if youâre driving through areas where roadside assistance doesnât arrive reasonably quickly or at all. âNot only should you know how to change the tire, you should actually have done this with the particular road trip vehicle youâll be using,â Stolfa said. Run through the whole operation prior to the trip, so you know where the spare is located, that its air pressure is good, and that you can handle all the steps to get those wheels rolling again.
16. Bring a cellphone charging bank.
On road trips, you can usually rely on your vehicleâs power to charge your phone. But emergencies happen, and you donât want to be stuck with a dead car and a dead cellphone battery. âPhoning for assistance will be much easier with the backup charging bank,â Stolfa said.
17. Be prepared for extreme weather.
Between rain storms, heavy snow and hurricanes, our vast country is home to many types of weather hazards. If youâre planning a long trip, be sure youâre ready to handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way. That means wearing proper shoes, packing the right type of clothes and bringing along equipment like tire chains if they might be needed. âIf you are traveling in winter, it is an entirely different ballgame. The mountains and the North Country require you to adapt to the conditions, not vice versa,â Johnson said.
18. Let your bank know where youâre going.
You donât want to get stuck at a gas station or roadside diner with a credit card thatâs been frozen by your bank due to possible fraud. âAlert your bank and credit card company of your trip with the cities you plan to visit,â said personal finance expert Andrea Woroch. âThis will help the company monitor [for] fraud, but also ensure you have access to funds when you need them.â
19. Have backup directions on hand.
These days, most of us are so reliant on GPS to get around that we probably couldnât find our way out of a wet paper bag without it. But that GPS signal doesnât always work on the road. âYou should always have some backup directions â either a road atlas or printed directions,â said Jake McKenzie of Auto Accessories Garage. âWithout the ability to check your GPS or call anyone for assistance, you can end up getting very lost very quickly. Having a few maps in your glove box and even a compass can save you a lot of time should you get lost without a cell signal.â
20. Show respect.
Spending long days on the road can put your nerves on edge, especially if youâre traveling with little ones. But thatâs no excuse to be a jerk. Be polite to the locals you encounter, donât litter and allow other cars to merge into your lane. A little respect goes a long way on the open road.