Anyone who’s ever attempted to plan a road trip knows: it’s tough. With gas prices, car insurance rates and the fear of getting lost all in mind, it’s no surprise that in addition to the millions of British who took road trips last year, most travellers opt for staying close to home.
But with Google mapping, GPS navigation and the world at our fingertips these days, it’s easier than ever to explore the country—and even your own neighbourhood—on the road. If you take the right steps in your planning and prepare for the worst, then you’ll be ready to hit the road and have the best road trip of your life.
As such, if you’re willing to put in the effort and want to have the best road trip ever, here are some helpful tips and hints that can help you along the way.
1. Research
As with any new journey that you’re about to embark upon, the best thing you can do is to research as much as possible. The internet is a huge place full of knowledge, and you can find so many useful resources if you spend some time looking around and researching. It’s great to know a little bit about each place you’re going to visit, but you can also research famous sights and destinations that you can see along the way. This will help you to plan your route and get a better idea of what’s around each location and can be seen from your car. You can also find out about any famous spots or monuments you can visit.
2. Have a plan
Even if you think that you have spent a lot of time researching and preparing your car, you can still mess it up. This is why it’s so important to have a plan. You can use a road trip planner and make sure that you have mapped out the route that you want to follow and that you know where you want to go when you get into your car. This will help you to stay on track, and it will also help you to stay focused on your route from the very beginning.
3. Get a good idea of where you’re going
Before you head off, it can be helpful to get a general idea of where you’re going. Whether you’re planning a cross-country trip or hitting the open road, it can be helpful to have an idea of where you’re headed.
You may want to start by looking at a map and finding a route you’re particularly interested in or an area that you’ve always wanted to explore. Once you’ve got a general idea of where you’re going, you’ll be better prepared to plan stops and route corrections along the way. In addition to getting an idea of where you’re going, you can also get an idea of where you’re coming from.
Knowing where you came from can be useful for later planning, such as when you’re looking for a place to stay. Knowing where you’re starting from can also help plan for any special needs you may have, such as taking medication or being vegetarian.
4. Make a list
Once you’ve got an idea of where you’re going, it can be helpful to make a list of things you want to do while you’re on the road. What are you interested in seeing? What are the must-dos in the area? This can help you narrow down the things you want to see, which will make planning your trip much easier. You can also use this list to help you keep track of what you’ve done and what you want to do. You may want to keep your list in a digital format, such as on a phone or tablet app. This can be helpful if you have someone who can help you navigate and keep track of your list while you’re on the road.
5. Be flexible
Planning a road trip is often a good way to get out of the house and explore a new place, but it can also be a chance to clear your schedule. It’s easy to get caught up in planning the “perfect” trip and end up missing out on what’s in front of you.
It’s important to remember that not everything will go as planned and that planning a trip doesn’t mean that you have to stick to it 100 percent of the time. You may find that you have to cancel plans or make changes to your schedule because of a work emergency or something else, and being flexible will keep you from getting frustrated and take you out of the road trip spirit.
6. Avoid extreme driving
When you’re planning a road trip, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to drive for a long stretch. If you’re not used to being in the driver’s seat for that long of a period, you may want to avoid extreme driving.
Extreme driving is driving for an extended period when you’re not accustomed to it or driving when you’re not awake. Extreme driving can increase the risk of accidents and, in some cases, even make you miss your destination.
If you’re planning to drive while you’re not accustomed to it or while you’re sleep-deprived, ask a friend or family member to drive while you’re rested and awake. You can also try to use the time to catch up on some sleep. It may be easier to drive when you’re rested, so use that time to catch up on your medication or rest while you’re awake.
7. Plan for stops
You may find yourself stopping at gas stations, restaurants and even hotels on your trip if you’re not careful. This can be helpful, but it can also add a significant amount of time to your trip if you don’t plan for it. It’s important to remember that every stop you make that is longer than about 15 minutes should be accounted for in your schedule. If you’re planning your trip around gas prices, remember that you may need to account for even more time on your route because of price changes along the way.
8. Stay hydrated
You may be on the go for several days or even longer, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Alcohol can dehydrate you and make you feel more tired and sluggish, so it’s important to stay as hydrated as possible. Bottled water can be expensive, so it can be helpful to keep some water bottles in your vehicle.
You may also want to keep a water bottle in your bag or purse to make it easier to stay hydrated. It’s also important to remember that heat can make you more prone to drinking too much water and becoming dehydrated, so keep that in mind when you’re on the road.
9. Don’t overpack
Finally, don’t overpack. It may be tempting to bring everything you could need on your trip because you want to be prepared, but this can be a huge waste of space. Before you start packing, take out a piece of paper and write down everything you know you’ll need. If you’re not sure, ask your family members or friends who are helping you pack what they think you might need.
10. Prepare your car
This is one of the most important steps in your journey, and you should prepare your car as if you were going on the longest road trip. There are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to this. First of all, make sure that your car is clean and free from any unnecessary items. This will make the journey a lot easier on you, your fellow passengers, and the environment around you.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you should have some items that you can use for entertainment on long drives. You don’t want to be stuck in your car for hours on end, and you don’t want to get too bored either. You should have a USB or MP3 player that you can use, and you should also have a book or two that you can read on your trip. No matter how long your trip, you’ll always find something to keep your mind occupied.
11. Make sure you’re aware of weather conditions
Along with planning your route, you should also make sure that you’re aware of any weather conditions that you may encounter on your trip. This will help you to stay safe, and it will also help you to make sure that you have the right equipment with you in case something goes wrong.
12. Bring games and movies for your road trip
You’re going on a road trip, and you’re not reading books or studying; this means that you’re going to want to pass the time somehow. Thankfully, road trips are perfect for this. If you bring your games, then you can easily spend hours on end playing them and not even realize how much time has passed by. However, you should also bring some movies with you. The ideal road trip video to bring along is a comedy. Road trips are perfect for watching comedies, and they’re also perfect for having a few laughs. So, if you’re going on a road trip, then you should bring comedies with you.
13. Don’t forget about taking photos and videos!
Another very important thing to keep in mind is that you should take photos and videos of your entire trip. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the road or if you’re at home, you should make sure to keep a record of everything that you see. This will help you to remember your trip in the long run and will also help you to look back and see how you got through each day.
14. Don’t forget the toiletries
One of the most important things that you should make sure to bring with you on your road trip is toiletries. You never know if you’ll end up in a situation where you have to use the toilet while on the road. Therefore, you should make sure that you bring toiletries with you. For example, you should bring towels, toilet paper, a change of clothes, deodorant, etc.
15. Stay safe and smart
One of the most important things that you can do while on your road trip is to stay safe and be smart. For starters, make sure that you’re not drinking and driving. Likewise, you should also try to avoid taking drugs while on the road. If you’re drinking, then you should make sure that you’re not drinking and driving. Likewise, you should also make sure that you’re not doing anything that you shouldn’t be doing.
Wrapping up
The best road trip is the one that you make with your family. The thing is, while they may be annoying sometimes, they’re also the best thing in the world. They’re there for you, they support you, and they encourage you to be the best version of yourself that you can be. So, if you have the chance, make sure that you take your family on a road trip. It’s a great way to spend time with your family, get out of the house, and see the world.
If you don’t have the opportunity to take your family on a road trip, then you should make sure that you take a road trip with your friends. It’s a great way to get to know your friends better, spend time with them, and laugh with them. Your road trip will not only be memorable, but it will be the best road trip that you’ve ever had.
