Road trips are seriously one of my favorite ways to travel. Customizable, they can tend to take a little bit more planning and details, but once all the pieces fall into place you’re in for the best adventure! Whether you prefer a trip packed with things to do, or you prefer the thrill of spontaneity, a road trip lets you have your cake and eat it too! So, if you’re planning a road trip for your next vacation, use this guide to plan the perfect road trip!
PLANNING AHEAD
First, you want to decide what kind of trip you want! Do you like visiting new cities, or maybe want to explore nature? Maybe you want to plan an entire wine-related road trip. There’s absolutely no wrong answer when it comes to planning a road trip. Chart a loose itinerary based off of your final destination, the things you want to see and the time frame you have to complete the trip. Once you have a loose idea for now, make sure you know where you’ll end each day (one of the most important parts for planning)!
Next, you need to decide your budget. Take into account lodging, activities, food, gas and don’t forget any bigger ticket items like theme park admissions or private excursions along the way or at your final destination!
Last, before you even pull out of the driveway, make sure you get an oil change, check the air in your tires (including the spare, make sure you have your tire iron and jack, and bring a jump starter just in case!
FIND THE ‘SWEET SPOT’
We all have our limits with how long we can be in the car. Try to plan no more than seven hours of driving in a day if you want to stop and sightsee along the way. Definitely try not to drive more 10 hours a day in one haul and only attempt this if you have multiple drivers and must arrive by nightfall! If you’re like me, it’s easy to dream big and want to conquer expansive territory in one swoop, but it can be extremely tiresome and wearing on your body. I’ve found our ‘sweet spot’ to be about 4-5 hours a day. This way we are all in good spirits, our bodies are not exhausted and we still have ample time left to sigthsee and end the day with a nice dinner.
PACK SMARTLY
Try to limit yourself to one suitcase with the essentials and if your trips is more than a week, bring an additional smaller suitcase with some extras! I try to keep anything I want easy access to on the road, like maps, blankets, brochures of destinations, and snacks, in a separate collapsible container within easy reach.
Make sure to also bring along a travel first aid kit filled with bandages, antibacterial, cotton swabs, charcoal pills and ibuprofen or aspirin. Create an roadside emergency kit in case you get stalled with road flares and a flashlight.
KEEPING THE PEACE
Being stuck in a car with the same person, or people, for long stretches of time can sometimes bring disagreements. Bring a book, noise canceling headphones, or earbuds to “take a break” every once in a while.
Try to also synchronize your pee breaks, everyone will need to go at different times but if you make a plan to stop every three hours you can usually get yourselves on the same schedule!
And lastly, the best part of any road trip are the roadside attractions and small towns. Keep your eyes peeled for attractions to stop at along the way, taking into account every passengers various likes and dislikes!
THE PLAYLIST & SNACKS
First off, you must remember that the driver always gets the final say on what comes out of the car stereo speakers. With that being said, if you’re the co-pilot it’s your job to come ready with the music tuned with a mix of favorites for each passenger, or for variety download podcasts or pick up a few books on CD at the library.
One of the second most important parts of your road trip are the snacks! Fast food can get old and is extremely unhealthy, instead, try to make strategic grocery store hauls throughout your trip for food that’s healthier and more affordable. If you know me well, you know I’m the BIGGEST snacker of all time. I literally live for snacks on snacks, so this car-snack thing is my specialty. Whether you’re traveling with kids or not, your road trip should include lots of accessible, good-for-you snacks. We have a Yeti cooler (best investment!) that I stuff to the brim with yummy snacks such a cut fresh veggies and hummus, vegetable juices, almonds, grapes, apples, mandarins, and even high quality cheeses and meats. We carry a few forks and knives as well as a travel cutting board and napkins, so we can always stop, stretch our legs and eat whenever we need. Of course, there is also the bag of bite size chocolate, lolipops and wheat thins that also come along, but we try to minimize the junk so our mood will stay brighter! I also pack my handy Stanley Thermos with coffee on the road, I love this thermos not only because it’s amazing at keeping my beverages hot, but it also is so nostalgic!
Make sure to also bring plenty of bottled water, and a refillable water bottle for each person to fill along the way. Staying hydrated is key!
Serious about your next road trip? Check out this blog post on how to tips for the ultimate road trip!
Happy Travels!
XO,
M
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