Road tripping is such a fun way to escape everyday life in a fairly cheap and tailored to you vacation! You can completely personalize the trip, from how long you’ll be away to your budget to where you want to go. But, there are a few tips you can follow to make sure you have the best road trip possible!
Have a flexible plan
You probably won’t want to have a super strict itinerary, but you should have some idea of where you are heading. You may even want to figure out where you’ll be spending each night so you can make accommodations if necessary. You can also plan how much driving you’ll be doing each day. Try sticking to no more than 8 hours per day. Keeping a little bit of flexibility in your schedule will allow you to be a little spontaneous while still having a plan.
Bring a map (a real one)
These days, it’s easy to just use an application on your phone to get from place to place. But it’ll be so much more fun if you bring a real map and mark out where you go and what places you stay. Plus, it’ll make an awesome souvenir! Imagine pulling that out years down the line and thinking about all of the memories you had on that trip. If you don’t know exactly how to read a map, you can cheat and use your phone, but still mark where you go on your good old paper map.
Carry cash
Cash is useful for tolls or if you find yourself somewhere with no ATMs or credit card machines. You may end up in some small town diner that only accepts cash and you’ll want to be prepared so you don’t have to miss out on a great local meal. Whenever you are somewhere with an ATM, take advantage of it and make sure you take out any cash you might need.
Pack light
Depending on how many people are going on the trip, room may be limited. And you’ll want some extra space for any souvenirs you pick up along the way. It’ll also be more convenient if you’re going from hotel to hotel each night since you’ll only have to carry in one suitcase instead of five. After all, this trip is about simplicity and memories, not how much stuff you can bring.
Have snacks and music
You’re going to be spending a lot of time in your car so you want to have it stocked. Bring a cooler with drinks and snacks and keep it handy. Make a few CDs, get an auxiliary cord, or invest in satellite radio for some road trip jams. Games aren’t a bad idea either. Research some more unique, adult-friendly road trip games that will be sure to make you laugh or bring along some card games to play when it’s not your turn to drive. Having a good time while in the car is a must so that you’re not constantly asking “are we there yet?”
Befriend the locals
Whatever small town you find yourself in, the local people are your key to having a great time. Ask them where the best place to eat or get a drink is. They’ll give a much better suggestion than Google will. You’d also be surprised how many people are willing to talk to you and share stories. Spend some time getting to know the locals if you really want to get to know the place you’re passing through.
Be prepared
It’s not a bad idea to think about what could go wrong and figure out how to fix it before it actually does go wrong. Have a First Aid kit on hand for any minor injuries. Make sure you let someone know where you are each day. Prepare yourself to drive in some extreme conditions in which you may not be used to doing on a normal basis. You want to make sure you’re having the best time possible, so having solutions to any problems that could come up will guarantee that your trip will go smoothly.
Road trips are a wonderful opportunity to see the world from the comfort of your own car. Follow these tips to have the best road trip and have fun making memories!
