There’s nothing like a good road trip. Whether with friends, family, or a significant other, being out on the road en route to an exciting destination can be very fun. You encounter several things along the way and can learn a lot about the person/people you’re with. To make this experience as easy as possible, this five-point plan will guide you the next time you hop in the car and venture out toward an exciting location.
Snacks
This is a MUST! There’s nothing worse than being ‘hangry’ on a long road trip. Sitting next to someone with the same affliction is equally as annoying. Before setting off anywhere, pop to the store and load up on things you can easily eat in the car. Or, hit a gas station/convenience store on the way. Pro tip: Make sure you bring a cooler with plenty of ice to keep your drinks, fruit, and other things properly chilled. At the very least, this can be an economical way of eating without having to spend a ton of money on a proper sit-down lunch or dinner. Additionally, the snacks will enable you to proceed on the road more quickly without having to stop for a meal.
Travel With People You Like
This one should be a no-brainer — though there are levels to this. Of course, you want to be traveling with people you enjoy spending time with. However, it also helps to have prior experience traveling with these individuals. Being friends and going to lunch is one thing. Traveling is a completely different beast completely. Be sure you understand this going into any lengthy journey in a car. The writer of this article embarked on a six-week backpacking trip with his best friend from college. It was the first time either had traveled with one another. By the end of the trip, the two were no longer friends.
Make The Car Comfortable
There are a plethora of ways to keep the car comfortable for a long road trip. Some may like the air conditioner to be on full-blast — particularly if you’re traversing across terrain during summer months. Others get cold quite quickly. Depending on the time of year, you should always have a couple of blankets handy for any circumstance. Bring some pillows for back support and an impromptu headrest. If you’re going to be in a setting for a long period, make it as comfortable as possible.
Share Driving Responsibilities?
Before taking off, discuss as it pertains to the driving responsibilities. Some may welcome the responsibility of driving the entire way. Others may want to break up the driving duties in chunks of time (usually two-hour increments). It’s always a good thing to talk this out as opposed to just assuming that one will inherit all of the driving duties. It prevents resentment, and most importantly, a driver from becoming drowsy on the road.
Have Directions Handy
Gone are the days of the Thomas Guide or MapQuest. Most modern cars have navigation systems inside the vehicles. If not, virtually everyone has a smartphone with map capabilities. To make things absolutely as easy as possible, make sure you have a phone charger first and foremost. Secondly, before even leaving, research possible routes just to familiarize yourself with what to expect once on the road.
