Heading on a Road Trip? Things to do Before You Go
There’s nothing like travel to blow away the cobwebs. But you don’t need to venture far to get all the benefits of experiencing new places. There are so many fascinating places to see and explore. Taking a road trip is a fantastic way to enjoy travel adventures. Road trips really are a special kind of way to travel.
Without a doubt, road trips can be a ton of fun. Having the familiarity of your own car and traveling at your own pace is certainly a huge advantage. Couple this with the convenience of not worrying about connecting flights and airport delays, and you’re onto a winner. But before you hop into the car and start driving, it’s essential to be prepared.
Taking an impulsive road trip is a lot of fun. However, it does increase the chances of something going wrong. You definitely don’t want to be stuck hundreds of miles from home and unable to get help. To avoid any road trip disasters, it’s always best to make time to prepare. Your road trip preparations may take a little time before you go, but they can save you a whole heap of hassle. You certainly won’t regret being properly prepared before you head off on your adventure.
Planning a road trip can be pretty intimidating if you’ve never done it before. So, it can be hard to know where to even begin. Of course, you know that being prepared for a road trip is always an excellent idea. But where do you even get started? Take a look at these tips to help you prepare:
Get Equipped
Getting equipped for your road trip is essential. Your trip is going to be pretty uncomfortable if you don’t have everything you need. The great news is that you don’t need to pack the car to bursting point. Knowing that you definitely need and packing it carefully is the key to being well-equipped without weighing your vehicle down.
You may find it helpful to wear layers of clothing, so that you can simply take items off or put them on as the temperature changes. It’s also helpful to pack water and high energy snacks so that you know you’ll always be fueled and hydrated during your trip.
It’s also helpful to check that you are equipped with everything you need for your car if an emergency strikes or you’re faced with challenging conditions. This includes items such as:
- First aid kit
- Ice scraper
- Warm blanket
- Warning triangle
- Reflective jacket
- Flashlight
- Rope
- Empty fuel can
- Shovel
Complete a Maintenance Check
Ensuring that your vehicle is in top condition before you head off on your road trip is a must. All that distance covered on a road trip can put your car under some serious pressure. So, being sure that it’s in the best working order before you go is the best course of action.
Here are some of the things that you should check before you go on your road trip:
- Tire pressure
- Tire treads
- Screenwash levels
- Windscreen wiper blades
- Brake fluid levels
- Oil levels
- Air conditioning
- Lights
As well as completing all the essential maintenance tasks, it’s also a great idea to give the car a clean. Giving your car a thorough clean will ensure that you’ll be as comfortable as possible on your travels.
Pick a Travel Companion
While it’s not always possible to travel with a companion, it is a good idea. If you can have someone to travel with you, it can make the road trip experience so much easier. Having a travel companion means that you can share the driving. This is important if you’re covering long distances.
If you don’t have a travel companion to share the driving with you, it’s essential that you find a safe place to stop and take regular rest breaks. Driving when tired is so dangerous, and something you should never do. So, don’t forget to schedule in those rest breaks.
Keep a List of Useful Numbers
Hopefully your trip will go to plan and there will be no glitches along the way. Unfortunately, nothing’s guaranteed and things can go wrong when you’re traveling. So, being ready for anything is always a great idea.
Ensuring that you have the numbers of services you can call if you need help when you’re on your trip is vital. This includes a towing service from the area you’re traveling to and the numbers of local repair shops. This will then ensure you’re just a phone call away from getting help should you need it.
While you’re thinking about useful numbers, it’s also a good idea to be sure that you’ve packed a wireless charger or battery pack. This will ensure that your cell phone battery lasts during the trip and you’re not caught out.
Plan Your Route
Being spontaneous is fun. Following the open road and seeing where it takes you brings a strong sense of freedom. But before you head off, it’s a great idea to plan your route with care. Having a general idea of where you want to visit along the way is a great start. You can then plan a route that features all these locations. This will ensure that you can use your time in the best way, and squeeze the most amount of must-see destinations into your trip. Planning your route also means you’ll waste less time, as hopefully, you won’t get lost along the way!
As well as helping you to maximize your time on the trip, planning an itinerary can help to keep your trip running smoothly in other ways. This is because you’ll be able to factor in places to stop to refuel your vehicle before it runs out of gas. Being able to keep these breakdowns at bay will certainly make your trip a lot less stressful. You’ll then be free to enjoy the trip with the peace of mind that you’re not going to be desperately driving around in search of gas stations.
Happy road tripping!