Planning a summer road trip in the future?
Looking forward to getting on the road for good times with friends, exploring new places, and seeing what this country has to offer? You’re going to want to make sure that nothing goes wrong along the way and your vacation is remembered for all the right reasons…
Have a plan
For sure, spontaneity is a huge part of what makes car travel so much fun, but it’s always a good idea to have at least a loose plan so you can work out which sights you’d most like to see, book a few hotel stops so you can rest up and let people know where you’ll be to help keep you safe.
Have a map
You might have a great GPS system, but even so, you’re going to want to pack a map so you always have a backup. Getting lost can make for some great road trip adventures if you happen to get lost in an interesting, populated place, but if you end up stranded in the middle of nowhere…well that’s a different matter completely.
Take the back roads
Taking the back roads is not only a great way to see sights that you might not have known about otherwise, but it can help you to avoid heavy traffic and heavy vehicles like trucks, which is good because there are around 6,553 heavy truck accidents each year! Just make sure to read the signs so you don’t end up driving in unsuitable conditions.
Veto the playlist
On a less serious note, if you’re road tripping with your buddies, before you set off, make sure you check out the road trip playlist – you gotta have a road trip playlist – to make sure that that one friend hasn’t filled it up with nothing but Celine Dion and Barry Manilow – you can do better than that.
Get a tune-up
Another thing you should do before heading off on your travels is to get a tune-up for your car. The last thing you want is to get stranded halfway across the country because your engine’s given up the ghost or your tires have blown out and although you can’t 100% prevent disaster, having a mechanic give your car the once over will minimize the risk.
Pack plenty of snacks
It’s a rookie mistake and neglecting to pack lots of food and drinks to enjoy on the trip can really spoil the trip. Treat yourself to a cooler or two and fill it with plenty of water, soda, nuts, chips, fruit, and candy, so that your trip will be as enjoyable as possible and you can go longer without having to stop – although you should still stop regularly to avoid driver’s fatigue!
Stop at roadside attractions
If you drive past those weird and wonderful roadside attractions that are dotted around the USA you are really missing out. You’ll see things you never thought you would see and have a story or two to tell – Ben & Jerry’s flavor Graveyard anyone?
Enjoy your road trip!