Road trips are a great way to just get away.
It can be to somewhere completely new, or a familiar place that’s just too far away to visit on a regular basis. Today, I’m off on a mini road trip with one of my best and longest known friends. We’ve gone on several road trips together throughout the years, and as I get ready for our latest one, I thought it’d be good to compile a list of Do’s and Don’ts for the road.
Whether it’s just a day trip, or a month-long trip across the country there are some rules that will ensure you get the most fun out any road trip:
1. DO HAVE A PLAN
While sometimes a goalless road trip can lead to a crazy and unexpected adventure, just as often it turns out to be a bust. You can end up wasting time debating over when and where to stop, which way to head next, etc.
Having a plan of one or two destinations you would like to reach helps limit the time wasting and debating. These pre-determined goals mean that you and your friends will have sorted out any conflicts about what direction you are heading in before you are all trapped in a small space miles away from home.
2. DON’T STICK TO THE PLAN
Yes, I’m immediately contradicting myself. But don’t let the plan become a strict marching order. If you’re driving on the highway and you suddenly see a sign for the “World’s Smallest Typewriter,” go check it out! If you have to stop for food or gas somewhere along the way, ask the locals about what else is around. It could be awful, it could be amazing. Either way, it makes a good story. If you find something along the way that’s amazing, don’t let your original plan get in the way of better spots that arise unexpectedly.
3. DO BRING PLENTY OF MUSIC
Now that most of us have MP3 players and cell phones that hold music this isn’t as much of a problem. Yet there is nothing more frustrating than being out on a road trip and getting stuck listening to the “polka hour” because it’s the only radio station you can get.
And if you make a road trip playlist, awesome! Nothing like jamming to your favorite tunes while driving somewhere new. But, make sure it’s long. No one wants to listen to Barbie Girl more than three times, especially when you are in a confined space or stuck in traffic.
4. DON’T FORGET THE GPS
…Or a map if that’s more your style. Exploring new or familiar places without directions can be really fun. Off the beaten track for half an hour is great, but when when it has become two hours with no sign of civilization it is a lot less fun. Plus, at the end of your adventure, you’re most likely going to want the faster way home to your beds rather than trying to rack your exhausted brain to remember if your turned left or right at that clock tower.
5. DO HAVE A DRIVING BUDDY
Especially on longer road trips its important to share the driving responsibilities. And on any length trip, don’t let the driver be the only one awake in the car. Firstly for safety reasons, but secondly it improves morale. Having someone just as exhausted is making the effort to stay up and share stories with you makes the drive a little less strenuous.
6. DON’T GET CAUGHT UNPREPARED
Thinking and preparing ahead of time can save you time and money during the trip. First, clean out the car you’ll be traveling in. No matter the length or distance you travel, the car will be trashed by the time you are finished. You’re going to need empty cup holders and plenty of space for friends or your stuff when you get started. Now, to some vital supplies. Snacks and water bottles are a must! Bringing snacks from home can save money rather than buying them at rest stops along the way. Remember to pack them in plastic bags, that can double as trash cans for empty bottles and wrappers when you’re done. Remember chargers for you phone, MP3 player, camera and/or GPS. Especially for your phone, because if you are looking up places to stop at or looking up directions, it’ll drain your battery faster than normal.
Finally, road trips often push your car harder than it has in a while. Racking up lots of miles, speeding down the highway, stopping and going in city traffic, or driving along bumpy country roads. At the very least have the number of someone you can call if you have car trouble, even better if it’s a roadside rescue service. You should probably have spark plugs and a spare tire in your car all the time, but make sure you definitely have them before a road trip.
And remember, one of the joys of traveling by car is that you are likely going to have a trunk of extra space so feel free to over pack, especially on those shorter day trips. Bring rain gear just in case. Bring lots of layers, walking shoes and flip flops, towels or blankets for any random stops at a beach or park, things to keep you entertained in and outside the car, pretty much anything you feel like you might need.
7. BUT… REMEMBER THIS MOST OF ALL!
Even with everything else involved in a road trip, the best part of them is getting to spend time with friends that you love. The new stories you’ll hear from friends you’ve had for years are hilarious. You’ll make memories you’ll never forget. There will also be some embarrassing situations that may haunt you for years. But more than any of the rules above remember this, if you travel with the right company, it’ll be a trip worth taking.
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” ~Tim Cahill
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