Flying across the country seems to be de rigueur these days. After all, it’s easy to book a flight, arrive at the airport, sit back for a few hours, and arrive at your destination. Yet although this might be quicker, more convenient, and potentially even cheaper (it depends on where you are going, what time you are flying, and what you’re taking with you, of course) than driving, the great American road trip doesn’t have to be a thing of the past – and it shouldn’t be.
Taking a road trip is something that can make memories that last for a lifetime. It’s fun, frivolous, you’ll meet new people and see things you would never have seen from the comfort of your airplane seat. You’ll try different food, you’ll see the scenery, and above all, you’ll have time to reflect on your own life and where it’s heading. Whether you go alone or with friends or you even choose to take the family along with you, a road trip is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
So if you’re keen to get started and see all the sights, what should you do to prepare and enjoy your trip to the max? Read on to find out.
If you’re embarking on a road trip, whether you’re planning to drive a few hundred miles or a few thousand, you’re going to need the right car for the job. Having a reliable car is the number one priority for anyone who is going to undertake such a journey; no one wants to break down in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal and no mechanical knowledge. You’ll be putting yourself in danger, you run the risk of having to spend out a lot of money, and you may have to cut your trip short – none of these things are ideal.
If your current car isn’t up to scratch and you’re serious about taking this road trip, then you’ll need to look at either hiring or buying a new car. If this idea appeals click here to find out more. Even if your current car does seem reliable, it’s wise to have it checked over by an expert, just in case. Let them know what you’re planning so they can check the brakes, fluid levels, and engine before you set off.
This tip might not be exciting. It might not be romantic. It might not be much fun. But if you want to be able to enjoy your road trip to the utmost, you need to have a safe, comfortable, tidy space to do it from – and that means keeping your car clean.
Before you set off, remove anything from the vehicle that you’re not going to need on your trip. That way, nothing is going to get lost and you’ll only have to take the items with you that will come in useful.
Every couple of days along your journey, take the time to clean out your car again. It’s amazing how quickly detritus can build up, and it’s amazing how much clearer your mind and attitude will be when you have a clean place to be.
You might not want to plan every minute of every day of your road trip (and nor should you – part of the beauty of this kind of trip is the spontaneity factor of it), but it’s useful to have at least a vague plan of where you expect to be and when.
The plan can be subject to change, of course; if you decide there’s a lot to see in one place and you need two nights there instead of one, then you can rearrange your schedule to suit. The same is true if you’re making good time and want to drive on for a few more hours instead of stopping where you had initially thought you would.
Yet having the plan in the first place will help you when it comes to working out the time you need to take off work, how much money you need to take with you, what to pack, and so on. Be flexible but be organized and your road trip will be a lot more fun. If a road closed sign is going to mean certain disaster because your plan has to be changed entirely, you’ve probably planned too much.
Unless you have to be at your end destination by a very specific – and unmovable – time and date, try not to use the highways for your road trip. These roads are incredibly convenient, but they were built to save time, and are there to get you from A to B. What they don’t allow for is any time to take a look around you. The views aren’t always great, and you’ll be driving at such a speed that you won’t be able to see anything anyway. Add to that the many other cars around you, and before you know it you’ll be hurtling along a highway and missing out on many wonderful things (or sitting in traffic if there is a problem).
Using the smaller country roads is beneficial for a number of different reasons. To begin with, you’ll see a lot more – you’ll notice those curious signs that tell you you’re passing the deepest well or the tallest haystack. These are the kinds of things that will make your road trip special – simply driving along a fast road and not seeing anything or having the chance to stop means you may as well have stayed at home.
Another benefit of these roads is that they are slower and more interesting to drive on. You’ll be less likely to have an accident, and you’ll be more focused on the road.
There will be times when you don’t want to listen to local radio, or even when there is nothing to listen to at all because the reception is so bad. In this kind of situation, even the most picturesque roads can become very dull very quickly.
Make sure you download some audiobooks or podcasts, or that you have easy access to your own music, before you set off. This way, they will always be something to keep you occupied on your trip. These will be useful in motel rooms too (as will videos and streaming services).
