Going on a Road Trip? Here are 9 Helpful Tips for you

Road trips are a lot of fun, but they can also entail a lot of hassles and problems. This is why many people prefer to fly to their cross-country destinations instead of savouring the glorious moments of driving.

Here are a few tips to make your next road trip as hassle-free as possible.

Stay clean

“Make sure to clean your car before you leave for your road trip,” sounds like a no-brainer tip. Everyone does this. But making sure that you clean your car out of receipts, gum wrappers, fast food bags, and maps during your road trip will save you the misery f driving long hours inside a filthy car. There is no need to be sloppy when you have decided to rough it out on the highway.

Be flexible with your plans

Trying so hard to stick to a strict itinerary can be frustrating. Allow yourself a couple of days or hours of “contingency” in the case of road construction. You do not have to give yourself a headache worrying over cancelled hotel reservations if you are more flexible with your plans. Flexible, however, does not mean having no plans at all.

Always have an escape plan

A highway can save you more time, but chances are these oft-used roads are lined with unappealing structures such as strip malls. If you want to enjoy the sights, always make sure to use country roads—but have an escape plan just in case.

Expect the worst

Anticipating trouble spots on a road trip is going to save you a lot of trouble in the long run. It would not be difficult to get yourself in the wrong place in the wrong time, and rush hour traffic in some areas are the just the worst. If you have anticipated such setbacks, then sloughing through an hour of heavy traffic would not feel so bad.

Divide the “chores” among yourselves

If you are traveling with a group, dividing the labour amongst yourselves is ideal. Make sure that the person doing the navigation can read maps, someone is planning the meals, someone is in charge of the playlist, and so on. Know which companion does something best and assign accordingly.

Make sure you have your documents and a (relatively) clean record

Bring your car registration, driver’s license, and insurance documents with you in case of emergencies. Also, make sure that your old parking and traffic tickets are sorted out to avoid the hellish experience of having your car impounded while traveling.

Learn how to read a road atlas

Be familiar with the legends and highlight the route you are taking to make navigation a whole lot easier.

Eat well

Do not keep putting off meal times on a road trip—make sure that the group agrees to a certain schedule of stopping at a local eatery. Rest stops can do in a pinch, but if you cannot find anything worth stopping for, a grocery is your best bet. You can stock up on safe and healthy food items you can eat inside the car. Just make sure to throw out your garbage properly on the next stop.

Learn how to change a tire

And bring a spare tire with you!