Read How to take a road trip for your family and How to take a road trip with a friend for more ideas.
There are plenty of online planning sites that will help make it super easy for you to plan a rough itinerary and to get travel times, etc. Using these can speed up the decision-making process.
Plan ahead for prices of fuel using sites such as gas prices. mapquest. com or roadtripamerica. com (both USA sites). If you stop for a swim after roughing it for the night, use their showers to clean up. Other places to find showers include camping grounds and RV parks but usually you’ll have to pay for the privilege of a shower in these places. Stay in national parks and state/provincial parks (you’ll need an annual pass). If you do this, it will cost very little each stay and you will get the benefit of a car space and a tent space (just be sure to take your tent), as well as basic hygiene facilities. And there is nothing like waking up to the sounds of nature in the early morning. Avoid toll roads and big city stops and you’ll avoid having to pay for road usage and parking. Take an up-to-date road atlas with you so you know how to avoid the tolls. Read How to choose a camping spot on a road trip for more ideas.
Have the spare tire checked too. And if you don’t have one, get one now, along with a jack. Ask the mechanic to show you how to change a tire if you don’t know already; it’s better to be slightly embarrassed now than to be frustrated in the middle of the desert with nobody for miles to help you. [3] X Expert Source Tom EisenbergCar Mechanic Expert Interview. 26 July 2019. Check that there are jumper cables in the car. You’ll also want to make copies of the car keys and give everyone one set. This will keep you from getting locked out, and will be more convenient when you switch drivers. It also helps should one person lose their set of keys; at lease one other person will have a back-up! Be sure to sign up for roadside assistance, such as the AAA. As well as roadside assistance, often such companies can set you up with free maps and even directions to your final destination. If possible, choose the most fuel-efficient car over any gas guzzlers. Read How to check your car before a road trip for more information.
Include some sleeping gear. Have at least one sleeping bag, one pillow, and one polar fleece or cotton blanket per person traveling. Add a tarpaulin or two for all sorts of purposes and some dish cloths/hand towels or similar for quick makeshift curtains for the car windows if you have to sleep in it overnight. Throw in some activity gear, like a soccer ball to kick at road stops, a Frisbee to throw, and a pack of cards for a game or two at a cafe. Include paper towels, utensils, dish cleaning gear, storage and garbage bags, and spare toilet paper. All these “just-in-case” items can help save money and get your out of a tight spot. Remember you may be traveling through the middle of nowhere pretty frequently and will need to pack a few safety things. Bring a gallon (3. 7 liters) of water and a gallon (3. 7 liters) of oil. Bring 50-100 feet (15 to 30 meters) of rope, duct tape, a first aid kit, a flashlight (the kind that doesn’t use batteries is nice because you don’t have to worry about batteries), bug spray, jumper cables, a pocket knife, a compass, an umbrella, and blanket(s). It can also be helpful to have an electricity converter for charging your music players, laptops, cell phones, etc. If you plan on crossing country borders, have your passport and any visas needed, as well as checking that your passport has enough time left on it.
Find a good, collapsible cooler that will not take up any more space than one seat and pack it full. Buy ice packs or seal-able bags and fill them with ice. Do not put ice directly in the cooler because when it melts it will be a pain, and you’ll need to get more ice at every stop; always have it in a container. If you stay in overnight accommodation, an icepack can be refrozen in the bar fridge but remember to take it with you each time. You can always bake cookies, eggs, or other food on your car engine if you bring along some aluminum foil and seasoning! See How to bake cookies on your car dashboard and How to cook food on your car’s engine for inspiration. Read How to keep food fresh on a road trip for more ideas.
Never pass or overtake on blind bends or hills, no matter how confident you start feeling as you keep on driving. Another car or truck coming the other way has nothing to do with your confidence! If you feel as if you’ve done enough driving for the day, heed that feeling. Pushing yourself beyond your limits puts you into the danger zone of drowsiness, poor reaction time, and bad decision-making. Any drowsiness should be heeded; find the nearest rest stop, pull over and take a good 20 minute break that includes stretching, walking, and perhaps eating and drinking. The most basic rest stops have no facilities and consist solely of a paved shoulder on the side of the highway where travelers can rest, look at their maps or nearby scenery, or use mobile phones. When stopping in these areas, any trash resulting from pre-packed food or drinks is generally expected to be carried out. Heed the space needed for large vehicles such as trucks, RVs, buses, etc. when overtaking or passing them, as well as giving them wide berth when they’re turning. Remember that if you can’t see their mirrors, they cannot see you; pass by them quickly but safely, and don’t cut in too soon when pulling back in. Have one person sleep, and one person awake, if you happen to be traveling at night. If you have to drive through the night and everyone is tired, take shifts that are 1 hour 45 minutes long. Everyone sleeps in cycles, and these cycles are typically 1. 5 hours long. Adding the extra fifteen minutes allows for you to settle in and get to sleep. It’s also best to begin waking the next person up a few minutes before you actually stop. To stay awake: drink caffeine, eat crunchy things like apples, shine lights into your eyes, roll down the windows, turn the music up (unless this wakes up the others), bite your cheek, pinch yourself, or change lanes frequently. Read How to stay awake when driving for more details.
The car park of the motel that told you they’re all full might be a good location, especially if you’re all really tired and fed up looking for somewhere to sleep. These are often well lit and out of the way of traffic; however, beware the possibility of thieves trying to break into cars that might be surprised by people in a car! Camping grounds and RV parks can be a spot to park (for a cost) but not actually get out of your car. This will still cost you but can save time by not setting up a tent if you’re in a hurry. Well-lit truck stops are a good choice for sleeping. Many truck drivers use them, so it’s a generally accepted habit in such places.
If you do get caught up and you’re feeling drained of energy, frightened by the traffic, or tired, take the first exit and wait it out. Use it as a chance to explore wherever you’ve turned off to, or to get a coffee.
If you’re in a different part of the country, take the scenic route whenever you can. You may be surprised how different and beautiful your country can be. Be spontaneous. If you see a billboard for some off-the-wall store or a crazy attraction, go. Don’t get caught up in an itinerary or time schedule. Wherever you go, make sure you go out on the town and mingle with the locals. Do your best to avoid eating at chain restaurants. Local restaurants are much better 95 percent of the time and much more fun 100 percent of the time. Besides, you’re more likely to meet some great characters at local diners and restaurants.
Play the game “I spy”: Pick an object everyone can see and say “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with [insert letter]; or something that is [insert color/size]”. Whoever guesses correctly gets to go next. Play “Guess the license plate”: Spot where cars come from and work out the state or province, perhaps even country, that they’re from. The winner is the person who has seen the most states/provinces by the end of the road trip. (It’s probably a good idea to keep a record in a small notebook. ) Or, vary the game by using the letters of each license plate to make a phrase, such as “CBD” could be “cows in broad daylight”, etc. Play “Scavenger hunt”: Have someone draw up a list of items that have to be spotted during the set time. The first to check off all the items on the list wins. Play “Count the cows”: Count as many cows or other objects as possible within a defined period of the trip. Passing a cemetery loses you all your points and you have to start again. The winner is the one with the highest count. Play the “Alphabet game”: Search for each letter of the alphabet on your side of the road, in signs, storefronts, on vehicles, etc. The winner is the one to get the whole alphabet first. Play “Storytelling”: Simply relate a line, then the next person has to make up another line, and so forth until a whole tale is spun. The crazier, the better; have a good laugh! Read How to choose kid’s games for road trips for more ideas. And don’t forget sing alongs!
Being in such close proximity for so long with certain friends can lead to the friendship reaching break point. If so, this can be especially awkward when you still have to drive 1,000 miles (1,600 km) back home with the guy, so be sure to take “breathers” every now-and-then so you don’t get on each others’ nerves.
Digital is the way to go when taking travel photos. Just make sure you have plenty of fully-charged batteries and adequate storage capacity. If memory cards get full they can be downloaded to CDs at the photo departments at big box stores and pharmacies anywhere. Or, if staying with family or friends, just use their computers to backup to disc. Don’t be miserly with the photos; take many and there will be at least one gem per round of shots of the same monument, scenery, or feature! Photograph such structures as a bridge crossing between states, border signs, motels where you slept and have a funny story to tell, interesting signs, etc. Make a checklist of photos that must be taken by each person on the trip. For example, each day someone must take a picture with a random family, a garden gnome, a monument, a particular franchise, a church, etc. Take a picture of one person at each state or provincial line. While it may be tacky, you’re guaranteed laughter and these photos will make great keepsakes later on. Be sure to get lots of photos of your traveling companions. And if you can, get their daily or regular impressions of the trip too and write these down.
