It is springtime and road trips are definitely on the agenda for many of us. Time to hit the open road, have fun, explore, and make memories!
Road trips are one of the best ways to travel when you want to experience as many different places as you possibly can.
One of the perks is that you are in charge of your time and agenda. You can detour if you want, change course, or just stick to the plan.
Things can still happen on a road trip though so being prepared is key. Here are our 9 tips on how to plan a great road trip:
- Choose your places
Whether you are going to one place and seeing multiple attractions in the area or going on a longer trip with multiple stops, you want to map it all out ahead of time. Remember, if you don’t know where you are going you will never know if you got there!
- Map out your route
Know where you are starting from and where you want to end up and then use an app on your phone or just a regular paper map to plot out the route and stops.
Plotting the right route determines what you will be seeing, what roads you will be on, the distance you are driving, time it will take, stops you need to make, experiences you want to have and it will also help you determine if you need to change anything you originally thought you were going to do if it is too far out of the way.
- Make sure you are driving a good vehicle
Not only do you want to make sure your vehicle is in top shape for the trip, you want to make sure it is the right one for the terrain you will be on. If you are taking a drive along the coast and you want to experience the wind in your hair, your convertible sports car will be great. On the other hand, if you are driving into the mountains or on dirt roads, you probably don’t want to be driving that convertible but rather an SUV with 4 wheel drive. If you don’t have the correct vehicle for the terrain, consider renting a vehicle for the trip.
- Budget
You always want to make sure you plan your budget in advance and go a little higher than you think you will need. You don’t want to be halfway through a road trip, run out of gas and find you are on your last $20.
There are multiple costs associated with a road trip including gas for the vehicle, costs for where you are sleeping at night, admission for places you want to visit, food for each day, tolls you may have and spending money you want to use for souvenirs as well.
- Vehicle Preparation
Whether you are renting a vehicle or driving your own, you want to make sure that the vehicle is ready for the trip.
Be sure there are good tires on the vehicle, the fluids are all full and changed and that the brakes are in good condition.
Make sure you have a spare tire in the vehicle and a way to change it also.
Some other items to keep in the car include a flashlight, reflective triangles, jumper cables, water, registration documents, and emergency contact numbers.
- Entertainment
Long road trips can get tiresome if you are just driving for hours. Having some entertainment can keep the mood upbeat and fun. Good music is the best form of entertainment, just choose something everyone can enjoy so everyone is happy.
Passengers can also have other forms of entertainment such as something to read, headphones to watch a movie on their phone, books or games they can play with other passengers. This is definitely something you want to make sure you cover if you are traveling with children.
- Reservations
Whether it is a hotel reservation or a reservation to see an attraction, make sure you have all of that in place and confirmed before you leave for the trip. You don’t want to be trying to find a place to stay last minute and you want to be sure you can get into all the experiences you and your companions want to enjoy also.
- Packing
Packing for a trip is important. You want to have the right clothing for the area, the right footwear for the activities you will be participating in, and the personal items you need as well to be comfortable and happy.
Key items to remember are medications, a first aid kit and anything that you can’t pick up somewhere along the way such as glasses.
Also packing snacks and water in the car is a good idea in case you get on a stretch of road where there are no stops.
- Make New Friends
This last tip is just for fun. Road trips are great to go on and so much fun with the people you travel with if you have the right companions. It is also fun to make some new friends along the way.
Meeting people in the places that you visit will also give you an inside view of the area, new destinations you may want to visit and new ideas on things to do.
No matter what, the important thing is to have fun. Be open to new experiences, open to opportunities, and enjoy your time.
If there is anything you need along the way in regard to insurance please don’t hesitate to contact us here at John Scott Insurance Agency.
Happy Travels!