5 Tips for a Successful Road Trip

In life, I often find myself taking to the road for a weekend getaway or holiday trip with friends. During these times, there are some important, "rules of the road", that you should know that have nothing to do with driving. A long road trip can be a tricky situation because one word or action can lead to an argument and bad feelings that will not exit the car until you do. It is important to know that while staying safe is the most vital part of the journey, having fun is also key to a successful road trip. Here are five ways to keep everyone in the car happy and on good terms with one another.

1) Space

Nothing will ruin a long road trip quicker than a group of friends being cramped together in the back seat of a coupe. For one, the people in back who are smashed together, will start to resent the driver and front seat passenger. Secondly, being uncomfortable for long periods will make anyone edgy and unreceptive to others. Make sure that you take a car with ample room for everyone. If you have to, split the group up and take separate rides. Make sure you rotate drivers and seats depending on the preferences of everyone on the trip. If your passengers are physically comfortable, then you've won half the battle when it comes to getting along for the duration.

2) Playing the Right Music

Music is also a huge point of contention on my road trips. No matter what group we are talking about, there is always one person who is passionate and defensive about the music that they listen to. In my life, I am that person. My solution is simple. Play music that everyone can agree on. Sure, if I played my music for the entire trip, I would enjoy it, but others would get upset, and in turn they would aggravate me.

There are always bands and types of music that everyone can agree on. I've met few people that don't enjoy the music of Tom Petty, so that's always a great option for me. Your ultimate goal is to get everyone to sing along. A group of friends singing together during a road trip creates positive feelings and great memories.

3) Laughter/Conversation

Keeping things loose and light is essential to getting along during a long trip. The best way to do this is through story telling. Personally, I love to reminisce about my college days with friends. Everyone has a amusing stories to tell from the past, and a good story can be recounted amongst friends on many occasions, and still maintain its impact.

Another way to generate laughter is through a practical joke. Remember, you're moving in a car at high speeds, so never mess with the driver or do anything too distracting. Also, make sure your victim is someone who won't take your joke too seriously. You should know who can take it and who can't, or don't even attempt your prank. During one trip, we prerecorded a CD filled with, terrible songs we had made ourselves, radio adverts, and a disc jockey. We popped it in when our friend, Tom, had fallen asleep. Upon waking up, it took him nearly the entire CD to figure out what was going on. Now, every time we need a laugh, we just pop that in. You don't have to do that much preparation for you joke, just be careful to keep it light and don't make it personal.

4) Games

Finding a road game shouldn't be a challenge. Everyone has played some type of time wasting, trivial game in the car. Most of them will become tiresome after awhile, but not to worry. There are hundreds of games to choose from. 20 questions, the license plate game, trivia, or travel sized board games are all options. Predetermine the games you will need and make a list of the ones you can play. It will come in handy. Whatever you choose, make sure to switch it up as soon as one person is bored. If you are prepared, the fun can waste hours at a time.

5) Quiet Time

If the trip is long enough, everyone in the car will need time to nap. The key word here is respect. If someone is sleeping, keep your voices down (unless you are pulling the aforementioned prank). If you are driving, staying alert is important. If no one is up to talk to you and you are feeling drowsy yourself, pull over at the first opportunity. Everyone will feel better after a short break from the road.

With a group of people gathered in a small space, your personality traits can become magnified. You have to know when to tone it down, and when to respect the privacy of others. I myself am an introvert. While I can be loud and outgoing, I need time with my own thoughts to let my battery charge. When my friends see this, they know that they can still converse, but they respect my desire to live in my own head for awhile. If someone is quiet for an extended period of time, ask them what is wrong, but only once. They are probably just refueling.

The success of a road trip hinges upon the overall mood of the group. Keep this in mind at all times on the road, and be sure to include everyone's ideas on how to get the most out of your trip. Who knows, often times the trip itself turns out to be more fun than your destination.