Grab the Keys and Go: 10 Tips for a Great Road Trip

So you're ready to make the long haul. You've got the beef jerky, the Red Bull, and the sour straws. It's time to get going.

Road trips aren't a new part of the whole "American Living" experience, yet there is something entirely unique about each individual adventure. Different reasons drive us to want to just grab the keys and go, and different outcomes of these experiences are discovered. It's the kind of personal journey in which friends are absolutely essential. However, to make sure your road trip isn't bust, there are certain guidelines you can follow to enhance your journey.

1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH CASH
-Probably the most important point when it comes to planning a road trip is to make sure you will NOT run out of money. Calculate the gas mileage of your vehicle, look up the national average for gas prices, and estimate the mileage of your trip. Based on that information, you can make an educated guess at how much gas alone is going to cost. Then factor in meals. It's always a good job to bring snacks and hit up dollar menus while on the road. If you play it safe and cheap, you shouldn't be spending more than between $10-$15 bucks a day on meals and munchies. Add all that up, and tack on an extra $50-$100 for emergency cash, and you should be good to go. Don't forget some change for toll roads as well!

2. HAVE A FLEXIBLE GAME PLAN
-It's important to have a game plan prior to starting up the engine. It's even more important to make sure that your game plan is flexible. Things often change once you're on the road. You'll run into bad weather, road blocks, car trouble, etc., and you don't need to let that get in the way of your fun. No road trip goes without some minor detours. Make sure that whatever stops you have planned can be changed around, and that if you absolutely must be somewhere by a certain time, you give yourself more than enough time to be there by the deadline. Remember, part of the fun of a road trip is not having to be at a place at a certain time, so if you can avoid deadlines altogether, that's the best route to take.

3. HAVE SOME GOOD MUSIC
-As Donald Miller would say, "Music is the soundtrack to life. The absence of it is unforgivable on a road trip" (Through Painted Deserts, 38). I couldn't agree with him more. Music is the soundtrack to life, thus the music you choose for your road trip is the soundtrack to that trip. You're most likely going to be traveling with friends, and if you have different tastes, a good idea is to alternate CDs. Friend 1 gets one CD, friend 2 gets another, friend 3 gets another. Cycle through. If anybody absolutely can't stand one genre, that genre may just need to be sacrificed for the sake of others. If I, for one, just despise country (which I do), and my friend just can't handle jazz (which he can't), we may just need to agree to eliminate those genres from the set list. This keeps everything civil and fun.

4. TALK AND PLAY
-Road Trips are all about discovery, bonding, and enjoying the company of others. None of this is possible without great conversation and some good travel games. I'm not talking your little Travel Scrabble set you got at Wal-Mart, I'm talking 21 questions, I Spy, and the alphabet game. The more social you are with your buddies, the more you will benefit from the experience. Over the road trips I've taken, I've found that the ones that really solidified some of my closest friendships were the ones that involved a great deal of conversation. Talk about anything and everything. Ask each other questions. Make jokes. Laugh. Play. Nag on each other when you lose games. If you don't let yourself have fun, you won't.

5. JOURNAL
-This isn't necessarily an essential, but depending on the kind of person you are, you may want to bring a journal along just to jot down thoughts and observations. I have only done this on one road trip, my most recent, and I will do it from now on. Journaling allows you to record your fondest memories, as well as connect with the experience. You'll find yourself gaining a lot of insight by simply observing and reporting, even if to yourself.

6. STOPS AND ROTATIONS
-It's a good idea to stop at least once every three hours to give everyone a little break. Do not underestimate the power of pit stops. A simple ten minute rest at a gas station can rejuvenate the entire group, and allows some time for snacks and bathroom breaks. There are exceptions to this rule, but it's a good idea to switch around in the car. Some people may want a chance to drive, some people may want a chance to ride shotgun, and some people may want a chance to chill in the back seat and sleep. If everyone wants equal opportunity, create an alternating system. However, sometimes people are perfectly happy with permanent seats. If this is the case, then by all means, keep it the same.

7. SCENERY
-Some people don't care about pictures, others do. If you're in the latter group, don't get too wrapped up in taking a picture of everything you see. There's plenty of beauty out there, and missing one little thing won't ruin your trip. Also, if you come across something particularly beautiful, stop and hang out! Certain picnic areas and overlooks are great places for you to get out, decompress, journal, eat, play a game, whatever. Just because it's a road trip doesn't mean you shouldn't take some time to admire your discoveries.

8. MEET PEOPLE
-Yes, stranger danger exists, so take this one with a grain of salt. But if you come across a travel stop, and someone randomly starts up a conversation with you, engage in that conversation! Not everyone gets the opportunity to do what you're doing, and some people could be incredibly inspired by just a little five to ten minute conversation with you, and you may be inspired by what they have to say as well. There are plenty of people out there, plenty of stories to hear and things to learn. If you happen to run into some friendly people, chat with them. Ask them about the area. You may hear some great stories or discover some hidden gems by doing this. After all, the primary idea behind a road trip is discovery, right?

9. GET SUFFICIENT SLEEP
-If you're traveling with enough people, you may be able to achieve this by alternating around the vehicle. If not, a super cheap option is to hit up rest stops. Some people may deem this unsafe, but if you're at a crowded stop and you can lock your doors and get some shut-eye, it's really not a bad idea. It's free and effective, and again, if the doors are locked, you're most likely ok. Sleep is very important to a good experience. Plus, this is a road trip, and whoever is driving must be well rested. If everyone is grumpy and lethargic, you're not going to have a good time. Make time for this!

10. HAVE A PURPOSE
-Even if the reason for your road trip is "just because" you want to get away, that's a valid enough reason. But don't jump into a road trip unless you truly want to. If you're not in the right mindset, you may find yourself bored or aggravated. Discovering a new place, going in a new direction, taking a break from an organized lifestyle are all great reasons to get out on the road. Know why you're doing this before you do it, and you're likely to get more out of it. Don't think joy into a coffin while you're out there, just enjoy the experience, and live in the moment.

My most recent extended Road Trip was during December '08-January '09. I journaled a lot on the trip, and it was one of the greatest experiences I have had in a long time. The link to that journal entry is here, if you're interested.

Above all these things, keep in mind that you're out to have a good time. Road Trips are all about taking it easy, seeing the sights, soaking it in, and having a blast. So what are you waiting for? Go!