Preparing for a Road Trip

Life is a highway and I want it all night long. Well to be honest, I don't, I'm not sure anyone really likes the driving part of a road trip. It's the company you keep and your adventures along the way and at the destination that really make it enjoyable. Making sure you and your vehicle are prepared is essential to having a carefree trip. Americans love to take road trips; it's almost like a rite of passage. Here are a few tips to make any road trip a little easier.

Prepare your car

Make sure to change and check your fluids regularly. If your road trip coincides with an oil change or any other scheduled maintenance then make sure to take care of it before you leave. On the same topic make sure you check your tires before a trip, make sure the tread is substantial enough to get you where you are going and back. While you are driving pay careful attention to your cars indicator lights and how it's running. If you're driving somewhere where temperatures get hot make sure to watch the temperature gauge to ensure your car doesn't overheat don't overheat. Pack an emergency roadside kit with jumper cables and a gallon of water just in case you get stranded. Clean at least the interior of the car to make it more pleasant and to help keep the trash from the trip controlled.

Prepare yourself

Make a list of clothes and important items to pack. Check the weather reports for your destination to ensure you pack appropriately it can be very costly to have to purchase items last minute when you forget a jacket or shorts. On the plus side, when travelling by car, it's less important to pack light so you can bring a few just in case items. You also will want to make a list of non perishable healthy food items you would like to bring along. You get hungry driving long distances and convenience stores offer little in the way of nutritional value. You'll also want to pack along drinks to keep unnecessary stops to a minimum. I've found that packing enough food and beverages for the drive and also for some of the meals on the trip saves me time and money. Some of the non perishable items I pack include pretzel sticks, Kashi cookies, snack bars, whole wheat bread, sugar free jam, and peanut butter for sandwiches. In the cooler I pack soda, juice bottles, water bottles for the trip and I usually bring along my Brita pitcher for clean, filtered water. Of course you'll probably want to eat out a few times on your trip and that's great but for those times when money is tight or nothing is open, you'll be happy you have something with you. Also by shopping ahead before hand you are able to get the best price available.

Last minute luxuries

If you want to make snoozing on the road easier, pack a few pillows and maybe a blanket for the night portion of the trip. Make sure to pack all nonessential items out of the main cabin to leave room for cold drinks and some snacks. Making a special playlist is always fun and having one on a road trip can give special meaning to your music. Try and get a good mix together that can help define your adventure. Make sure to pack an emergency first aid kit as well as sunscreen and lotion (because you never know!) if you can fit it comfortably in the trunk, or storage area, of your vehicle there is no reason to leave it behind.

Road trips can be fun and stress free and you can be prepared for whatever comes your way as long as you take a few steps to plan the trip in advance. These things can be done a few days, or the day before a trip. If you end up taking a last minute trip, just prepare as best as you can and remember that it's better to bring more and not use it then to have to spend big bucks on the road for items you already have waiting for you at home.

Lastly make sure you drive safely. It's more important for you to reach your destination in one piece than it is for you to make it there 20-30 minutes faster!