How to Plan a Road Trip

I’ve personally taken plenty of road trips, usually resulting in 1000 miles or more one way. I don’t think getting ready to plan a road trip has to be as complicated or stressful as most people make it out to be, though I will admit I still get nervous every time I’m getting reading to get out on the road in my car.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• money
• a safe vehicle
• snacks
• stuff for passengers to do
• hotel reservations (optional)
• map, directions or GPS

1. Long gone are the days of buying an atlas, or writing to AAA for a TripTik. Nowadays, you probably own a GPS. If not, the first thing you’ll want to do is go to mapquest.com and get driving directions from the address from which you are leaving to the address where you’ll be arriving. Mapquest gives step by step instructions to plan a road trip and so far they’ve gotten me to my destination every time.

2. If you’re nervous about your car, you’ll want to have it serviced. Make sure all the fluids are full, nothing is leaking, you’ve got plenty of extra oil and water in case of an older vehicle, and your tires are in good shape.

3. Make hotel reservations in advance if you don’t wish to ride around sleepy looking for a room, or if you’re against pulling up to a rest stop and getting a few hours of shuteye in the car.

4. Bring some snacks for the road. When you plan a road trip you’ll probably not be familiar with the roads you’ll be heading on, or where you might find a quick bite to eat. If you’re in a highway with no stores or restaurants for miles, you’ll want to make sure you have a snack and a beverage.

5. If you’ll be bringing any children along for the ride, you might want to make sure you’ve got plenty of entertainment. Toys, DVDs, and games might be the ticket. You could also get creative and do a quick search on the internet for instruction on how to play I Spy or other road trip games.

6. Make sure you’ve got plenty of money when planning a road trip. Be sure you have money on your debit card, credit card, and in your wallet. Some gas stations and stores in smaller towns still don’t accept plastic. It’s always good to have some of your money in the form of cash in case of emergency. It’s also good to keep some money on debit or credit cards in case of mishap.

7. Remember, you’re going on a road trip. To plan a road trip can be fun. Actually taking the road trip can be a blast! It’s an adventure for sure, and once you get in the car and take the first turn, the stress will melt away. Turn up the radio, put on the cruise control and relax. The hard part is over!

Resources

• Mapquest for Driving Directions

[Mitestarossa]

on 4/6/2009 Excellent road trip tips.