I find road trips so fun and they’re a great relatively inexpensive way to see a little more of your country. Split the gas between a few friends, and you have yourself a great way to create a special weekend holiday without breaking the bank. If you’re thinking of planning a road trip, whether with your family or friends, these 5 road trip essentials will help get you properly prepared for your next adventure.
1. Choose a Good Car
You may find it best to use a car one of you or your friends own, maybe you’ll consider renting a car between you and splitting the costs, or maybe you’re in the market for a new car and figure a road trip is the perfect way to break your new car in. If you’re in the market for a new car, don’t forget to visit your local Ford dealer before making your decision. Whatever type of car you choose to do your road trip in, make sure that the tyres are in good working order, with enough thread and pressure to make your journey safe. Check all lights before setting off!
2. Plenty of Snacks
Road trips can be a couple hours, to a couple of days. The length of time will of course depend on where you’re headed, but it’s always good to bring more snacks than not enough. Buying things such as fruit, muesli bars, jerky, and trail mix are great ideas for snacks that are relatively healthy. If you don’t use the snacks during the road trip, you will have things to snack on during the holiday or on the way home!
3. A Great Sound Track
Chances are you’ll have a ton of fun conversations during your road trip, but at some point you’ll just want to chill a little and focus on driving or looking out the window. A good sound track is absolutely essential for a road trip and it’s even better if you have a few songs that are good to sing along with. I personally love downloading my favourite playlists on Spotify before heading away on a trip, so even if there’s no cellphone coverage I’ll have plenty of music.
4. A First Aid Kit
You never know what’s going to happen while away on holiday and while we never want to think of things going wrong, it’s important to have a few things prepared just in case. You can easily buy a small first aid kit from your local supermarket to keep in your car’s glove box. Or if you want to save a bit of money, you can grab a few essentials from the supermarket, such as bandages, gauze, iodine and painkillers.
5. A Realistic Itinerary
Driving long distances can be a recipe for disaster if you don’t plan properly. I like to always add an extra hour to my driving time for every 4 hours that’s expected. Another good idea is to check the time it takes to drive your planned route at the time you estimate you’ll be leaving in Google Maps to get a more accurate estimation based on the usual traffic conditions. Make sure you plan enough time for your journey so you don’t find yourself rushing to make a deadline!
Road trips are so fun and a great way to create unforgettable memories with your friends and family. Use these tips to make the most of your next road trip adventure!
