Since flying is still difficult to do (and mostly not recommended at this time), you can still fill your need for travel through weekend getaways and road trips. During the last half of 2020 we took a few different road trips around Ontario to experience what our own province had to offer. We’ve also taken many road trips across the border to the US, and have flown to different US cities, rented a vehicle and experienced the destination by car. Road trips are a great way to see places you’d ordinarily not make the time to see. And, since you’re road-tripping, you can decide where, when, and how long you want to stop along the journey. You are in full control of your itinerary! But, if you want to have an epic road trip, planning is essential! Here are 20 road trip tips for an epic road trip experience.
Road Trip Planning Tips
- Determine your timeline and location: before you start your planning, know how long you plan to go and generally where you want to stop. Ensure you don’t require any specific licenses, registration, or insurance before you leave
- Choose your vehicle: decide if you’re taking your own vehicle, renting a car, or renting an RV/campervan (this will help you plan your accommodations appropriately). If you’re renting, check out my post: 5 Tips for Renting a Car on Vacation
- Plan your route: main highways can be the most efficient way to get to your destinations, but they aren’t usually very scenic. Try to incorporate some scenic areas into your route, and program navigation into your phone or GPS
- Pre-book your accommodations: decide where you want to stay (hotel, campground, Harvest Host, or just a Walmart parking lot!) and make any reservations in advance. This will help with budgeting and stress-free travel and is especially important if you’re travelling to a popular location during peak travel season
- Reserve any main attraction tickets in advance: if you want to visit any popular attractions that have limited access, or to avoid waiting in lines, try to pre-book your tickets online
- Leave some flexibility in your itinerary: on a road trip, part of the fun is exploring new cities and attractions. Leaving some flexibility will allow you to spend more time in the cities or locations you’re enjoying
- Pack appropriately for your journey and destination: ensure you have the right clothing, accessories, food, drinks, technology gear, and any other specialty items you require for your trip. And during the time of this global pandemic, ensure you have extra face masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes readily available
- Prepare your home: if you have pets or plants that need care, arrange this in advance. Put a hold on your mail, set automatic lights to go on/off in your home, and have someone you trust keep an eye on your house. Unplug anything that doesn’t need to be plugged in while you’re away as well
Road Trip Vehicle Prep Checklist
If you’re using your own vehicle, then make sure you follow the checklist below to have it ready to go for your road trip adventure. If you’re renting a car, ensure you check that it is in good working order before you leave the lot – and know who to call if you have any issues.
- Clean your car
- Get a tune up and oil change
- Check your brakes, A/C, heater, tires (including spare!), and lights
- Fill your gas tank
- Throw in a seasonally appropriate emergency kit
- Bring a portable tire inflator/compressor (just in case!)
Road Trip Journey Tips
The following tips should help you have a comfortable and enjoyable road trip.
- Prep a cooler with snacks and drinks for the journey that you can refill along the way
- Make sure you have portable phone chargers
- Take frequent breaks and avoid long stretches of driving
- Keep your eye on the gas gauge! Fill up at every opportunity so you don’t risk running out of gas
- Anticipate any traffic (rush hours, special events), and try to plan your day around this
Road Trip Emergency Tips
Whether you’re taking a road trip in your own country, or are visiting another country be prepared for emergencies! Make sure you have insurance, cell service, road side assistance information, and know who to call in an emergency. And don’t forget the tip already mentioned – bring a weather appropriate emergency kit in your car.
Road Trip Tips Summary
If you take the time to prepare in advance, you can certainly have a great road trip. Even if you prefer to be spontaneous, at the very least you should ensure your vehicle is prepared. If you have any road trip tips of your own, share them in the comments below!
