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| When you're in hour 15 of your road trip, just start thinking about the hot tub waiting for you at your vacation rental. |
Vacation season's in full swing, and, according
to AAA, millions of Americans are hitting the road on trips of 50 miles or
more. Whether you're traveling with just another adult or will have a car full
of kids, you'll want to make the
journey as enjoyable as possible. With a little planning, you'll likely find
that a road trip is just as much fun -- if not more fun -- than taking a plane.
Buy Ahead and Pack a Cooler. Snacks are
essential on the road, but only the right kind will do. While grabbing bags of
chips, nuts and energy drinks as you’re fueling the car sounds like a good
idea, it's not. First, it's expensive. Second, you're buying purely on impulse.
Plan out your snacks like you plan your drive. After all, what you eat impacts
how your mood, which will impact how much you enjoy your trip. You'll also save
time by not running into the store to buy things --- just get gas, hit the
restroom and go.
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| Nothing equals the feeling of reaching the beach at the end of a long road trip. |
Use Online Mapping Tools for More than Mileage.
While Mapquest and Google Maps are indispensable for finding the best route,
they can also show you landmarks along the way. Look for state parks,
historical sites, and entertainment options. Researching fun stops along your
route is easy, and you can be as selective as you want. Getting a feel for the
area you're driving through is one of the most enjoyable parts of a road trip.
You can also find great places to eat and estimate how much gas you'll need.
There are other online trip planning tools such as RoadTripAmerica.com,
MyScenicDrives.com and Tripit.com
Service and Clean Your Vehicle. This one seems
like a no-brainer, and it should be. However, don't just check your own oil and
tire pressure. Take the car or van into a trusted repair shop and ask them to
give it a thorough once over. They'll check tread wear on your tires, coolant
levels, change your oil, examine the belts and air filter and more. Then, take
your car to a full service car wash. Get the inside thoroughly cleaned, and
spring for the extra air freshener.
Create a Road Trip Ambience Inside Your
Vehicle. Traveling 8 to 16 hours in your car across the nation is different
from shuttling the kids to practice or commuting to work. First, mentally map
out how you'll pack the bags, leaving room for an extra bag someone invariably
decides to bring along. Then, position your snacks in such a way that you'll
actually reach for them, instead of just falling into the habit of buying
something at the gas station. Mix CDs of your favorite music, bring books on
CDs, as well as DVDs. If you don't have a DVD player in your vehicle, don't fret.
Most laptops play DVDs and will do fine for keeping the kids entertained (you
might get a set of noise reduction headphones).
Plan for an Extra Hour or Two of Driving. You never know what
surprises a road trip will bring. That's part of the fun -- but if you don't
leave a little extra time in your travel plans, it can become a real pain. The
extra time will help you relax and encourage you to get off the Interstate and
enjoy yourself, or just to slow down and enjoy the scenery as you drive.
