How to Prepare for a Road Trip
Plot a loose route., Plan some meals., Decide if you're going to cook., Make some reservations., Check your vehicle., Pack your clothing., Get snacks together., Put perishable food in a collapsible cooler., Gather emergency supplies., Bring a spare...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Plot a loose route.
Have a sense of the main places you want to hit, and a rough idea of when you want to get there.
Check mileages
-- in the United States, places can be hundreds of miles apart in reality but look quite close on the map.
Think about how long you can realistically drive per day.
It’s often fun to get or buy a map and physically work out your route from that.
If you’d rather do it online, Google Maps or MapQuest are good tools: https://maps.google.com/ or http://www.mapquest.com/ Don’t set yourself up for exhaustion and failure by planning a trip in which you’re in the car for 10 hours a day six days in a row
-- that’s not fun at all. -
Step 2: Plan some meals.
Make a note of some of the places you’ll eat along the way.
For some great suggestions, go to roadfood.com or websites like yelp.com where locals can weigh in on the best food in their areas.
Try to stick to a loose meal schedule so you’re not ravenous and looking for food along a stretch of road with nothing.
When in doubt, you can always get a good variety of foods at grocery stores.
If you have particular diet (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) grocery stores are often going to be your best choices., If you are going to be staying in one place for a few days, it might make sense to rent an apartment and cook for part of your time there.
You will end up saving a lot of money on food, and can even prepare food for the next leg of driving. , It’s fun to drive aimlessly sometimes and just find a hotel for the night, but it’s often hard to find the best lodging at the cheapest price if you don’t plan ahead.
Sometimes you also get stuck going much farther than you had hoped because you can’t find lodging, or the lodging you find is not at all what you wanted.
You certainly don’t need to plan every stop for every night of your trip
-- think about planning one or two nights ahead if you like to keep things loose.If you’re going to camp, it’s essential that you make reservations, especially in summer at popular campgrounds.
Some places fill up months in advance. , Make sure your car, van, or recreational vehicle is in working order.
Get it inspected shortly before your trip to ensure everything is in proper order and functioning appropriately.
Make an appointment at your auto repair shop at least two weeks before you are due to leave
-- sometimes there are more issues with your car than you realize and your mechanic will need more time to get your vehicle ready., Check the weather forecast for the places you'll be visiting
-- it might be much different than where you are and you need to be prepared.
Pack clothing you can layer and pieces that can easily be worn together.
Jeans, shorts, and t-shirts are typical road trip choices, since they are casual and comfortable for riding long distances in the car. , Having food for snacks or if you can't find a meal when you need it is essential for any road trip.
Some popular road trip food choices are:
Jerky Chips Crackers and peanut butter Trail mix Popcorn Veggie or fruit chips , Snacks like yogurt or dips need to be refrigerated (and go well with your other snack foods).
And a cooler is the best way to make sure you always have access to cold beverages.
Make sure to replenish your ice supply every morning to keep your food and drinks from sitting in a pool of warm water. of gas, it’s going to be easy to rack up reward and points and money off.
Make sure you choose a gas card that’s going to be the most useful depending on your region
-- check which gas stations are most common where you are going., Pack them together and place in the trunk before you get the rest of your gear in.
Keep in mind, however, that they will need to be accessible at all times.
You will typically want to include the following basics:
Motor oil Radiator fluid Roadside emergency kit with flares, jumper cables, and flashlight Fire extinguisher Nonperishable food Drinking water Blankets First aid kit , Make sure you also have a tire iron so that you can change your tire if necessary.Keep it stowed in the trunk in case you'll need it if you get a flat miles from a service station. , Be sure you can change a tire if you need to.
Also know how to check the oil and fluid levels.
If you’re travelling through extreme weather or deserted stretches of road (or both), it’s good to check fluid levels before you set out.For oil, lift the hood and pull out the dipstick and wipe with a rag (if you’re not sure where this is, check your owner’s manual).
The stick shows the level of oil currently in your vehicle.
If you’re lower than the area indicated with crosshatches, add a quart of oil.
For radiator fluid, check the transparent tank under the hood.
If your fluid does not fall between the two lines indicated, add more radiator fluid. , Sometimes you end up eating or wanting to stay a place that is cash-only, and you need to be prepared.
If you're planning to be in a fairly remote area, chances are that there will be few ATMs, making cash even more necessary.
Credit cards might be vital if you end up getting an unplanned car repair
-- you need to be ready if you have to make any emergency purchases. , The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the most famous and widespread of these, but there are many other local and regional groups that are worth checking out.
For a road trip, you would want a service that would include long-distance towing to a garage in case you break down far from service.
These help services also are good resources for maps, trip planning, and even discounts on lodging. -
Step 3: Decide if you're going to cook.
-
Step 4: Make some reservations.
-
Step 5: Check your vehicle.
-
Step 6: Pack your clothing.
-
Step 7: Get snacks together.
-
Step 8: Put perishable food in a collapsible cooler.
-
Step 9: Gather emergency supplies.
-
Step 10: Bring a spare tire.
-
Step 11: Know how to do basic tasks on your car.
-
Step 12: Bring plenty of cash and a credit card.
-
Step 13: Consider joining a roadside help service.
Detailed Guide
Have a sense of the main places you want to hit, and a rough idea of when you want to get there.
Check mileages
-- in the United States, places can be hundreds of miles apart in reality but look quite close on the map.
Think about how long you can realistically drive per day.
It’s often fun to get or buy a map and physically work out your route from that.
If you’d rather do it online, Google Maps or MapQuest are good tools: https://maps.google.com/ or http://www.mapquest.com/ Don’t set yourself up for exhaustion and failure by planning a trip in which you’re in the car for 10 hours a day six days in a row
-- that’s not fun at all.
Make a note of some of the places you’ll eat along the way.
For some great suggestions, go to roadfood.com or websites like yelp.com where locals can weigh in on the best food in their areas.
Try to stick to a loose meal schedule so you’re not ravenous and looking for food along a stretch of road with nothing.
When in doubt, you can always get a good variety of foods at grocery stores.
If you have particular diet (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) grocery stores are often going to be your best choices., If you are going to be staying in one place for a few days, it might make sense to rent an apartment and cook for part of your time there.
You will end up saving a lot of money on food, and can even prepare food for the next leg of driving. , It’s fun to drive aimlessly sometimes and just find a hotel for the night, but it’s often hard to find the best lodging at the cheapest price if you don’t plan ahead.
Sometimes you also get stuck going much farther than you had hoped because you can’t find lodging, or the lodging you find is not at all what you wanted.
You certainly don’t need to plan every stop for every night of your trip
-- think about planning one or two nights ahead if you like to keep things loose.If you’re going to camp, it’s essential that you make reservations, especially in summer at popular campgrounds.
Some places fill up months in advance. , Make sure your car, van, or recreational vehicle is in working order.
Get it inspected shortly before your trip to ensure everything is in proper order and functioning appropriately.
Make an appointment at your auto repair shop at least two weeks before you are due to leave
-- sometimes there are more issues with your car than you realize and your mechanic will need more time to get your vehicle ready., Check the weather forecast for the places you'll be visiting
-- it might be much different than where you are and you need to be prepared.
Pack clothing you can layer and pieces that can easily be worn together.
Jeans, shorts, and t-shirts are typical road trip choices, since they are casual and comfortable for riding long distances in the car. , Having food for snacks or if you can't find a meal when you need it is essential for any road trip.
Some popular road trip food choices are:
Jerky Chips Crackers and peanut butter Trail mix Popcorn Veggie or fruit chips , Snacks like yogurt or dips need to be refrigerated (and go well with your other snack foods).
And a cooler is the best way to make sure you always have access to cold beverages.
Make sure to replenish your ice supply every morning to keep your food and drinks from sitting in a pool of warm water. of gas, it’s going to be easy to rack up reward and points and money off.
Make sure you choose a gas card that’s going to be the most useful depending on your region
-- check which gas stations are most common where you are going., Pack them together and place in the trunk before you get the rest of your gear in.
Keep in mind, however, that they will need to be accessible at all times.
You will typically want to include the following basics:
Motor oil Radiator fluid Roadside emergency kit with flares, jumper cables, and flashlight Fire extinguisher Nonperishable food Drinking water Blankets First aid kit , Make sure you also have a tire iron so that you can change your tire if necessary.Keep it stowed in the trunk in case you'll need it if you get a flat miles from a service station. , Be sure you can change a tire if you need to.
Also know how to check the oil and fluid levels.
If you’re travelling through extreme weather or deserted stretches of road (or both), it’s good to check fluid levels before you set out.For oil, lift the hood and pull out the dipstick and wipe with a rag (if you’re not sure where this is, check your owner’s manual).
The stick shows the level of oil currently in your vehicle.
If you’re lower than the area indicated with crosshatches, add a quart of oil.
For radiator fluid, check the transparent tank under the hood.
If your fluid does not fall between the two lines indicated, add more radiator fluid. , Sometimes you end up eating or wanting to stay a place that is cash-only, and you need to be prepared.
If you're planning to be in a fairly remote area, chances are that there will be few ATMs, making cash even more necessary.
Credit cards might be vital if you end up getting an unplanned car repair
-- you need to be ready if you have to make any emergency purchases. , The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the most famous and widespread of these, but there are many other local and regional groups that are worth checking out.
For a road trip, you would want a service that would include long-distance towing to a garage in case you break down far from service.
These help services also are good resources for maps, trip planning, and even discounts on lodging.
About the Author
Katherine Allen
Specializes in breaking down complex crafts topics into simple steps.
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