Finally. It’s time to this cross-country road trip off of your bucket list! Everyone’s experience on a quest like this will be different. You’ll want to take a specific route, visit certain places, do memorable things that are meaningful to you, but there a number tips that I always follow when taking a long trip.
1. Preparation.
Prepare for anything that may happen along the trip – such as getting food, gas, and a maintenance check on your car (assuming you’re not the quest to bike or walk across the country) before you departure.This means creating an itinerary in advance and have an idea of where on the map you’ll be of what time of day. There’s a difference between being hungry during the day and being able to stop anywhere for meal and your stomach growling in the middle of the night. It will also be helpful to you to have snacks and drinks on hand.
2. Safety.
Take numerous measures to keep safe on a long road trip. Be sure to cash for any expenditure that can not be done with a card for emergency spending. Bring flashlights and extra batteries. This is where car maintenance is really important beforehand – making sure wipers, tires, brakes and others are all functioning properly. It’s also a great idea to check in with someone back home every hour or so let them know where you are and how the trip is going*. Lastly, make to get adequate sleep before taking off. If traveling alone, note beforehand where motels/hotels are along the route. If you’re traveling with a pal, take turns driving and napping.
3. Company.
Take someone with you. Two heads are better than one. How fun would it to go through such a beautiful journey with a someone you love and have fun with? Amazing! Take it from me. You’ll have a blast sharing jokes, pictures, meals, and silent moments with someone else. But be wary of bringing too much company (especially kids, or that one parent who you could never see eye to eye with) since the different needs and personalities may clash.
4. Entertainment.
Bring more than enough music, books, or anything anything that you love and can do in the confinement of a car to entertain yourself when your pal is driving.
5. Document.
Bring cameras and camcorders with you to document the experience and maybe show everyone when you get back home or to your new home. Hey, if you get the artistic bug along the way, draw a scenery while on one of your stops.
*Pull over when using the phone if driving alone or have the someone else in the car do so.
