How To Plan For Your First Road Trip
As more and more people around the world discover the importance of travel for health, road trips, in particular, are drawing many new discerning travelers. The choice to travel almost exclusively via road trips is largely becoming the mode of choice. The increase in travel costs, combined with waiting times at airports and possible delays can make driving to one’s destination more enticing than ever.
You may want to embark on a new adventure after coming out of an outpatient drug rehab clinic or you may want to get the taste of a new country. Whatever it might be, it is best to plan well for your first road trip experience.
In addition to that, discovering the world at large through taking advantage of nearby destinations, makes traveling accessible to anyone who is willing to step outside of their comfort zone. Traveling on road trips is also a great choice for those who are often deterred from traveling to far-off destinations due to work or family constraints.
If you are someone who has ever considered taking a road trip but has not taken the leap yet, there is no better time than now to start. To help you on this journey, if you have never planned a road trip before, there is a bit more to it than tapping in a postcode and heading out on the road.
In this article, we will discuss several key details for you to prepare for as you plan for your first road trip.
No. 1
Route
The moment you consider taking a long drive anywhere, you should plan your route accordingly. Planning your route means you must start to do a bit of research. Consider any roadside hazards to expect, routes where you will encounter cities or traffic, and any impending dangers that are scheduled to occur including weather warnings. With the aid of Google Maps, you can even view and walk through the whole route in 3D several times prior to your trip to familiarize yourself with and get a better understanding of the route.
Furthermore, you will need to look up and plan a backup route. If there is unexpected roadwork or other hazards that will affect your trip, you have another route on standby. This will provide peace of mind knowing that you will not ever be in a position of being stuck somewhere that is unfamiliar to you. You can simply proceed to the next route easily and seamlessly.
Here are some route planners to use:
Google Maps
Roadtrippers: Trip Planner
Waze
In addition, always have a road atlas as a backup in your vehicle, and mark the pages in advance for further security for added peace of mind.
No. 2
Car Prep
To prepare for your upcoming road trip, inspect your vehicle to make sure everything is in working order. A road trip will require your car to be in good working condition to avoid causing any unexpected vehicle maintenance issues to arise.
Before hitting the road, it’s a good idea to check your vehicle’s fluids. If it's winter and you’re low on coolant, you can easily order car antifreeze online to ensure your engine stays protected during your trip.
Things to have a look at:
Routine inspection: Is your vehicle current? If not, take it in and have it checked.
Oil: Ensure your vehicle is up to date with an oil change.
Brakes: Ensure that your brakes are not needing an immediate replacement.
Tires: Check your tire tread condition.
Windshield: Check for cracks, and working wipers, and ensure that your wiper fluid is full.
Headlights: Ensure your headlights are working properly.
Vehicle tags: Ensure that your vehicle insurance and registration are current.
No. 3
Emergency Kits
No one likes the idea of being in an accident or in an emergency, but if you are unprepared, and it happens, the experience is always much worse. Important documents should always be kept handy. These include your vehicle insurance card, registration, and license, which should be stored in your vehicle along with emergency numbers, medical information, and a personal injury lawyer number to cover all of your bases.
Here are a couple of extra things:
Water to drink and for your vehicle
Snacks that are non-perishable
Blankets, pillows, and socks
Cash and coins
Spare tire (get it checked in the BET check)
Jump starter battery or cables
Chargers for your devices
No. 4
Fun Extras
Road trips can be long, and you do need to get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs regularly, so what better thing to do than pick some fun side trips along the way? Side trips are a great opportunity to see places that you might not usually get to see. There are some very interesting places outside of the city limits, and you can start collecting trinkets from gift shops along the way.
No. 5
Prepare for added Miles
Whatever the route planner tells you, it is important to add additional miles to be safe. Detours, traffic, and extra stops will use more gas than you think, so try to budget for more than is on the mileage estimation. Not only that but adding more miles will mean you are more mentally prepared to be in the car for longer if necessary.
If you are heading out on two wheels rather than four, here is a guide for you: Travel Tips and Advice for Solo Female Motorcyclists.
No. 6
Find local deals
With a bit of research prior to your road trip, you can find many cost-saving deals that could help with expenses during your trip. Take, for instance, local promotions for restaurants that you would not know about unless you had searched them up prior to your trip. In Las Vegas, for example, you can find deals such as all-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi at Neko Supremo in Chinatown for just $25.95 for lunch, $29.95 for dinner, and $21 after 11 p.m. Many establishments also offer reverse happy hour or bottomless mimosas, which can all add up to huge savings when you travel.
Takeaways
When thinking about planning for your first road trip, it is always best to cover all bases to ensure that you have your focus on enjoying your trip once it rolls around. While various unexpected events will surely arise along the way, with some planning, you will be in a better position to approach any obstacles with ease. The whole purpose of your trip is to get away to experience something new and exciting, so once you have everything in order, you will feel a lot freer to let your hair down and enjoy all the fun times ahead.
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