There’s something about hitting the open road that always feels like freedom to me. A road trip isn’t just about getting from point A to point B —it’s about discovering little towns you’ve never heard of, stopping for unexpected views, and laughing with your family over snacks in the car. Just like our road trip at Christmas in Seefeld, where exploring snowy streets and cozy Christmas markets made for magical family memories, a little planning goes a long way in turning a simple drive into an adventure full of moments everyone will remember.
Here are some tips to make your next road trip more successful.
1. Drive Safely
It goes without saying that the worst thing that could possibly happen on a road trip is a car accident. The best way to drive safely is to practice defensive driving.
General principles of defensive driving include:
- Controlling one’s speed
- Being distraction-free and alert
- Looking ahead
- Being prepared for events which are unexpected
When it comes to others participating in traffic:
- Be prepared for all types of reactions and actions from pedestrians and other drivers
- Don’t expect other drivers to behave like you typically would
- Respect and watch other drivers
When it comes to your own vehicle:
- Maintain a following distance which is safe
- Drive safely adjusting for and considering road and/or weather conditions
- Adjust speed before entering bends so as to avoid applying your brakes in the middle of the curve
2. Prepare for the Trip
Do Car Maintenance
Your road trip should be as stress-free and smooth as possible. Take good care of your vehicle. Prior to hitting the road, you should:
- Change your oil, if necessary, and inspect your vehicle
- Top off any fluids
- Check your heater and air conditioner
- Inspect the tires
- Put together a road trip toolkit which includes a spare tire, emergency blankets, jumper cables and more
- If you’re traveling in winter, have snow chains on hand—they can be a lifesaver on icy or snowy roads (like it happened to me in Austria for example)
Get Adequate Sleep Before Driving
You should get a minimum of seven hours of sleep for two nights in a row prior to your road trip to build up energy. Begin driving in the morning following a good night of rest, not following a long work day (unless you plan on stopping). Stop about every two hours or 100 miles to keep alert and fresh.
3. Keep the Trip Manageable
Road trips only have a single real limit: the ocean. If you want to drive across the entire United States, or across Europe, you can. However, a trip like this would be very long: over 3,000 miles and around 48 hours.
A road trip will not be fun if it isn’t manageable. Consider the amount of time you have as well as the amount of time you can realistically spend in a car before becoming fatigued. Plan your route once considering these things.
4. Don’t Drive More Than Five Hours per Day
Just fly if you need to drive 12 hours straight to a destination. It isn’t worth wasting entire days in your car when time isn’t given for exploration. The journey is the most important part of a road trip: the places in-between your start and end points show you what America is about.
Things can be kept relaxed and easy by limiting driving. This gives you time for nice meals. This gives you time to take backroads. This lets you check into hotels late in the afternoon. It means you can have a cocktail before dinner. It means you can explore towns instead of just spending nights in them.
5. Keep Paper Directions or a Paper Map
You never know when something might go wrong with technology. Your phone might overheat and turn off for 20 minutes. Your phone’s battery may suddenly be unable to hold a charge. Some places may not even have cell phone service, so you won’t be able to connect once you exit out of navigation. You’ll be thankful you brought along paper directions or a paper map whenever anything unexpectedly goes wrong with technology.
6. Plan Stops
You might accidentally stumble upon something awesome if you make an unplanned stop. However, if you suddenly get hungry and make an unplanned stop, there’s a good chance that all you find are underwhelming fast food options. You won’t randomly find things on the highway as delicious as you will when you make planned stops in towns.
Plan your meals. This increases the chances of finding hidden gem restaurants.
7. Don’t Pack Too Much
It’s hard for many people to pack because they want to prepare for everything. You often, however, end up packing a lot of things you don’t need or end up using. Pack lightly because space is an issue when you travel by car.
Pack for what you plan on doing, not what you may end up doing. Don’t pack formal wear if you don’t plan on having a fancy dinner. If you do plan on having a fancy dinner, decide what you’ll wear ahead of time instead of packing three options and deciding later.
Pack clothing which can be easily layered. Hoodies and cardigans are always good ideas. This way, when it gets too cold or hot, you can easily remove or add clothing in order to stay comfortable.
Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.
