Taking your own car on a road trip can be one of the most liberating and wonderful travel experiences possible. To be able to stop exactly where you want, not adhering to a predestinated route and doing everything on your own accord, is one of the great benefits of utilizing personal transportation.
However, there is also a lot of responsibility that must be acknowledged when using your car on vacation on a road trip. The goal of this guide is to provide you with some of that wisdom and point out some basic things to keep in mind when planning your road trip so you can ensure you’ll have a good time.
It’s often difficult to foresee all of the problems that could potentially happen on your first road trip, so here are some tips:
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Get Your Car Inspected Before Leaving: One of the essentials to do before taking your car on a road trip is to get it inspected. Check the tires and change the oil to minimize the chances of an issue from arising on the road. Furthermore, double check to ensure the vehicle’s plate tags aren’t set to expire while you’re on your road trip. Lastly, buy car insurance online in the event the policy has expired or no longer seems sufficient.
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Find a Blowup Mattress: Though you probably have sleeping arrangements figured out for each place you’ll be visiting, in the event that you’ll be winging it, it’s useful to have a blowup mattress. This way if you need to be flexible and stay somewhere that isn’t ideal (i.e. if someone offers you their floor) you can be sure you’ll also be comfortable in the process.
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Pack Smart: One of the most common mistakes made when taking the car on vacation is packing too much stuff. While the trunk space should be utilized to the fullest, this requires the passengers to pack smart. Think over everything being brought to ensure its necessary for the journey.
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Bring CDs/Cassette and Maps: For those who rely on music streaming and your phone’s GPS to take you to your next destination, you might want to bring CDs/cassettes (whichever your car uses) and maps just in case you lose service in an area you’re traveling to. There is often not sufficient documentation regarding which areas are good for service, so it may put you in an unexpected situation if you’re not careful enough. Staying prepared means that you’ll be able to keep entertained and focused should you hit a dead spot.
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Go to Supermarkets: For those looking to stay on a budget while taking your road trip, you may feel enticed to eat gas station food or cheap fast food while on the road. This can be a fun thing to do every once in a while, but it’s also good to find some healthy food that is likely even cheaper—to do this, just stop by any grocery store on your way. Many contain healthy food on a budget and you can even have a picnic anywhere you’re traveling!
We hope this list helps you with your road trip planning and that your next vacation or road trip is one that you’ll never forget.
