Read this for essential tips for planning a successful summer road trip, including packing wisely, preparing tech and snacks, using travel apps, and more!
The following is a guest post from my bloggy friend Megan Isola. Interested in having a guest post on my website? Click here for my guest post submission form.
From Snacks to Apps: Maximizing Your Summer Road Trip Experience
Summer is the perfect time to plan a road trip and let the adventures begin. Getting the most fun out of your road trip begins before you set out on that first day. In fact, proper planning is key to making this experience as fun as possible for all participants. Read on to find out some road trip essentials for a memorable summer adventure:
Pack List
The first essential tip worth mentioning to get the most out of your summer adventure is creating and following a packing list. A packing list, which is just what it sounds like —a list either on your phone or on a piece of paper—that will outline everything that needs to be packed will ensure that you don’t leave behind important items, like vital clothing options or someone’s favorite movie. This list can also help you make sure that everything you want to bring is laundered and ready to go. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when packing for a long trip, so use your list to take the load off your mind. Write it all down and check it off as it’s packed. Keep in mind, only pack what is necessary, so you don’t overpack and end up with so much luggage you don’t have any room for anything else. Instead, be realistic about what you will need for each family member and then pack wisely.
Gather and Charge up The Gadgets and Tech
While old-school road trip games like the license plate game, or I Spy are still fun, it’s important to have your essential gadgets ready, meaning they are charged, and all the games are present. Yes, a family road trip can be a great opportunity to disconnect from devices and talk, and there will be plenty of time to do that, but hours on the road can get really taxing, so having devices and other gadgets handy is wise. Be sure to pack headsets so that everyone in the car isn’t required to hear the game, podcast, or movie that someone else is enjoying.
Bring Along Road Snacks and a Cooler
No road trip is complete without plenty of yummy road snacks. Make sure that your adventure is fueled by plenty of goodies, along with drinks in a cooler. There are many options to choose from, even those that are healthy for you, like fresh fruit or raw vegetables that you prepare ahead of time. Trail mix and dried fruit, along with chips and pretzels, also make great road options. Yes, you will likely stop along your way for meals, but having the snacks on hand will keep your group sustained as you travel to your next destination and will hopefully prevent any hangry moments.
Create a First Aid Kit
While on the road and even when you get to your destination, it’s important to have a first aid kit in your vehicle. This should include items like hand sanitizer, disinfectants, band-aids, and burn treatments. Also, if you are traveling in areas where a breakdown could put your family at risk, make sure you have plenty of water, a spare tire, and a way to contact emergency help. This will come in handy if you have car trouble or find yourself in the middle of a car accident. While the idea that something bad could happen on your road trip is likely not at the forefront of your mind, preparing and knowing all your emergency contacts, like your insurance company information and more, is wise to avoid a bad situation becoming much worse.
Blankets and Pillows
Although you want to have the clothes on hand to ensure that you are equipped to do everything that will come up on your road trip, you also want to make sure that everyone is comfortable throughout the traveling process. A long road trip is fun in many ways, but it’s key to bring along pillows and blankets to ensure that everyone in the vehicle is comfortable and can rest if they desire. The blankets are handy because it never seems to be the case that everyone in a car enjoys the same temperature, so if you have some who like it really cool, the ones who don’t care for that can bundle up.
Road Trip Apps And Traditional Map
Before you leave for your summer adventure, create a fun itinerary for your road trip by using fun road trip apps. You can even opt for standard map tools on your phone but customize your adventure to add some restaurants and roadside stops. This, along with helpful information like the location of gas stations and restrooms, can help you plan out your daily drive. Technology has enabled more options when it comes to road trip planning than ever before. However, it’s still a good idea to have a paper map handy as not everywhere you travel will have a strong phone signal. So, it’s ideal to have the apps and plan your route, but also have a paper map along with you that shows the roadways and your entire trip in case you lose your signal and find yourself having to navigate the more old-fashioned way.
Do Your Homework & Plan to Have Success
Before you venture out, do some research and find out where some neat stops are along the way. You can add this in when time allows or cut them out if necessary to stay on your trajectory. However, part of the fun of a road trip is those unexpected and fun little side trips. Having a noteworthy road trip requires you to plan out your summer adventure to take care of all the details and ensure traveling comfort for all participants. Not planning it out isn’t wise as there are many areas throughout the country where there are vast landscapes and a lack of civilization. Therefore, you want to make sure you know where you are going each step of the way. Of course, if you want to be spontaneous, then consider adding some fun roadside stops or visiting some local stores or shops, as previously mentioned. This will help you learn a little bit more about an area than simply driving straight through, but it won’t get you too off track and impact when you arrive at your next destination.
About the Author
Megan Isola holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and a minor in Business Marketing from Cal State University Chico. She enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with friends.
