Long road trips are rooted deep in this nation’s history. Lewis & Clark are known as the pioneers of the first North American road trip. Following these trend setters was a massive adaptation of the fad. “Manifest Destiny” was uttered by every American who dreamt of a long road trip west of the Appalachians. Soon every countryman would go feverish over their next road trip.
As a country, we’ve progressed from loading your horse drawn wagon with your life belongings to travel across the Mississippi. In modern day society, a long road trip equates to low stakes adventure, and tourist destinations. It’s just as fun as early day travels, but without the dysentery.
Just because you’re driving a car doesn’t mean you can carelessly prepare for your travel. A long road trip can be exhaustive for anyone. Before you hit the road, make sure you have taken an online defensive driving course and know how to prepare.
Car Maintenance
A roadside breakdown will ruin your road trip. To avoid this, service your car before starting your trip. Extensive drives in your car without a tune up will put you at risk of being stranded alongside the road in an unfamiliar location.
You should change your oil before embarking on your journey. Ensuring your engine is consuming the best oil will keep it in great condition during an exhaustive trip.
Along with this, check out the 3 signs it might be time to replace your windshield wipers and you should check the well-being of your tires and ensure they are properly rotated. This will help you get the most out of your tires. Keeping them in pristine condition ensures their longevity. It will also help with fuel economy.
Road Trip Entertainment
Next on your checklist is entertainment. Relying on passenger conversation might disappoint you. When the chatter dies, people want to listen to something interesting and entertaining. That’s how the road trip playlist became popular.
Keep your trips exciting by programing the best mix of music for you and your passengers. If music doesn’t keep you entertained, then consider an audiobook of your favorite titles or podcasts to stay informed and educated. You can also consider learning a new language with language learning podcasts.
Prepare to Pack
Anything can happen on a road trip. That’s why you should be conscientious of your supplies. Prepare for any long road trip by packing food, water, an emergency kit, and a spare tire.
Snacks and water are essential for traveling. You never know when hunger or dehydration will strike. Especially when you get stranded on the side of the road.
Speaking of getting stranded on the road, having a first aid kit with the proper supplies will keep you secured in case of an emergency. Every roadside emergency kit should come equipped with a flashlight, blanket, water, road flares, and first aid supplies.
Finally, you should always double check your spare tire inventory. Having a backup in case your tire bursts will keep you temporarily moving until your next destination. For a safe road trip, make sure you have these supplies.
Know How You’re Going to Sleep
Some road trips take a few days to complete. That means, you’ll need a place to sleep. Lewis & Clark popularized road trip camping, but that was 1804. Today, there are plenty of comfortable lodging options along every highway. Between the hotels and motels, you can find a comfortable bed for your budget.
However, it’s not uncommon to sleep in your car. In certain states, you can legally sleep in your car at a rest stop or designated parking areas. If you choose to do so, know what to do in case of harassment or other threatening situations. When in doubt about a certain area, always opt to stay at a hotel or motel for safety.
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