5 Tips for Planning Your Next Road Trip

Nothing spells adventure better than a road trip, especially when you are hitting the roads with your loved ones. They are the perfect opportunity to discover hidden gems and take a break from your usual scenery, especially if you take a longer trip. In this article, you will find a few tips to turn your trip into a great success, no matter who you choose to take along with you.

1. Pick the Right Vehicle for Your Trip

The car you travel in is perhaps the most important thing to plan for since you’ll likely spend a lot of time in it. A van is the better option for bigger groups, as you won’t have to break up the gang as you are traveling. If you want to be fully comfortable, you should consider getting a luxury travel van, as these are equipped with all the features you might need.

2. Plan the Trip but Stay Flexible

It’s a good thing to have your trip destination planned out, but make sure not to cover every minute of it. Sometimes, the best places might not even be on your map, and a spontaneous detour can bring great rewards. Pick only a few destinations per day while being realistic about the mileage and leave the rest to the element of surprise.

3. Have an Offline Map Ready

Around 15 million Americans live in areas where cell reception is lacking, and your chances of passing through such a bubble can be high. This can cause you to get delayed or lost, keeping you from your road trip plans. Consider getting an offline map from apps such as Google Maps or even have an old-fashioned paper map on your board. You can never be too prepared for these situations.

4. Take the Scenic Routes

Road trips are not about the destination, but the way there. For this reason, you should go for the scenic routes that present beauties such as coasts, cliffs, charming towns, and even great foliage. The most popular routes for road trips among tourists are Route 66, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Pacific Coast Highway, due to the multitude of landmarks that you can find along the way. That said, you can do your own research and find out which path meets your aesthetic appeal and needs the most.

5. Have Car Entertainment Options Ready

No matter how much excitement might be coming your way, sometimes you could end up in areas where there’s barely anything to see. This is why you need to be prepared for those monotonous bubbles. Have some audiobooks or podcasts. If you are traveling by van and happen to have a TV, have some movies ready. In case you bring the kids along with you, consider getting some board games or useful gadgets to keep them engaged.

The Bottom Line

Road trips can be quite an adventure, but you’ll have to be prepared for them. Whether it’s your car or the route that you are going on, you should give everything some thought before hitting the road. That said, you never know what wonders you may come across along the way, so leave some space for impromptu stops. It’s more relaxing, especially when you have everything you need with you.