Road Trips, whether they be with friends, family or just yourself, can be some of the most memorable, fun, exciting experiences one can have. And at times, can be more cost effective than plane rides. That being said, the logistics of a road trip, especially if it’s one of your first long drives (without your parents) can be stressful. This guide is here to help you anxious, possibly new drivers out there feel a bit better about your first road trip.
In this guide, we will cover:
- Plan where you want to go
- Set up where you’re staying
- Plan your itinerary, etc
- Plan your route, and timing!
- Give your car a check up, and fill up your tank!
- Make a playlist, and queue up some engaging podcasts.
- Set up some snacks for the way
- Double, triple check you’ve packed everything you need
Plan where you want to go:
Although this may seem obvious, and while being spontaneous is fun, driving with no direction can be dangerous. Especially if you haven’t been driving for a very long time, aimless driving at long distances can lead to scary situations. So, to avoid being stranded in an unknown area, doing at the very least, some light planning is a good idea for a successful, and safe road trip.
Think of what kind of experiences you want out of a trip. Do you want to visit the Grand Canyon? Plan to lodge in some area around it! Do you think you want to visit a big city? Start investigating into what kind of places are out there. Want to go somewhere beautiful? Plan to go somewhere like New Hampshire where there are tons of beautiful hikes and nature everywhere. Looking for a small town to shop around in? Look to make your first road trip be to somewhere like spooky, historic Salem, MA. If you can’t think of where you want to go, think of your limitations. Can your car not go that far? Hold that much? Do you have a money limit? If you’re traveling with others, ask them for their opinions!
No matter where you decide, you can have a fun experience no matter where you go, so don’t stress too much about choosing the perfect destination. The important part here is choosing A destination for your first road trip.
Set up where you’re staying:
Just like planning where you want to go, planning a place to sleep at during your first road trip is very important. Of course, hotels are an easy option, but if you’re trying to travel on a budget, this might not be the most effective choice. Here are different kinds of lodging options from most to least expensive in preparation for your first road trip.
> Hotel/Motel
Hotels are the most obvious option when traveling away from home. Although pricey, they can offer a luxurious experience. Motels are a slightly cheaper alternative to this, but depending on the conditions of where you are staying, the cheaper price may not be worth it.
A quick google search of “hotels in *location you are traveling to*” can lead to a good selection of options, but if you want some other good sites that can help you find options, here are some choices that could be helpful:
> Airbnb
Airbnbs can provide an enjoyable experience that is cheaper than hotels and sometimes more flexible. Additionally, having a relationship with your host can be great. Hosts can tell you more about the area and what other stuff there is to do that may not be easily accessible with a simple google search.
> Camping
Finding a campsite to set up in for a few days is one of the cheaper options for sure. It limits what you can do on your trip, but can make for a very cost effective and fun road trip. The only thing is getting the supplies you’ll need to make sure you have a safe camping experience. Below I included some good camping resources for anyone who might be interested taking this route.
More Ways to Find and Book Campsites
> Car
Out of all of the options, this is by far the cheapest. If you’re looking to go on a road trip, you should at least have a car right? While sleeping in your car isn’t ideal, it can be good for the adventurous on a budget! Some general tips I have for this are packing super light, keeping food out of your car and waiting till you arrive at your destination to stock up, having a comfortable sleeping plan, and making sure you’re allowed to sleep where you’ve set up! More resources below!
Guide to Sleeping In Your Car on Road Trips
Plan your itinerary, etc:
I cannot stress this enough, but planning is your best weapon when in an unknown place, especially if it is your first road trip. Once you know your destination, which you already should if you’ve been following these steps, figuring out what you want to do is a crucial step to a successful first road trip.
Are you going to shop the local stores? Maybe you’re more focused on the food scene… What restaurants do you want to try? Are there hikes you want to make sure you fit into the schedule? Landmarks you want to take photos of? Planning out even a loose schedule for what you want to do is important, and can keep you from wasting time you could be using exploring later! Below is a very good list for those of you who want to make sure you’re not missing anything when planning out your road trip. Although its more geared towards out of country trips, it still has a lot of useful information having to do with proper planning for trips.
Plan your route, and timing:
This section, unlike the first, is more specific to road trips. Since you’ll be driving, figuring out timing and your route is important. Get your GPS ready, and make sure to line up your arrival time with your check in time appropriately. Even getting there earlier than your checkout time is best, since it gives you some time to explore the area you’ll be staying in for a bit before you settle down in wherever you’re staying for the trip. Especially for a first road trip, planning the ins and outs of everything in terms of the actual drive to your destination is very important.
Give your car a check up, and fill up your tank:
Before a long drive, doing everything you can to make sure your car is prepared is a must. For me, checking my fluids, maybe getting an oil change for good measure, and checking my tire pressure are all really basic car maintenance that can be really important for a successful road trip. Below I will include more checklists for this, so if you need more specific guidance those will help.
Car Maintenance Before a Long Road Trip
Honest Car Maintenance Guide Before a Road Trip
Make a playlist, and queue up some engaging podcasts:
Whether you’re driving alone or with others, there will always be moments of silence. Having music going on in the background, or an engaging podcast can be crucial to keeping you alert and awake while driving for long hours. Ideally, you’d have people switching off driving, but if not, podcasts and a good playlist can be a helpful way of staying focused.
Youtube Video of Songs to Play on a Late Summer Night Road Trip
44 Best Podcasts to Listen to During Road Trips
Set up some snacks for the way:
Another way to occupy your brain while driving for long periods of time is to have good snacks! Easy to grab chips or a drink that has the cap off already are good for the inevitable hunger, and boredom that could come with this. Having a passenger handy to hand you a chip or take off the cap of your drink for you are also helpful, but if you are alone, make sure to set up your snacks before hitting the road.
I like to have a bag of potato chips with the sides rolled down so I can easily stick my hand in without having to take my eyes off the road too much. I’ve included yet another list of the best road trip snacks to get ideas flowing about what kind of snacks you’re including in your first road trip!
Double, triple check you’ve packed everything you need:
Packing is a whole other battle of its own, but a good rule of thumb is not to stress out too much, as most things if you really need them, can be bought at your destination. The things to prioritize are chargers, medication, and important cards such as your ID, and debit/credit card. Clothing is usually the last on my list when double checking I have everything before leaving. Below is a very detailed list of packing essentials that anyone could get use out of, no matter what kind of first road trip you’re planning.
Good luck!
If you followed all these steps, you should be on your way to a wonderful first road trip. Being someone who has gone on many road trips with family to places like Florida, Myrtle Beach, New Hampshire, and more, road trips can bring people together, or if you’re going on your own, a great independant experience that is sure to teach you lots about yourself. Of course, whether this is your first road trip or not, I hope this guide will help you make it wonderful. Stay safe, and good luck on your first road trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your First Road Trip
What should you not do on a road trip?
There are many things you shouldn’t do on a road trip… But the biggest DON’TS have to do with safety. Drive with someone you trust, don’t drive tired, and make sure your car is able to safely drive long distances. Don’t start a road trip unprepared. Make sure your car is equipped with food for emergencies, blankets, water and other emergency gear such as a first aid kit. Although some may considered it overkill, packing some extra just-in-case gear could save your life!
Will my car survive a road trip?
As someone who isn’t a mechanic myself, I cannot give a perfect answer to this. That being said, if your car passes state inspection, and drives fine day-today, it should be fine for long distance driving. Just to be safe, doing the basic checking of fluids, oil change etc is always a good idea to ensure your car of choice drives smoothly during your road trip.
Is there a road trip app?
There are so many apps that can make your road trip so much easier! The first kind of app that comes to mind are GPS apps… My favorite app to use is Waze! It’s nice to look at, not too cluttered, is customizable, and more! I really like it because you can change the voice of the GPS so Master Chief is telling you where to go during your road trip… But that’s just me! Other road trip apps are Google Maps, Spotify for music/podcasts, and Roadtrippers! Although I haven’t used Roadtrippers myself, it is apparently named one of the best road trip planners out there. So give it a go!
How can I improve my road trip?
There are many ways to improve your first road trip! The biggest thing I can recommend is getting a lot of sleep before you leave. Driving with a good night’s sleep on your back will help you stay alert during the drive, which is very important for road trips of any kind. Additionally, planning out playlists, which podcast you’re going to listen to or how you’re going to occupy your mind during the road trip will help everything move along slowly as you drive.
Does my car need to rest?
Normally, if cars are passing inspection and driving good normally, you shouldn’t need to worry about pulling over for the sake of giving your car a break. If you’re pulling over for gas, just in general turning your car off and walking around is a good idea- not just for your car but also for you!! Sitting for long hours at a time can be hard during road trips, and stopping for a coffee or a snack can wake you up and keep you comfy and safe while driving.
