Expert is a strong word, but I would definitely say my mom and I are master road trippers. Not to mention, master packers. The car is not my favorite place to be, but driving is usually SO much cheaper than flying. And if you want a car when you reach your destination, it's definitely cheaper than renting a car. We usually wind up taking home a lot of odd shaped or breakable or large items that aren't allowed on a plane, so we like to drive. Nothing beats the convenience of flying, but sometimes it's just not an option.
So here are some must haves to conquer your road trip:
- A Plan
- Map out your route and see how long it will take you, and try to factor in gas stops, rest area breaks, and eating. Then decide if you think it will take more than one day. Look at the halfway point, or farther if you think you can make it, and look at the cities near it. Check out what each city has: gas stations, hotels, restaurants - and decide which best suits you. You don't have to make a reservation in advance, I wouldn't, because you may not actually stop there, but it's good to have an idea of what's around if you do decide to stop there.
- Also decide on a time to leave. How long will you drive? How long will it take you to get to your destination? What time will you arrive at your destination? What time would you like to arrive at your destination? All things to consider.
- If you will be going through any major cities, we went through Chattanooga, Nashville, and kind of around Madison, try your absolute hardest to time it so that you won't be going through them during rush hours! Try to avoid them from about 7AM-10AM and 4PM-7PM if at all possible. I know that's a significant chunk of time, but it will save you such a headache!
- If you want to do some sightseeing or stop somewhere in particular, just set a time budget and try to stick to it. I've personally never really done this... I have tunnel vision and just want to get from point A to point B as fast/soon as possible. But if you're into stopping and smelling the roses, more power to ya. Just make sure you add it into your total time.
- Our trip:
- Clear Lake, WI to Woodstock, GA: 1090 miles, 15 hrs 51 minutes
- Day 1: Clear Lake, WI to Mount Vernon, IL: 627, 9 hrs 14 minutes
- Day 2: Mount Vernon, IL to Woodstock, GA: 468 miles, 6 hrs 51 minutes
- It doesn't add up but whatever. That's what we did.
- Caffeine
- I've been trying super hard not to drink soda... And that crashed and burned on this trip home! I almost never go to McDonald's... I just don't like it that much. But it was close to our hotel, so eh. It took forever for them to take our order at the drive-thru, so that just gave me too much time to change my mind and go for a Dr. Pepper. Oopes. Then I got another one the next day because I wanted a cup or ice and I would've felt like a douche just asking for a cup of ice... And let's just face it, I'm weak! So Dr. Pepper and Blueberry Acai Starbucks Refreshers kept me going on this trip.
- Cell Phone, duh
- Cell Phone Charger
- Smart phones. Smart. Fun. And they tend to die fast.
- GPS
- Because no one likes getting lost.
- Cooler
- To keep your caffeinated beverages cold. And always bring some water, too. And chocolate is never a bad idea either.
- SNACKS!
- It can get super expensive, and potentially time-wasting, to always go into the gas station when you fill up to buy more snacks. So have a basket or bag or something with some snacks you bought beforehand already in the car. You never know when you'll get hungry!
- Sunglass, kind of another duh
- Advil
- Sitting in the car, not moving for long periods of time can get painful sometimes. My neck always hurts, and sometimes my head starts to hurt from my sunglasses or something. So always have some pain relievers on hand because you'll need it!
- Grocery Bags
- You're going to have trash, so bring plenty for that and just in case situations!
- Bonus: if you can find a spot for an ice cream bucket, squish that in. Gross, but you never know when someone will get sick. First hand experience with this!
- Pillows & Blankets
- Sometimes one person is cold and the other is hot. Bring a blanket to stay comfortable. And pillows in case you get the chance to take a little snooze!
- Music
- Either make mix CDs (I still do it for everyday travel!) or have an iPod with a way to connect it if you are going for a trip. My car is too old to have an AUX plug and too new to have a tape deck... So I make a lot of CDs. But for a road trip, I would hate constantly changing CDs all the time, so I used this FM transmitter. And it worked great! I had one when I was in high school, and it was terrible. But I did a little research and decided to give this one a try. I paid $28 for it on Amazon, so it wasn't too expensive, but not so cheap that it would be a piece of garbage - always looking for that sweet spot. All I had to do was plug it into my iPod and cigarette lighter, found a radio station with a lot of static, and pressed play. Sure, you have to change the station every now and then, and it didn't work very well in Chattanooga because of the mountains, but overall, A+.
- Make a playlist. A LONG one. Mine is about 1000 songs and I hit shuffle. If you want to be changing the song all the time, go ahead, but I prefer to just let 'er rip. It's also kind of fun to see how many songs it takes to get to your destination!
- I also learned, things that are "CNET Approved," are usually pretty good products.
- But have an iPod, CDs, or some kind of player other than your phone. You'll need to use your phone for other things, so I don't like to use my phone for music.
- Extra Pair of Shoes
- Especially if you are wearing flip flops or sandals of some kind. They could easily break, so make sure you have a spare pair that are easy to get to.
- Paper Towels/Tissues/Wipes
- Things get messy. People sneeze. Things spill. Just bring them.
- Cash
- Tolls kind of sneak up on you sometimes. Make sure you have coins or small bills to pay them if you hit some. And also keep an extra $20, $40, or $50 somewhere in your car. Never keep ALL your money in the same place. I try to keep some in a few different places just in case I lose my purse or something.
- Physical Map/Atlas
- I can't really harp of this one since I don't have one... But it's never a bad idea in case your phone or GPS decides to quit for some reason.
- Activity
- I personally don't need or want to stop a lot. So extra rest area stops don't happen too often, but a lot of people need to stretch their legs more often than I do. So stop if you need to. Walk around a store or rest area for a few minutes, then get back to it!
- Emergency Kit
- Just have one. We found a space for it, and there was not extra space for an ant in that car. My dad gave me mine, and I'll be honest with you, I don't even know what's in it. I think jumper cables, those triangle things you put out if you have to pull over on the side of the highway... No idea. I should probably look in there at some point, but make sure to have one!
- First Aid Kit
- You just never know...
- Patience!
- Road construction happens. If you're traveling in the summer, it happens a lot. Expect delays, weird weather, accidents, whatever. Expect the worst, hope for the best.
Pro Packing Tips:
- Use small, squishable bags (unless something is breakable) if you can. It's a lot easier to find spaces for a lot of little bags than a few big ones. If you do have big suitcases or other items, put them in first and pack around them. And if you're like me, you're going to have extra things in the morning: purse, overnight bag, toiletry bag, an extra cup or two, pillows and blankets. Try to leave a space for these things if you are packing the night before!
- Don't be afraid to take things out of bags and stuff them wherever they fit.
- Use every nook an cranny. Literally every one. Don't forget about the side pockets on your car doors if you have them. Look through your glove compartment and console to see if you have any extra room in those. The triangular space between the suitcase and the back wall of the trunk is a great place for stuffing shoes! If you drive a small car, put flat or somewhat flat things up in the back window. We put the first aid kit, a box of tissues, a pan, and a picture in a frame up there in my car!
- It's like a puzzle. Get everything you want to fit in the car and lay it out in your garage. Just pack it in and fit things in wherever you can. Keep in mind how much room you need to shut trunks and doors and how high you can pile things to still see out of the back and side windows, and if you need something within easy reach, put it in a special pile so you don't forget!
So there it is! That's how we do it. Hope it helps a little on your next trip!
XOXO, Ness
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