That said, I think the best road trips are the ones where you stop and enjoy the scenery. The following are a few tips for anyone planning a road trip.
Tips For a Good Road Trip
- Check Your Car: Make sure your car is in good working order. Get a tune up, check your tires (and tire pressure), and make sure everything is in solid working condition. This is not a suggestion but an absolute REQUIREMENT. Make sure your car is road worthy before you leave home.
- Clean Your Car: Clean out your car before the trip and remove any unnecessary items. It will give you more space for the things you "must" take with you.
- Organize Your Paperwork: Check to make sure both your insurance and registration cards are in the car (and they are up-to-date). I know a guy who went overboard when cleaning his car and actually left these documents at home. He was pulled over out of state. It wasn't pretty.
- Bring a Map: Buy a road atlas. I know, you don't need a map, but believe me, you'll wish you had one when you're lost.
- Plan Ahead: Plan out stops along the way and try to drive realistic distances each day. Breaking up a long road trip by stopping often can help you keep your sanity. It also makes the trip all the more memorable.
- Prepare For Emergencies: Always keep a pen, note pad, flashlight, and an emergency roadside kit in the car.
- Food and Water: Bring snacks and water. You're sure to get hungry along the way.
- Bring Good Tunes: Make sure you bring your favorite music along for the ride. Thanks to a few good folks out there, I now have more than 100 songs about the Mustang on my MP3 player.
- Stay Alert, Stay Alive: If you start to feel tired, it's time to pull over and rest. If you have a co-pilot, ask the other person to drive if they are well rested.
Of course, there are many more tips to a great road trip, but these are the biggies. Just remember to have fun. Oh, and be sure to bring a camera. You'll thank yourself years down the road.
