Road trips are really fun and a great part of life, you could enjoy them alone, with your friends or even do it regularly with your family. It is something that can be adapted to everyone planning a road trip is one of the most exciting parts of traveling. The only thing better than planning your trip is actually doing it, but if you’re not prepared for all that goes into making sure everything goes smoothly and safely, things could get pretty stressful (and even dangerous). If you haven’t been on a road trip before or aren’t used to driving long distances with multiple people in the car, here are some tips:
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for any road trip, especially if you’re headed out on a cross-country journey. No one wants to worry about the unexpected when they’re in the middle of nowhere and need medical attention—but that’s exactly what could happen without travel insurance. Many people neglect travel insurance because it feels like an unnecessary expense, but it’ll protect you from having to pay for unforeseen expenses such as lost luggage or medical bills.
Travel insurance can cover things like:
- Lost luggage or personal items
- Medical expenses (including emergency evacuation)
- Emergency dental work
- Rental car damage costs caused by theft or vandalism
Route map
If you’re going to be taking a road trip, it’s a good idea to have a map with you. You can print one out from Google Maps or Mapquest and laminate it, but if all else fails, your smartphone will probably have an app that can do the same thing. Make sure that the route is up-to-date when planning your trip and don’t forget about any tricky turns along the way!
Emergency money stash
You should always have an emergency fund on hand. The amount you need depends on the length of your trip, but it should be enough to cover a night in a hotel and/or a flight home—and it should be in a separate account from your regular bank account. The last thing you want is for someone else to access this money and use it for something else (if you’re traveling with others, set up individual accounts for each person too).
Your emergency money stash should be in small bills so that you can use them easily at ATMs or gas stations along the way. It’s also smart to keep some coins on hand, as many restaurants and hotels still accept cash payments in coin form instead of credit cards.
Accommodation bookings and itinerary
Booking accommodation well in advance is the best way to ensure you end up with a comfortable place to stay. You’ll want to book the whole trip, not just one leg of it, so your options aren’t limited by when you start your trip.
This also means that if something changes later on (e.g., an unexpected delay), then it won’t throw off all your plans for finding accommodation along the way.
If possible, try booking accommodation through a website with a cancellation policy instead of directly with a hotel or hostel itself. That way if there are any problems or issues with what they offer and how much they charge at that time, you have recourse against them as opposed to being stuck without any sort of recourse should anything go wrong later on down the line!
GPS Tracker
It’s a good idea to keep track of your route, and if you have a GPS tracker, it’s easy. You can track your car and make sure that you don’t get lost. If you have kids or pets that are riding with you, they can still be tracked through GPS even when they’re not in the car.
If there are items in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle that need monitoring while on the road trip (for example luggage), then it might be useful to use a GPS tracker as well so that no one accidentally leaves something behind in case of an emergency situation such as a flat tire or breakdown in traffic.
Two-way radios
Two-way radios are a must-have on any road trip. If you’re going to be driving long distances, it’s important to have some means of communicating with other drivers—and being able to call for help if something goes wrong. These devices can be used for many purposes:
- You can use them to communicate with the driver of a tow truck or other emergency vehicle if you break down or get into an accident.
- You can also use them to communicate with other drivers in case of emergency (like when there’s heavy traffic).
- You can even use two-way radios as a way to contact law enforcement officers if necessary (in case someone gets pulled over, etc.).
Car manual, plus any other necessary documents
It’s always a good idea to carry a car manual in case you need to reference it. You’ll want to keep this on hand if anything goes wrong with your vehicle, or if you’re traveling long distances and tire pressure is an issue.
Other documents that will be helpful include:
- Your registration and insurance card
- Your driver’s license (or international equivalent)
If you are driving a rental car, make sure you have the rental agreement with you in case you are pulled over by authorities for any reason.
Emergency Supplies and Tools
Since you can’t predict what will happen on your road trip, it is best to be prepared in advance. Along with first aid kits and other emergency supplies, pack auto repair tools like jumper cables and an extended Slim Jim unlock tool in case your car doors accidentally lock and you are unable to call AAA. Also, bring along a portable fire extinguisher and a flashlight with spare batteries in case of low-visibility conditions.
Having a touch-up paint kit in your emergency supplies and tools is a smart idea, as it can easily repair minor exterior scratches on your vehicle. Keeping one handy means you can quickly and easily fix unsightly scratches, ensuring your car always looks its best.
Travel journal/camera kit and entertainment
Take pictures. A camera is a great way to capture the beauty of the world around you, and it also helps keep your memories alive by allowing you to revisit them later on. You can get a special backpack to keep it safe. If you share your content online from road trips or want to take your pictures and videos a step further you could get a drone like the DJI Mavic classic.
Keep a travel journal. Don’t just take pictures; write down what happened, too! Whether it’s something funny that happened or just thoughts running through your head at any given moment, writing things down can be a great way to remember all the things that made this trip so special when it’s over. Plus, there are tons of benefits for people who keep journals: It helps with stress relief and self-reflection; it gives you something to do when bored, and having an actual physical object (like paper) instead of just digital entries makes remembering easier because there is no need for searching through endless files full of data.
Clothes for every weather type in your trip location
The first thing you should do when deciding what to take on a road trip is to think about the weather. You want to be prepared for anything, so you should pack clothes for every type of weather—rain, hot weather, cold weather, windy conditions, and more. Be prepared for anything by having these items in your car when hitting the open road: A first aid kit with bandages/painkillers; bottled water; an extra gallon of gasoline if possible; jumper cables and tire jack if applicable; AAA membership card (not required but highly recommended). Also, remember that if possible internet access while traveling would be nice too!
We hope this article has helped you prepare for your next trip to the great outdoors. If you have any questions about the things we’ve mentioned in this post or any other travel-related queries, feel free to contact us. Also, don’t forget to check out our blog for more great tips on how to make your travels go smoothly!