Taking your first road trip is a milestone; it conjures images of desolate roads, quirky towns between towns, and driving with the windows down with the fresh air funneling through your car. There is a freedom that comes with taking your first road trip.
You’ll immediately realize the need for careful planning and self-reliance, particularly if you plan on driving through more remote areas. Taking your first road trip is a great way to build up your independence and get some experience outside your safe and familiar environment. Yet, there are some things you should keep in mind before heading out on the road.
By following these road trip tips, you’ll be able to have a memorable experience for the right reasons and not because things went wildly wrong.
- Check your car: This is probably the most important of the road trip tips that we can offer—do not start your road trip without putting some time into checking that your car is road-trip-ready. The quickest way for your trip to go from a dream to a nightmare is car trouble. There’s not much you’ll need during your road trip, but a functioning car is definitely one of those things. Do a basic tune-up on your vehicle to make sure everything’s running well before you head out on the road.
- Plan your trip: While there is an attractive quality to the hippie-spirit spontaneity of just getting in your car and driving off wherever the road takes you, this is best left to people who have done a road trip previously. Getting lost and not having the right supplies on your first road trip is not the type of experience you take a road trip to gain; make a general plan about where you’ll go and when. Having a plan will make things much more enjoyable as you relax, knowing your trip is already set.
- Keep supplies: While you might not already have resources put away in your car unless you’re a conspiracy theorist preparing for the end – when on a road trip, acting as a conspiracy theorist is a great proactive approach. Set aside space in your car to hold a blanket, an extra change of clothes, snacks, water, and safety equipment like flares. You’ll likely not need any of it, but being prepared can offer you some calm throughout your trip.
Taking a road trip is a great way to foster independence because there is some planning and responsibility involved. By taking up that responsibility and following these road trip tips, you’ll be able to get the most for your first road trip.