Road trips are an exciting way to see the world and get away for a while, but you need more than just a good playlist and gas money. You also need a mechanically sound vehicle, a budget for breakdowns, and a plan to get from point A to point B. While new road trippers sometimes fly by the seat of their pants, seasoned road trippers know the perils of winging it and take a different approach.
Based on hard-earned wisdom, here’s how to keep your next road trip safe and fun.
1. Prioritize vehicle maintenance
Seasoned road trippers know that vehicle breakdowns are rarely random. Often, a breakdown comes after several serious warnings or is caused by neglected maintenance. For example, the most common breakdowns are dead batteries, flat tires, and engine trouble. Experienced road trippers take care of maintenance before hitting the road. They also carry a device that allows them to jump their battery without relying on another car.
At least a week before you leave, check your fluids, belts, brakes, tire tread depth, battery health, and tire pressure. Poor tread depth and low tire pressure can cause a car accident, so you don’t want to skip this step. You should also check your tire pressure right before leaving. If you’re traveling in an RV, inspect your slide-outs, propane lines, and roof seals to make sure there are no leaks. Vehicle maintenance is your best insurance policy against an emergency repair – and disruption to your plans – while you’re on the road.
2. Focus on tire health
If your tires are significantly worn or in bad shape, buy new tires for your trip, especially if you’re loading up an RV. Blowouts caused by underinflation are common with old tires, and carrying a heavy load makes your tires likely to leak more air than normal.
It’s also wise to carry both a spare tire in case you get a flat, and an air compressor to inflate your tires as needed without having to find a gas station and pay for air. If you have roadside assistance – which you should – having a spare tire can get you back on the road much faster.
3. Plan routes strategically
When your travel plans include going somewhere unfamiliar, it’s helpful to study your routes in advance and pay attention to elevation changes, gas stations, and seasonal road closures. Look out for mountain passes and low bridges. If you’re traveling during winter, you might need tire chains on some roads.
Contingencies are essential. Always have a backup route in case there’s a roadblock or the weather gets significantly bad.
4. Plan your stops for refueling
You never want to run low on fuel in a remote area during a road trip. Thankfully, this is preventable by planning where you get fuel. Take note of any long stretches that don’t have a nearby gas station and plan to top off before you reach those areas. Never let your gas tank get below a quarter tank. Know what your average gas mileage is so you can calculate how long you can drive before you reach a quarter tank.
5. Manage fatigue
Driving for hours at a time can be exhausting. Rest is essential. Driving while tired puts you at risk for a car accident. It’s critical to know how long you can drive before you need to rest. For some people, that’s four hours, and for others it’s between six and eight. It helps to split the driving with someone else so you can rest while they drive, but if you are the only driver, plan a night at a hotel to get fully rested.
6. Budget realistically
Budgeting for gas and hotels is easy, but don’t forget about campsites, toll roads, and parking. Depending on where you’re going, you might need to pay for daily parking on the street or park in a lot. If you have an RV, parking might be a little more challenging.
7. Pack light
Most people don’t end up using everything they bring on a road trip, so pack realistically. Overpacking will only force you to sift through extra stuff when you need something important and it will weigh you down.
When you pack your bags, pack your items according to how often you’ll need to access them, so you don’t have to constantly unpack and re-pack everything.
Learn from other people’s experiences
Seasoned road trippers have earned their wisdom through trial and error, and following their lead will spare you the consequences of rookie mistakes. Whether you’re traveling by car or RV, a solid plan will free up your time to enjoy the drive.
