Planning Your Next Road Trip: Tips for a Successful Ride

Autumn is a great time to get in the car and spend some time getting to know our great country. You and your family can truly enjoy the leaves changing, the weather cooling, and getting away from school for a little while. But how do you pack your vehicle for these road trips? Don’t get stuck trying to jam everything in and not being able to access it when you need it. Here are some helpful tips to make sure that your trip is easy and fun!

Use Duffel Bags/Labeled Totes

Either of these ideas are great when you are packing your vehicle. Using structured suitcases make it difficult to fit extra supplies in a tight space. Duffel bags are malleable and will form into any space that you may have available. That way you do not have a lot of extra space left from the rigidness of a structured suitcase.  Otherwise, you can use see-through totes that are labeled so you have an idea where everything is and are not frantically pulling everything out of a suitcase to get that one item you have been looking for.

Pack One Overnight Bag with Everyone’s Clothes and Toiletries for an Overnight Stay

This is a very helpful tip! Everyone has done it: taken every bag out of their car in order to spend one night in a hotel on the way to your destination only to have to put it all back just a few hours later. This can be taxing and time consuming. However, a way around this would be to pack all the essentials for an overnight stay into one bag (that’s right! Everyone’s essentials in ONE bag!) and that would be all you would need to take in for that night. That way you only have one bag and it is easy to return to the vehicle without having to move everything.

Bring Snacks

Not only will this save money by not having to stop at every gas station and restaurant to feed yourselves, you will be able to regulate what food your family is eating. It is recommended that you bring treats that will not make large messes, such as granola bars, pretzels, and cheese. You will want to pack these in an easily accessible location so you are not constantly pulling over to get to the food.  You will also want to bring things to drink as well, preferably water since it does not stain. If you do choose to bring juice and the like for the children, make sure to put it in containers that do not leak.

Bring items to keep the Children Busy

This can vary depending on the children. However, some possible suggestions are audio books, travel games, DVD player, activity kits, and other like things. Another cool idea is to have prizes for the children when you pass through certain cities. You can have a map for them so they can track your progress and have a little activity for them as they pass through the cities so they learn a little about the city as well as getting a treat/prize. Make sure to also make sure you have car chargers to keep all your devices charged and ready to go. Not only does this help with the children’s electronics but also keeps your phone available if there is an emergency.

Make sure to include a First Aid Kit/Breakdown Kit

It is also a good idea to make sure you have a basic First Aid Kit with you on these road trips. That way, in case something happens, you will be prepared. Check out the following website for tips on packing your First Aid/Breakdown Kit: How to Pack a FirstAid Kit for your Car. It is a good idea to have these items with you anytime, but especially important when going on a road trip.

Extra Blankets and Pillows

This is a another suggestion along the basis of making sure you are prepared. Not only will the pillows and blankets make your trip more comfortable in the car, you never know when you may have an emergency situation where you will need to spend some extra time in the car. It is always nice to have these items handy to make everyone a little more comfortable.

While this does not cover everything that you would need on a road trip, we hope that it helps get you started. And, as with any trip, make sure you have the right vehicle to take along with you. We can help you with that as well! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions!

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