Planning Your Roadtrip
It’s the summer, guys! Get up and go on a roadtrip! I don’t think I realized how much I loved roadtrips until last year. It is really something else to be on an open road, sometimes with no other cars around you. It’s a pretty freeing and liberating feeling. I think I had always focused on wanted to get out of the country and explore other parts of this world and experience different cultures. I forgot some of the most beautiful places to explore are right here in the US. So, get up and get in your car and drive! Here are a couple of things to think about when you’re planning your next trip:
ROUTE
First of all, where do you want to go? Figure out where you want to start and end. I know sounds silly, but think is really the first step.
MILES
Once you figure out your route and where you’re going, choose how many miles you want to drive a day. This really depends on how much time you have for your roadtrip. I discovered Google Maps was my best friend in all of this. It can help you figure out how many miles and the time it will take. You can even put in the specific time and day you will be travelling and it will estimate your travel time based on traffic data.
LODGING
I would definitely recommend figuring out where you will be staying each night before you go. Especially if you have your mileage mapped out for each day, you should be able to know the area where you want to end up each day. And at the end of the day, you won’t have anything to worry about. You will already have somewhere to stay.
STOPS ALONG THE WAY
Look up your route ahead of time. You may be able to find some cool or quirky places to visit on your route. Of course detours are probably the most fun. Don’t be afraid to stop if you see something that strikes your interest.
CAR CHECK
Make sure you have a full service check up on your car before you head out on your adventure. Trust me, have them check everything. And I mean everything: tires, breaks, fluids, air conditioning and any other car related issues (not a car expert here). Our A/C was broken and that eastern humidity and desert heat killed on our cross country roadtrip. Also, if you’re planning a roadtrip to move somewhere, make sure you factor in the weight of your car for your drive time. I know our car was heavily weighed down and took longer to accelerate, stop and didn’t go as fast as an empty car.
If you need a little more help planning, I've also written about how to plan a trip like boss, here! Also, I’ve made a list of the essentials to bring on your trip. Check it out, here!
Yours Truly // Shannon
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