The idea of a road trip is exciting. The wind hits your face as sceneries move past you. The radio fails to match your volume as you scream the lyrics. Coffee spills on your seat when you take a sudden turn. Road trips are extremely fun, and yet many people never go on one fearing the process of planning it right. The planning might seem like an excruciating task, but it can make your road trip more fun. Road Trips are a great way to break from your routine. If you want to go on one but are confused about the planning process, let us help/. We took our time and curated the perfect road trip planning guide for you. Check it out:
1. Figure out your limits for your road trip:
It is very important to narrow down your limits before planning the road trip as it narrows down the options. Here are some stuff you should figure out first:
- Your Time restraints: Before you decide where you want to go, you should consider how much time you have on your hands. Your road trip experience can be ruined instantly if you are constantly worried about getting somewhere else. You should always make sure you have some extra time in case there is some interesting unforeseen turn of events. Ensure that you don’t over-plan.
- Your Budget restraints: Similar to time restraints, you should always be aware of how much money you can invest on this road trip. Set a budget before making any plans. Calculate the expenses that you might incur. Fuel charges, accommodations and meals expenses, activities charges, and unforeseen costs, consider all of these elements while making your budget. Doing this will prevent you from facing budget-related concerns during your trip.
- Driving restrains: Most people mess up while trying to figure out how much comfortable driving they can do. They usually overestimate their driving capacity and find themselves exhausted in the middle of the trip. Notice that you need to figure out how many kilometers you can comfortably drive. The distance you can drive before reaching fatigue and exhaustion is what you need to consider. Remember you can’t waste all your energy on driving, otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy the places you are visiting. Eight hours of driving a day and stopping every two to three hours to stretch your legs and take a break is what the experts recommend. Plan your trip according to your driving capabilities. If you have company on the trip who knows driving then the task becomes easier.
2. Pick a destination:
Now that you have an idea of your limitations, it is time to pick a destination.
3. Select your Vehicle:
You need a mode of transport for a road trip. It could be your vehicle, a rented one or maybe you plan on depending on the public transport. You need to choose to be able to plan your trip accordingly. You should also consider what kind of vehicle you would want to travel by. A two-wheeler, a car, a minivan, or maybe a caravan. They all come with their own set of benefits. Make sure you understand the journey you will be making and the things you want to achieve with your vehicle it will help you make this choice.
- Prep your Vehicle: It is very important to prep your vehicle before you hit the roads. Check up on your vehicle for any repairs it needs. Make sure everything is oiled up to avoid jammed parts. It is advised to have your car professionally inspected and repaired before the trip. That way if there are any issues that you might be unaware of it would show up in the check-up. If you are not giving it for servicing make sure you check for some things yourself. Check the tires, and make sure your tires have the appropriate tread levels. Look for signs of uneven wear, and make sure to pack a spare tire. Check if your vehicle needs an oil change. Make sure to check your vehicle’s fluids like oil, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, and power steering fluid and top them off as needed. And most importantly make sure the brakes are in top shape.
4. Decide the route:
Now that your destination is decided and you have selected a vehicle it is time to choose the route you will be taking. Once the destination is decided, there will not be many options, so the choice won’t be too difficult. Make sure you choose what suits you. The highways are longer compared to the back roads but the driving is easy due to the road quality. Bring out the map and start figuring out your route, you can take the help of Google Maps to identify all possible routes to your destination.
5. Plan your Stops:
When on a road trip you will need to make a few stops along the way. Fuel stops, bathroom breaks and meal breaks are the few things you’ll need to keep in mind. It is always better to plan and know your route well enough to know when and where you can make the stops. Maybe you see a beautiful sunset or a stunning waterfall on your way and want to click pictures of it. So while you should plan for a few stops you should also be ready for some unplanned ones.
6. Choose your Stays:
You need to figure out where to stop for the night and sleep. Most people find this difficult. Figure out the hotels and homestays where you can rest at night. Do the research beforehand. If you are booking a place in advance make sure you keep the timing in mind while driving to not be late. If you have an adventurer’s spirit, maybe you can even try camping. Sleeping in your car might not be practical as if you are not well rested it might impact your driving the next day. So make sure you have a clear plan for resting.
7. Assemble the music gods:
The planning is done! Your road trip is ready to come to life. The only thing that remains is preparing your music or podcast. No road trip is complete without a road trip playlist. So reward yourself for getting done with the hard work of planning this trip by curating your favorite music into a playlist. After all the most essential factor of a road trip is having fun.
Conclusion
That was our take on How to Plan a Road Trip: Tips and Route Ideas. Shred away the fear and start planning your dream road trip. There might be some unexpected hurdles on the way but think of it it will be the experience of a lifetime. Plan your road trip and Hit the roads!
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