Road Trip Essentials: What You Need to Pack
Going on a road trip is always a fun idea to try. What makes a road trip more fun is dependent on what you bring along, and the activities that are done during the trip.
In this article, we will tell you what a road trip is all about, tips on how to pack for a road trip, and what to do on the road trip to make it fun based on what you have packed.
What is a Road Trip
In simple terms, A Road Trip is a journey taken by a car usually over long distances which includes you visiting different places while you drive. Exploring different places as you drive sounds like a lot of fun, but you can also make impromptu decisions which can make the trip even more fun. You get to decide the routes, and where to explore.
How to be a Road Trip Ready
1) Planning Essentials
1.1 Map out your Route: These are factors to consider when mapping out routes to the journey on. Your Routes should have the following along their way;
- Scenic Routes: It is a route which has a beautiful view of nature and captivating scenery.
- Attraction: Choose routes which have amazing attractions which you can explore.
- Potential Stops: Put in this factor when choosing a route, you have to pick routes that have potential stops, places you can eat, play fun games, look at the beautiful views.
The main aspect of a road trip is to navigate smoothly on an open road. Here are some navigation apps you can use for this purpose. This Navigation Apps offers real-time traffic updates, turn-by-turn navigation and alternative routes.
- Google Maps
- Waze
- Apple Map
- Map Quest
- Sygic GPS Navigation
- Copilot GPS
1.2 Vehicle Check: Before Your Trip, you have to ensure that the means of your transport is in good shape. Be it your car, bus, or van. You don’t need any malfunctions or breakdowns of the vehicle conveying you. Inspect your vehicles including; brakes, fluids, tires, engines, all internal and external lights, spare tires and the like. After having all these checks you are good to go.
Also to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, while on the trip, you can find reliable mechanics along your routes.
For advice on trustworthy mechanics, consult the National or Regional Automobile Association, also enlist the help of locales by asking them for reliable mechanics and online reviews like Google Review for a good recommendation.
1.3 Accommodation Reservation: It is also important to book accommodation in advance, this is when it’s dawn and you need to spend a night. By booking accommodations or lodges, you will be able to rest well and recuperate for the next day.
2 Building the Ultimate Road Trip Playlist
2.1 Curate a Diverse Playlist: Have a playlist which has a variety of genres, it should include; Classics, Timeless Classics, Country, Vibes,Chill, Rock and Roll, Epic Movie Soundtracks, Road Trip Anthems and some of your personal favourites.
You can also listen to podcasts, audiobooks to keep yourself engaged during your trip.
2.2 Essential Tech and Accessories: Take with you your phone chargers, portable speakers, power banks, extra charging cables.
3 Packing Essential for Comfort and Convenience
3.1 Snack Pack: Here are some good snacks to pack for the road trip: Granola Bars, Fruits, Popcorn, Pretzels, Crackers and Cheese, Mini Sandwiches, Energy Bars, Cereal bars, Trail Mix.
3.2 Comfortable Seating and Blanket: You have to be comfortably seated because the trip is a long drive. If we are not comfortably seated we will have discomfort which can result in pain and aches which could make the trip less enjoyable.
For Blanket, it is a very important road trip essential, it is the cause of the cold and chilly weather.
3.3 Roadside Emergency Kit: It is also important to bring a roadside emergency kit including a First Aid Kit, Flash light and the likes.
3.4 Right Clothes: Pack Comfortable Clothes and also the right outfits for every activity.
4 Entertainment on the Go
4.1 Games and Activities: Here is the list of some of the games you can indulge in while on the trip;
- Licence Plate Game- Spot Licence from different states and mark them off
- Road Trip Bingo – A Common Road Trip Site (Cow, Dog, Gas Station)- and compete to see who gets them first.
- Would You Rather
- Counting Animals – Keep count of the type of animal you see during the Dream.
- Car Karaoke
- Trick Quizzes
4.2 Capture the Moment: Capturing the moment will give you what you look back on and make you relive the moment. You can go with your journals and camera, to take pictures of the beautiful scenic view you will likely meet.
4.3 Travel Audiobooks and Podcasts: It is also great to listen to podcasts and audiobooks to keep yourself engaged and entertained while on the trip.
Some podcasts are as follows;
- Celebrity Book Club
- Normal Gossip
- Fiasco
- Lexicon Valley
- Grand Tourist
- Blood, Bone and Butter
- Field Trip
Some Audiobooks are;
- The Rebound by Leeanne Slade narrated by Claudie Jessica
- The Creative Act – A Way of Being Rick Rubin narrated By Rick Rubin
- The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford, Narrated by Bessie Carter
5 Unplanned Stops and Spontaneity
5.1 Embrace Spontaneity: To make your road trip much more fun you have to embrace spontaneity. By doing so, you get to experience unexpected and delightful adventures such as the following;
- You will be able to discover hidden gems, you might have not seen or even heard off
- We have time to interact with the locals, garnering more insight about the place, therefore, tapping into the tapestry of your journey
- Stop and take pictures of scenic views which you will reflect on it later
- A rigid itinerary could make the trip boring and lead to you being burnt out, unplanned stops offer you refreshing breaks.
5.2 Taking Photos: Taking Photos can not be overemphasised enough. Take lots of pictures of scenic views, attractions, landscapes, sunsets, and anything that is utterly fascinating. This helps you to look back and relive those moments. It gives you a pictorial representation of how much fun the trip was.
Try to research viewpoints along your routes, for you to take more pictures.
5.3 Local Eateries and Culinary Adventures: Unplanned Stops enable you to try out local eateries and culinary. Trying local cuisine is like embarking on a culinary adventure, offering a taste of the region’s unique flavours, ingredients, and cooking techniques
Also you are immersed in the culture, supporting local businesses, and exploring a diverse array of flavours, textures and ingredients.
6 Safety First
6.1 Driving Responsibilities: Make sure you observe traffic regulations and speed limits. Also take regular breaks, by stopping to rest, and drinking a lot of water, and you could also share the driving responsibilities where you and the people with you can take turns in driving.
6.2 Emergency Contact: You must have a list of emergency contacts readily available. You can also inform someone about your trip and its itineraries.
6.3 GPS Tracker and Safety Apps: It is important to have a GPS Tracker and Safety Apps to ensure security. Here are more reasons why it is important;
- Real-Time Location Tracking: Realtime location information is provided by the GPS tracker, enabling your family to know where you are in case of an emergency and ensuring that they can reach you.
- Emergency Assistance: Safety apps come with features, such as the SOS button that is designed to notify authorities or emergency contacts of your situation and location quickly when you activate them.
- Safe Driving Features: Some of the safety apps include features for promoting good driver behaviour, such as speed limit alerts, traffic reports and reminders to be careful behind the wheel.
List of recommended GPS Trackers and Safety Apps you can use;
GPS Trackers
- Tile Pro
- Spytec STI GL300MA GPS Tracker
- Tracki Mini GPS Tracker
- Spot Gen4
Safety Apps
- Life360
- bSafe
- Roadtrippers
- Onstar
- SOSmart
Conclusion
To conclude, How fun and adventurous the road trip will be is dependent on what you pack and the activities being done along the way. This is why we curated a list for you to know how to plan, what to pack, and activities to indulge in for you to enjoy your road trips.
