The great love of open roads ultimately leads most of us to pack our bags and start the ignition. As with everything in life you will have your own stories to tell soon enough, for sure, but making of those stories can either be fun or a whole lot of pain.
From my travels on the road and numerous mistakes made before, during, and even after those trips, I present to you some of my road-trip tips. (say it a few times now)
Before you wander off ... let me assure you that each of these tips is no longer than a tweet (140 characters max!)
#1. Go vintage with compass and paper maps or get that fancy GPS. Now if that GPS fails you paper map won't seem so vintage after all.
Death Valley National Park, California
#2. Rent a car or drive your own just make sure it's ready for those long roads. Oil and fluids, tires and brakes, it's not a long list you see.
Oahu, Hawaii
#3. If you are like most of us you will have company. Just make sure you like spending time together or.. carry a duct tape.
Boston, Massachusetts
#4. Decide what are must see and which ones would be nice add-ons. ..and then keep some flexibility for that spontaneous left turn ..or right.
Car Henge, Nebraska
#5. Carry snacks, "not easily" perishable foods, water and your favorite juice. Even if you have space, please don't carry the entire kitchen.
somewhere in India
#6. Sun Glasses, Caps, Hats and that beach shirt you wear everywhere. Sun Lotion, First Aid, Torch and maybe a baseball bat. It's your choice.
Acadia National Park, Maine
#7. Everything good in life should start with that good music (good is relative). iPad, iPod, iPhone or your dad's CDs or Grandpa's mixed tape.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
#8. So you didn't see that car stop, nap time over, now pull over. That Rest Stop is just for you and .. get some waste out of your system too.
Denver, Colorado
#9. Don't be a hero and aim for fame by driving all those miles on your own. Switch and enjoy the shotgun view or take a nap in that 3rd row.
Omaha, Nebraska
#10. Life's an adventure full of risks. That's why you will make that bungee jump, for now just fill up the gas before that needle hits 1/4th E.
Anchorage, Alaska
#11. When he told you about how he got traffic tickets both ways of his trip. You sympathized, but had some unspoken words too, don't be that guy.
Los Angeles, California
Well, I should add the last one and in essence, this is the one that really matters: "Have fun and make some memories"
I am sure you checked to see if I exceeded 140 characters limit for any of these tips. Didn't find any I bet... or did you?
I like using paper maps and always have an atlas in the car. Not that phones/GPS don't come in handy...
ReplyDeleteI agree about taking naps or resting. I have done long road trips and it's a must.
Nice tips :)
Thanks !! Yes Atlas in car is a must but many people don't even think about them these days :)
DeleteTotally love your post. Actually, I have done only one real road trip (with my dog) and it was so such fun. Doing abroad trip in the USA is on my bucket list as well. Love ur tip with the map, haha. And agree that music is on elf the most important things for road trips.
ReplyDeleteHope to see you driving here soon :)
DeleteI always agree with paper maps. I have a 2006 atlas in my car, which hopefully isn't too out of date. There were funny tips. I do road trips often and completely enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteGPS has changed my life! I don't know what I'd do without it. I love road trips though, and there is no excuse not to take one now that gas is so affordable.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly.. Where r you going next?
DeleteGreat tips... I live by tip 4 I think. Research, plan and then stay spontaneous oh and alwasy take your sunglasses!
ReplyDeleteYes Sunglasses !!
DeleteIn recent times you don't really need a compass much anymore!
ReplyDeleteThere is the sun, there are satellite dishes (which always face towards the equator! Good to know! My number 1 orientation point now.), and moss on trees always grows stronger/thicker on the side which is away from the sun.
Wow How did I miss on these gems :)
DeleteSpontaneity is definitely the key! It's so much easier to go off the beaten track on a road trip!
ReplyDeleteYes and you can discover so much more..
DeleteEntertaining article. I love the No Name rest area photo.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to duct tape, I recommend bringing along some industrial strength velcro.
Ah Velcro. Why didn't I think of that ;)
DeleteGreat tips, but I really love your photos. I'm still a map girl. I love pouring over them. My favorite are the DeLorme atlases for states and a big National Geographic Adventure atlas with a focus on natural areas.
ReplyDeleteYes I am with you.. There's nothing like holding a map in hand and pouring over it..
DeleteMore and more my road trips are basically unplanned. No maps, no GPS, just drive and see where I end up. Totally fun.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way to do it.. :)
DeleteI can imagine those being a LOT of fun!!
ReplyDeleteYes !!
DeleteSome great tips for a successful road trip their. I love your pictures they look amazing. Yes a road trip can be fun but we dont want to be in too much of a hurry to get from point A to point B as we miss whats in between. Sometimes the best things are found when unplanned
ReplyDeleteYes so true and I have discovered so many amazing places which were nowhere in my list when I started. Thanks for the comment !
DeleteHaha, funny post! I actually love road trips, but I don't have a driver's license yet so I can't do them as much as I'd like to.
ReplyDeleteTrick is to make a friend who got one. :)
Deletepretty good post clear and concise nice font size and type, enjoyed the tips, music is key for me! nice photos too did you take them yourself or from google?
ReplyDeleteThanks !! Yes all the images here are mine. If you want to use any I would be glad to help just let me know.
DeleteThanks again for the comment.
Great tips, I'd love to go on a road trip, would be an amazing thing to do when I get my first car! :)
ReplyDeleteJamie x
bibbity-boppity-boo.blogspot.com
Hope you get your car soon. Till then rent one and enjoy :)
DeleteWe rarely get to use GPS while traveling because we never get the local country's sim card for our phone, so it's always good to know how to use a map in the digital age. Did you take all these photos? They are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment !!
DeleteYes all the images here are mine. If you want to use any I would be glad to help just let me know.
Paper Maps are always best and fun to spot the location.
ReplyDeleteMini Noms
https://psychologicaldepthworld.wordpress.com/2015/12/04/the-dark-tunnel/
Yes !!
Delete"Everything good in life should start with that good music" - so true! :D Great post, I loved your writing style!
ReplyDeleteThanks and Thanks again :)
DeleteMade me laugh so much with this one :D Great post - duct tape is important when you really want to enjoy the ride :D
ReplyDeleteHa Ha yes and I am so glad you enjoyed :)
DeleteHaha if I went on a road trip I'm pretty sure I'd just hate it however if I ever did do one I'd refer back here!! www.mylifeinrosetintedglasses.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteNo No you should try one :)
Deleteyay! That's India there too. :)
ReplyDeleteloved your pictures, especially Death valley.
I like how you said that the rest stop is just for you but the sign says no name, ha ha I like your humour.
ReplyDeleteThanks :) glad you enjoyed
DeleteGreat post :) One day I hope to road trip around America and I will bear these tips in mind. The one that stood out the most was the tip about snacks ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you get to do that pretty soon
DeleteI'm contemplating a road trip in the next few months, but even motels are expensive, and I'm not sure I'd feel safe camping by myself. Still, it would be kinda fun to just go where I want to go.
ReplyDeleteIf you plan for a little off season you can get real cheap rates and for camping if you are camping in National Parks then it's pretty safe inside those parks.
DeleteRoadtrips are awesome. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of family vacation trips across the country. Maps, a compass, rest stops and car snacks.
ReplyDeleteYes .. I too remember them very fondly
DeleteShamefully I can say that I am not familiar nor comfortable reading a paper map in terms of directions. I guess the hardest part for me would be to use the scale and figure out distances. We have been totally babied by technology and GPS..
ReplyDeleteI need to write a post on how to read a paper map now ;)
DeleteGoing vintage is the best way to go, because we have become so integrated into a technological culture we forget what life was like before mobile phones ect.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly!!
DeleteI love roadtrips,America seems such good destination for roatrips. Going vintage is a good idea to go, but i can easily see a lot people lost we are way too dependent on technology, i hate to say that by i cant even read a paper map.
ReplyDeleteOk you are the second person so now I am definitely writing a post on how to read a paper map :)
DeleteYou have no idea how much I envy you, what an experience! Always been a dream of mine to just road trip through the American states.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope you get to do a few road trips soon !!
DeleteI can totally relate! These are the things my husband and I do when we go on a road trip (except the first one). You're right, we need to get used to the paper maps as well.
ReplyDeleteYes it might come handy some day :)
DeleteI have never used a paper map...gasp I know! I grew up with a phone with data...I don't know any other way.
ReplyDeleteHmmm hope that phone never runs out of power ;)
Deletejust discover this site from somewhere. great sharing story & experiences. i will recommend this site to my friends out there.
ReplyDeleteLong roads are always a challenge for me. Your pictures are just stunning! Well done.
ReplyDelete