How to Plan a Road Trip

Sometimes you just want to pick up and leave, don't you? Escape from the pressures of work or the stresses of school. The best way to get away from it all is to take a road trip.

Whether you're aimlessly cruising the picturesque countryside on your Harley, or heading out for a family vacation in your RV, taking a road trip is the ideal way to enjoy a change of scenery.

There are basically two kinds of road trips: those with a destination and those without. Regardless of whether or not you know where you're headed, it's still nice to have a few plans in order to get the most out of your road trip.

Vehicle Maintenance

Although it may take away from the spontaneity of your road trip, make sure your vehicle is up-to-date with regular maintenance before you pull out of your driveway. You're unlikely to have any fun if you have to pull into a repair shop or call a tow truck just a couple of hours into your trip.

If you're handy with cars, you can check things such as your tires, brakes, lubrication, and air filter yourself. Don't forget to make sure you have enough windshield wiper fluid, and change your windshield wipers if they've seen better days.

And, if you don't know the difference between transmission fluid and power steering fluid? Drop it off at your local garage for a tune-up while you pack.

Money

Road trips don't have to be expensive, but they do require money.

Make sure you have enough money for gas, food, and sleeping accommodations. You'll also want some extra cash for such as souvenirs and entertainments, as well as emergencies.

How much money you need will depend on how long your road trip will last, as well as how far you plan to travel. Sit down and plan a budget before you head out. Knowing that you can't eat each meal at a pricey restaurant will keep you from doing so.

Luggage

Similar to money, the contents of your suit cases will depend on how long you plan to be gone and how far you plan to travel.

Always remember to pack the basic essentials. This includes clothes, toiletries, glasses or contacts, and medication.

You'll also need to pack items necessary for your destination. For example, you'll need to take your bathing suit if you're headed for the beach, just as you'll need to pack your hiking boots if you're headed for the mountains.

Arriving without the proper items means you'll either have to purchase them again, or you'll be sitting on the sidelines while everyone else has all the fun.

Communication

When the point of your road trip is to get away from the rest of the world, the last thing you want to worry about is making sure you have a way to communicate with the rest of the world.

However, communication is often necessary, especially during emergency situations. Jot down the phone numbers of family members and friends before you leave. If you're headed to an unfamiliar place, be sure to include the telephone number to your hotel. You may need to call for additional directions.

Ideally, you should take a cell phone with you. If you don't have one, consider purchasing a pre-paid cell phone or a phone card.

At the very least, make sure you have enough quarters to feed the payphones.

Directions

Even if you're the one aimlessly cruising around on your motorcycle, it's nice to know where you are every now and then.

Take a map with you or, if you're traveling through various states, consider checking the maps at roadside rest stations or picking one up at a gas station.

An impulsive road trip can be a thrilling adventure, but getting ridiculously lost along the way could be a scary one.

Have Fun!

In the end, your road trip is all about having fun. Sometimes we get so bogged down with plans that we forget this part of the trip.

A good way to avoid this is by starting your planning early and getting it out of the way. Who wants to be sitting at the kitchen table at midnight the night before a big trip planning a budget? Or out in the garage changing the oil? Not you.

So plan early, plan well, and enjoy the ride!