TIPS YOU MUST KNOW FOR YOUR FIRST ROAD TRIP

There is always a first time to do something. It’s time you plan a road trip. Road trips offer a completely different type of travel experience. Road-tripping is the best way to travel, especially if you are an adventure traveler. It’s possible to get in touch with the place, explore the hidden treasures, and experience traveling rather than just arriving.

Don’t be nervous if you are about to embark on your first long-distance road trip. That’s 100% normal. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to visit every National Park within the United States, or if you are just commuting to get around your hometown, there are some things you can do to ensure the best possible road trip experience.

It is both an enriching and exciting experience to travel on the open road your the first time. You get to see different parts of the country, such as small towns and big cities. There are many things to consider. Road trips can be amazing, but they can also be costly and dangerous if you don’t plan properly.

Today’s post is for all first-time road trip adventurers. Here are my top road trip tips. These tips will help you get off to a great start for your first road trip!

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DROP YOUR VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A FINAL CHECKUP

I don’t think it is wise to embark on a road trip before making sure that my vehicle works properly. What happens if your car stops working before you get to your destination? What if your car breaks down somewhere in the middle? What will you do? What will you do if the repair shop won’t accept credit cards?

These are just some of the possible problems that could arise if you don’t do a final check-up on your vehicle. You don’t want your car to become your arch-nemesis on the open roads. Before you leave, make sure to give it a thorough tune-up!

FULL UP THE GAS TANK PRIOR TO GOING

Filling up your gas tank might sound obvious. It’s easy to forget this in all the preparations.

Long road trips should be started with a full tank. This is in case you get lost, run out of gas stations, or forget to fill up. Driving with your gas tank lit for long periods could cause damage to your vehicle. Before you hit the road, make sure to fill up the tank!

PLAN YOUR ITINERARY. TRIP PACE. MUST-DO DESTINATIONS

Planning will make your first long-distance trip a success. All members of your travel team must agree on the trip pace and the itinerary. Are you looking for a road trip that isn’t too crowded? Or will you be visiting must-see places every day?

Get a map and gather your friends to get started. You can create a detailed itinerary of everything you want to do on your first road trip.

MAKE A ROAD TRAVEL BUDGET

This is a great way to plan your itinerary. A budget for everything, from gas to food to hotel stays and money to pay for activities, is necessary.

It is also important to prepare for any emergency. There’s always an emergency. Keep some cash aside and have an emergency credit card in case of emergencies. This post will show you how to travel on a limited budget.

BEFORE TRAVELING, BOOK ALL ACCOMMODATIONS

Planning is key to a successful first road trip. Booking your accommodation in advance is a key part of detailed planning. This is the best way for you to make sure that you have somewhere to stay each night.

It’s great to sleep in your car while on road trips! Perhaps you’d rather rest in a bed on your first open-road adventure. Book your accommodations if that’s what it is you are looking for before you hit the road. You can also search for accommodation in the local area. If you plan to stay in your car for any night, please read this post to ensure you are ready to travel in your car.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HOME IS IN ORDER

While this doesn’t necessarily need to be related to your actual trip it is very important. You don’t want to worry about your home while on a road trip. Make sure everything is in order.

Lock your doors and windows. Throw away any food that is nearing expiration. You should be prepared to leave your home once in a while, knowing that everything is fine.

GET PLENTY OF SLEEP EACH NIGHT

Exhausted driving is the last thing you want. It’s dangerous. Driving is not fun when you are tired. In order to enjoy each destination and drive safely, you should get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. Trust me, you won’t want to drive through the night on your first road trip.

DOWNLOAD ALL ROAD TRIP APPS AND PLAYLISTS.

You will have more fun on your road trip if you do more before you jump in your car. Make the perfect road trip playlist before you leave.

You can also keep a few podcast episodes on hand to listen to as you drive. Make sure you download them for any unexpected data or wifi issues.

You should also download road trip apps in advance. Gaia GPS ( Click here to receive 20% off your premium membership) or TheDyrt. (Use code Renee90 for a free 90-day trial). If you need more help, here’s my complete roundup of the top road trip apps.

 PACK a PAPER MAP JUST IN CASE

I know. We have Google Maps and Waze, as well as a host of other digital resources that can help us get by. Sometimes, though, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned paper map. You should think about it. You might lose your phone, no internet or data is available, or you miss small towns that aren’t on the digital map. What should you do? It’s better to be safe than sorry. You can always bring some paper maps. You can rest assured that you are covered in case of an emergency.

Another thing I enjoy is downloading the app maps. Me. This app is free and allows you to download offline maps in case you don’t have internet or phone service. However, Maps. Me doesn’t always predict distances or times accurately, so make sure to use Google Maps whenever possible. You should download all maps before you can go offline. If you have many, they can take up a lot of space on your phone.