Experts warn you about ten mistakes to avoid on your road trip

Learn more about how we independently review, test, and recommend the best products. We may be compensated if you purchase something from our links. It’s a great feeling to be out on the open road. You can stop at a UFO tower to search for aliens, spend the afternoon hiking at an overlook or just cruise the night with a cup of coffee from the gas station and snacks. You only need a reliable vehicle, a great playlist, and a plan flexible enough to allow you to make adjustments as needed. That’s where the fun begins.

Even the most flexible road tripper knows that even the best road trip could end in disaster without solid pre-trip planning and smart road know-how. We spoke to experts to help you plan your trip.

Do not take your car in for a full tune-up before you leaveYour car can be either your best friend on a long trip or your worst enemy. A full tune-up should be scheduled at least a week before you leave. This will increase your chances of getting the latter. A professional will check your oil, tire pressure, engine, brakes, battery, and engine to make sure you don’t get stuck on the side of the road or call AAA for help.

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Leave Without Getting Your Home in Ordinary

Sanna Boman is the editor-in-chief of Roadtrippers. She told Travel + Leisure via email that she suggests making a” list of things that need to be taken care of while you’re gone,” including mail and plants. She said that if you are worried about leaving your house empty for a few days or weeks, installing a home security system can give you peace of mind.

You forgot to download maps, entertainment, and road trip apps

You can avoid paying data charges when you return from your trip by downloading everything via Wi-Fi prior to departure. Andrew Moore-Crispin is the director of content at Ting Mobile. He recommends downloading maps from Google Maps before you leave so that you don’t need to use data to navigate. This is true for Spotify playlists, as well as any movies or shows that you need to entertain young road-trippers. Apps such as Netflix, Spotify, and Facebook see an increase in usage due to extensive use. You can control your data through the app’s settings. He explained that you could control how much data the app uses and can also prevent photos from loading into your feed until you are connected to Wi-Fi”

Boman recommendsRoadtrippers” planning app. He also suggests road trippers use Waze to get real-time traffic updates and GasBuddy to compare gas prices and find gas. Recreation.gov is for managing campground reservations.

The Tech Accessories You Need To Stay Online and In Control

You should pack your car’s charger or upgrade to the multi_ charger. Make sure you have somewhere to place your phone so that you can easily check directions. The universal magnetic car mount from WizGear attaches to your car’s vent and keeps your phone visible at all times. It costs less than $10

You can’t leave home without a cooler of snacks and drinks

There are likely to be many gas stations along the route. However, a trip that is dominated by fast food and burgers will soon get boring. You should bring a cooler filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and sandwiches, as well as some healthy snacks. Gojai’ss caffeinated sparkling Water will keep you hydrated, but not too caffeinated, for long days.

It is important to keep things organized and clean during your trip

Things can quickly get messy when you live in your car. You should bring wet wipes and paper towels along with hand sanitizer. A seat back organizer ( the one that has a trash container, tissue holder, and a place for water bottles and wipes) is a good idea. You should pack the things you don’t use until later in the trip.

Plan Everything to Make SureThere’ss Not Any Spontaneity

Road-tripping offers the opportunity to explore, stop and reroute whenever you want. Boman said that while you can always depart from the plan once you have planned your trip, it is a good idea to do some research beforehand to make sure you get the best out of your trip. Road trips are about the journey. While budget and time constraints may dictate the route, unexpected stops and detours are often the best moments of a trip.

You should not stop stretching your legs enough

It can be tempting to drive straight on if you have a destination in mind. However, this will make it less fun. Side trips and highway attractions make up a large part of road-tripping. You never know when you might come across an Airbnb that looks like a giant beagle, or a gorgeous hike just off the road.

People make the most common mistake when they hit the road. They don’t stop often enough to walk and stretch their legs. To keep your mind fresh to focus on driving safely, I recommend stopping once an hour to move around and stretch, whether that means getting gas or grabbing a cup of coffee, then enjoy a 30-minute break every four to five hours for a short walk or hike” said Dr. Suzanne Bartlett-Hackenmiller, an integrative medicine physician and the medical advisor for AllTrails. According to the Journal of Safety Research, 30 minutes can be sufficient to combat fatigue on longer trips.

Driving without the gear (or know-how) to change a flat tire

Some cars (or rentals) don’t come with a spare tire kit. Make sure to have a full-sized spare tire and all the tools you need to install it — a jack and a lug wrench. If you don’t have a spare, purchase one and the tools before you take off. A tutorial on how to change a tire is also a good idea. This can be done either in person or online. It’s not fun to rely on Google searches when you are far from home.

You can’t leave home without a road trip emergency kit

You should be prepared for common road trip mishaps before you leave your home. If something goes wrong, you will have a flashlight, extra batteries, a tire pressure gauge, and jumper cables.