Summertime, and the road-tripping is easy... if you start with a good plan and pack the right gear. Here’s everything you need to know for fun and stress-free adventure along America’s scenic byways.
Ah, the summer road trip. About 36 million Americans will embark on one this summer, according to a recent AAA travel survey. On one hand, it’s probably the best way to see the sights of any region and create amazing family memories. On the other, it offers the possibility of different kinds of memories—long hours of driving, kids fighting in the back seat, everyone getting hangry between meal stops… you get the picture.
How to ensure your getaway resembles the former and not the latter? Good planning (and enough flexibility to get off the beaten path from time to time). Here’s what you need to know.
Planning Basics
Create an itinerary. There are nearly endless options for amazing U.S. road trips, long and short. Depending where you live, you might drive up the East Coast, visiting seaside gems from Stonington, Conn. to Portsmouth, N.H.. Or, you could tour Civil War battle sites, from Gettysburg, Penn. to Manassas, Va. Music fans might opt to drive between hotspots like Nashville, New Orleans, and Austin.
Of course, national parks are always on the menu, from Yellowstone to the Great Smoky Mountains. Or you might try a drive up the Pacific Coast from San Francisco to Seattle. Whichever route you choose, it’s smart to pad your itinerary, so you’re not racing from destination to destination. And prioritize, so if you spend extra time in one place, you know what to cut from the list.
Pick a mode of transportation. Will you drive your own car or a rental? Or rent or borrow an RV or trailer? Would it make sense to fly a leg or two? If you’re planning to drive your own car, be sure to get it serviced ahead of time, including having the tires checked.
Book your accommodations. First you have to decide whether you’ll stay hotels/motels, or at campsites. If it’s the latter, will you be camping in a tent, an RV, or a trailer? Book ahead to make sure you have a place to stay each night (and an RV hook-up if you need one)—the summer is typically the busiest travel time, so you might be out of luck if you leave the decision to the last minute.
Set a budget. Create a daily or weekly spending budget for hotels or campsite fees, gas, tolls, park or site entrance fees, food, and other incidentals. Plan a contingency fee, in case you end up having to pay for car repairs or fleeing a rain-soaked tent for a hotel.
Pack the Right Stuff
Start with clothes and personal items. No matter how you travel (by car or RV, staying in hotels or in a tent) you’ll need layers of clothing—don’t forget rain gear!—and toiletries. Upgrading your luggage can help you store more in less space; zippered organizers can help separate clean and dirty items once you’re en route (or keep wardrobe items for different legs of the trip separate); and a hanging toiletries case makes it easy to see everything you need, even if you’re glamming in a tiny bathroom.
Add camping or RVing gear. If you’re driving to tent sites you’ll of course need a waterproof tent, an insulated sleeping bag, a sleeping pad (a foam mattress topper is adds softness and rolls up for storage), a camp stove, and camp cooking gear. If you’re RVing, you’ll need a different set of essentials: bedding, towels, cookware, food storage containers, utensils, dishes, outdoor furniture, and more.
Remember tech and other practicalities. Pack a phone charger (and an adapter that lets you charge multiple devices at one time), a hands-free mount for your phone, and portable chargers for when you’re away from your car or hotel room. Take paper money and coins for vending machines and parking meters.
Make car time fun for everyone. Whether you’re alone, driving as a couple, or with the entire family, long hours on the road feel like a trip to dullsville. Before you leave your home or hotel WiFi connection, download podcasts, audio books, or music playlists. Pack travel games for the kids. And don’t forget snacks and drinks—if the lunch spot you’d planned on has a line a mile long and you can’t find another for three hours, you’ll be happy you have an energy bar to munch on in the meantime. It’s also handy to have a kit of non-food car essentials like handy wipes, hand sanitizer, trash bags, toilet paper, and a first aid kit.
Be Smart about Safety
Don’t forget documentation. Make sure you have your driver’s license (and passport if you’ll be crossing borders), car registration, insurance card, car manual, and a phone number for roadside assistance.
Bring a car safety kit. You can assemble your own or buy one ready-made. Either way, it should include jumper cables, a waterproof flashlight, duct tape, a tarp or poncho, reflective items, tools, etc. If you’re traveling in a remote location where you can’t rely on a cell signal to call for help, or on a nearby gas station it’s smart to pack the following: a quart of oil, coolant or water, wiper fluid, and a spare tire and jack (that you know how to use). Also, be sure you have two keys to the car or RV—and don’t keep them on the same key ring!
Pack a paper map. Yes, your phone has a map and your car may have GPS, but phone signals can vary (and disappear in remote areas) and GPS could falter.
Have a social media strategy. As much fun as it is to post your pictures of Niagara Falls or Half Dome the second you take them, your innocent sharing can be used for nefarious purposes: by burglars waiting for the opportunity to break into an empty house. Don’t post about travel plans before you go, and wait to post your pictures until you’re safely home. While you’re at it, turn off location services (so others can’t see you’re away), and dial back tagging settings, so if a co-traveler tags you in a picture, it doesn’t show up on your feed, potentially identifying your location. Make sure the whole family is on board with this plan!