After crossing the country twice, my family has become accidental experts at surviving a summer road trip. I say “accidental experts” because we learned the hard way. We’ve overpaid for last-minute hotel rooms along the way, not planned our route, drove until we cried from exhaustion, and even drove much further than we should have on a spare tire. We did everything wrong just in time to tell you how to do it right!
Summer Road Trip? Let’s Go!
Before you plan your summer road trip, have your automobile inspected! I cannot stress this enough. Before you leave town, please have your vehicle inspected. We left our home state with every intention of getting our vehicle inspected along the way. We held a lifetime service agreement and a town a few hours away was where we needed to have our checkup completed. Unfortunately, we arrived much later than expected and they were closed! We continued onward crossing five more states on a spare tire! Driving through multiple states on a spare tire — don’t do that!
Once you have been given the green light from your service technician, get ready to go by mapping out everything! Map where you will get gas, where you will stretch your legs, if you will be dining out, and all of your hotel stays before you go! — Planning is important, don’t skip it!
Don’t overdo yourself! Try to avoid driving more than four hours each day. This will allow your family to enjoy more scenery (without rushing) and insure you will reach your destination within reasonable hotel check-in hours.
About hotels and reservations — don’t book your hotel through apps or services that don’t allow refunds for no show stays. Bumps in the road happen and sometimes reservations are missed. Recoup your losses wherever you can!
Media Credit: Visually
Finally, make a list of everything. Not only will you need clothing and vacationing supplies, but you will also need several items handy in the car too. Stay on top of everything by making lists in advance, and reviewing them with your family several times before you actually begin packing and placing everything in the car.