Road Trip Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make

A road trip can be an exhilarating and life-affirming experience, filled with new experiences, breathtaking views and unrivaled exploration – if you do it right. Do it wrong and you’ll spend days staring at uninspiring roadside debris, hours waiting for a tow truck and years arguing with your travel buddy. 

If you want to ensure your trip’s memorable for all the right reasons, take a look at these road trips mistakes you’ll need to avoid…

1. Packing too light

A road trip isn’t the ideal time to be packing your entire wardrobe but skimping on the essentials isn’t a great idea either. Before you head off, be sure you’ve got everything you need for your journey and your destination. 

Depending on where you’re heading and what terrain you’re traveling across, you may need a variety of equipment. Choose tailored reminders, such as an ultimate camping checklist or a list of essential skiing supplies, to ensure you’ll have everything you need once you arrive at your intended destination. Remember to pack wisely and you’ll be ready for all eventualities. 

2. Don’t forget cash

In an increasingly digital world, we’re used to paying for things by card and, more often than not, via contactless payments. However, your trusty plastic might not serve you well when you’re on a road trip. If you’re heading off the beaten track, it’s likely that you’ll encounter many businesses that operate on a cash-only basis. 

Even many of the national parks and associated amenities require visitors to pay cash, so be sure to have enough with you. While it’s never sensible to carry large amounts of cash around with you, you’ll want to have enough to cover essential expenditure before you come across an ATM. 

3. Not maintaining your car

A road trip is only fun when you’re actually on the road, rather than being stuck at the side of it. If you want to reach your destination, it’s essential to ensure your vehicle is ready and safe to use. If you’re not used to maintaining your car, take it to the garage in advance and ask a professional to carry out a service. 

Depending on your proposed route, you may be traveling across varied terrain, so bear this in mind when you’re getting your vehicle ready. If you need to switch out your tires or modify your vehicle, do it before you depart and save yourself the hassle of getting repairs completed while you’re away from home. 

4. Choose your travel companion wisely

A road trip will test even the best of relationships, so choose your travel partner carefully! Whether you’re hitting the road with family members, a significant other or a long-time friend, be prepared for fallouts and bickering along the way. On the plus side, if your relationship can survive a road trip, you know you’re in it for the long haul. 

Planning the Ultimate Road Trip

A successful road trip requires a little prep but it’s always worth the effort. When you’ve got an epic choice of music, an endless supply of snacks and the open road ahead of you, you’ll be glad you planned for the ultimate road trip.