Planning Your Next Roadtrip

Yes, the year is still 2020 and with social distancing orders in place, it is harder than ever to travel outside of the country. Unfortunately, many of you are missing out on your yearly vacations and fun destination trips. The good news is, road trips are still possible! There is so much to see across the US, from national parks to beautiful beaches, you can still enjoy some time off and get that much-needed rejuvenation. 

Planning a road trip can definitely be more challenging than your average hotel stay. You'll need to think about more than just packing a bag and we're here to help! Grab your bestie, partner, or sibling and embark on the best road trip ever!!

Plan the destination

During this time, a national park trip can be a great idea! If you live on the west coast there are some spectacular national parks that are open like Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park, or Arches. These are only a few on the list of many. If you decide to go this route, plan ahead by at least a few months. You will need to visit the national park's website and reserve a camping spot if you are doing that. Otherwise a nearby airbnb or hotel is also great, but they may fill up fast! 

If camping or hiking isn't your thing, then you could visit a great beachside town or explore some monuments. There are amazing areas along the coast of california or a lot of history to see on the East Coast. Whatever you decide, pick something that everyone could look forward to!

Grab your best snacks!

What's a road trip without snacks? If you're going to be in the car for a prolonged period of time make sure to have some snacks to keep you fueled. Although, there will be stops along the way to get food and drinks, they may be miles apart. Because you're vacationing, why not splurge on some of your favorites like crackers and candy! This is the perfect time to pick up your favorite candy bar and munch out. Additionally, if you have kids, they're more likely to get hungry while you're in the car, so be sure to have something they like too!

Prep the Car

Before you go, choose a car that has a little more room for all your packing needs. If you have the pleasure of owning more than one car, choose the one that is a little bigger so you can sit comfortably while also fitting everything you need! 

If you need to rent a car or RV do so ahead of time to find the best deals. Renting a car could be a great option if you'll only be gone a couple of days. Depending on your preferences, there are many models that are great for your road-tripping needs.

If you live in California and you're taking a road trip up the coast be sure your car insurance is reliable and updated. You may have questions like "is california a no fault state?" which you should read up on beforehand to maintain safety.

Get that playlist started or find a podcast

Alright, it's hour 5 and everyone is starting to get bored. To keep things entertaining, create a music playlist ahead of time with some of your favorite songs. You can make different playlists with throwback songs- cause who doesn't love to jam out to Fergie?! Doing this will get everyone in the car engaged and may distract you for a little bit.

Maybe the music is getting a little bit old and you want something else to listen to. A podcast is a great idea for a road trip. Best part is, podcasts are typically free if you have the app on your phone. There are so many great podcasts out there like murder mystery, commedy, or informational ones. Use this road trip to get ahead on your favorite one or try out something new to keep everyone in the car happy!

Calculate the time and navigation

Now that you have everything prepared, you'll need to plan your route. Depending on how far you're going, you may want to leave early in the morning to avoid traffic. If you have little ones, this is a great option so they are still tired enough to sleep in the car. If you're the driver, be sure you have someone helping you navigate or a reliable GPS system in place so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.