I love road trips! They excite me like nothing else can. Whether you are traveling around your home country, tackling a brand-new location or just driving to your favorite holiday spot instead of flying or using other means of transport, you are sure to have a great time. It’s a fantastic chance to leave your everyday issues behind, to get a bit of a digital detox, to take in the sights, catch up and bond with your road trip companions and enjoy the open road. It also gives you a fantastic chance to enjoy the journey instead of just seeing it as a way to get from point A to B. The journey becomes a lot more. You see a whole different side to your surroundings and gain a brand-new perspective on the world around you. It’s simply marvelous!

But, if you’ve never been on a long drive before, and your time in the car is usually spent traveling to work or doing the school run and driving around busy cities, a long road trip can be a bit of a shock to the system. Here’s a brief guide to everything that you need to do to prepare before you hit the road.

Car Checks and Safety

The last thing that you want is a breakdown or to find yourself unsafe during your trip. Of course, there’s no way to guarantee this doesn’t happen. But, you can do your best to make sure your car is safe and in good condition. Take it in for a full service and perform all of the usual basic safety checks before you leave. Give yourself plenty of time to fix any issues that you might find.

Packing

Take the time to make sure you’ve got a basic first aid kit, a car brake bleeding kit, some essential tools, emergency blankets and snacks as well as everything else that you need for your vacation. Make sure your car is packed so that everything you need on the journey is easy to reach. If you are taking a roof box, make sure it’s securely fitted and that everything is tightly packed so that it doesn’t affect the movement of your car. If you are pulling a trailer, double and triple check that it’s safely connected before you leave.

Comfort

Your comfort is crucial on a long trip. Even cars that are super comfortable on trips to the local store can become less so after a few hours. Check your seat positioning, make sure your air conditioning is working and that you are able to sit comfortably. You should also make sure you dress comfortably and wear sensible shoes, as well as pack blankets and cushions for your friends or family.

Entertainment

Long road trips are a great way to bond with friends and family. But, it can get boring after a point. Think about road trip games, music, portable DVD players and tablets, or even books. Check out easy road trip games online and ask your co-travelers what they want to bring for the journey.

Are you ready for your road trip? After taking into account everything, remember the most important thing you need to go on a trip is good spirits and the right attitude.

Do you have any essentials for your road trips? Do share them in the comments below. Happy road tripping!