A road trip is a wonderful excuse to go out and see as much of a place as possible. The beauty of a road trip is that you can tailor it to your own wants and needs. If you only have time for a weekend away, you can plan a small road trip around a more confined area. But, if you’re retired and have lots of time on your hands, there’s nothing stopping you from going on a long trip around an entire country for weeks on end. 

The choice is yours, and the hardest part of a road trip is planning it. Once you have your plan penned down, all you need to do is follow it. On that topic, here are four tips to help you plan your next road trip:

Source – CC0 License

Plot your route

Firstly, decide where you want to go and what you want to see. Then, you can start plotting your route on a map. Google Maps is very handy in this situation as you can put two points in and receive directions on how to get there. In fact, you can also add in multiple stops on your route, and it will try to find the best way for you to get around. Theoretically, you could get a map up and select all the destinations you want to visit one by one. Google Maps will then provide you with all the directions you need to get from one place to the other. It also provides an approximate journey time, so you can factor this into the equation. 

Alternatively, you can plot your route one step at a time. Focus on getting to your first destination, figure out what you want to do while you’re there, then find a route to the next place. Some people find it easier when their route is broken up into blocks like this, rather than seeing it all in one go. 

Travel outside of peak times

You’ll be doing a lot of driving, which means you need to plan when you drive and when you enjoy the places you’re staying in. The best idea is to travel outside of peak times. Peak times are basically when everyone is on the roads, clogging up motorways and making your life a living hell. You want to avoid this for two reasons, the first of which is that it will delay your trip because of all the traffic. Secondly, the more cars there are on the roads, the more chances there are of getting into accidents. You don’t really want to go through the effort of finding a car accident attorney who cares enough to file a case or deal with your insurance provider. Avoid this by travelling at the quieter points in the day – and typically during weekdays. 

With that in mind, travelling on Bank Holidays is never a good idea. This is a surefire way to spend twice as long in your car and to narrowly avoid any accidents. Also, be aware of any special events taking place on your route as this can add to the traffic. 

Book flexible accommodation

Obviously, you need to stay somewhere when you reach your destination. It’s unwise to book non-refundable and non-flexible accommodation as you’re never sure what can happen on a road trip. You could end up with delays that mean you can’t get to your next destination when you wanted, meaning you need to cancel the booking. Options with free cancellation policies are therefore essential, along with other perks – like being able to change the dates or alter the check-in and out times. 

Pack the essentials

Naturally, you could be away for days or weeks on end during your entire road trip. So, you need to have all the essentials to help you out during this time. That means all of your clothing, along with some travel washing powder that you can use to clean them whenever you stay overnight. From a food perspective, try to bring some non-perishable items – or snacks that aren’t going to go off that quickly. They will keep you going during the long periods in the car, meaning you don’t have to keep stopping for a bite to eat. 

Of course, you also need to have a first aid kit, just in case. Bring some medication to help you if you fall sick or have an upset stomach, as well as bandages and other key items to keep you safe. 

Just like that, you’ve prepared for your next road trip. All that’s left to do is get in your car and start the journey!

(collaborative post)