Road Tripping Tips

So Spring Break is finally here (for me anyways!) & I bet you’re wondering what travel-obsessed me is doing??

….. Just driving home :(  Didn’t have the money or time to do anything more extravagant, and this is probably the first Spring Break of my LIFE where I’m not doing anything insanely fun, but home is nearWashington, DC!

So in honor of the long drive I’m about to take, I decided I’d let YOU guys know some tips on taking great road trips…. I’ve driven cross-country twice and have picked up some personal tips on the way!

TIPS TO HAVE THE BEST ROAD TRIP OF YOUR LIFE :)

1. Plan ahead.  As much fun as it sounds to just drive off in the middle of nowhere, you never know where you might run out of gas, or not find a place to stay.  Planning out at least your main stops and places to stay ahead of time will save you a lot of headaches, and buying hotel/hostel rooms online will ensure you (usually) get the best rates!  If you want to camp, it’s also a good idea to plan on getting to your site before it’s dark.  Besides, do you really want to be stuck in the middle of Nebraska, dead tired and 3 hours away from a hotel??!
2. Scope out colleges. If you’re in high school, or even in your first few years of college it’s a lot of fun to visit potential universities while road tripping.  If you call in advance, they’ll usually hook you up with some food and a free place to stay, (provided you tour their campus). So if you’re really trying to save money, this is a great option.
3. Get that National Park pass.  If you plan on visiting quite a few parks, see if investing in  National Park pass is worth it for you…  You’ll be able to go in and out of the parks pretty quickly and hey, it’s valid for a whole year!
4. Take some friends… preferably, ones who can drive!!  Yes, the obvious.  It’s NO fun having to do all the driving yourself, and it’s also no fun sitting in a jam packed car. So take a few people you can plan everything with, and make sure you share ipods… :)
5. Don’t wait until you’re on empty to get gas.  You’ll save quite a few dollars if you keep an eye out for the cheapest gas dollars while you’re driving.  Waiting until you’re 5 minutes away from having to push your car will force you to get gas at the first place you can find – which may not always be the cheapest!
6. Google the cities you’re going to go through.  There are some awesome places you can find in smaller cities, like the kool-aid museum, banana museum, or just awesome monuments that you won’t find anywhere else.
7. Learn how to change a tire.  Do you really want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with some strange person coming at you with a gun?  I didn’t think so. Also, make sure your car can take whatever distance you plan on taking!
8. Always have a cell phone, quarters, and a first aid kit.  Just in case you ARE stuck in the middle of nowhere….
9. Realize your GPS can lie to you.  Even though it’s amazing to have a GPS, I once drove in circles in random neighborhoods in Utah for 30 minutes at midnight, trying to find a wal-mart that I don’t think exists!!
10. Expect the unexpected! You never know what can happen.  Be prepared, willing to change your plans, and be prepared to have a blast :)