Summer is the perfect time to take a road trip! Beautiful weather, happy people, upbeat music; what more could you ask for? Road trips are not just a matter of hopping in the car and heading out. Some planning is necessary to make the most of your time on the road. Whether you’re road tripping with no destination, one destination, or many along the way, we’ve got road trip tips to make your trip as fun and as stress free as possible. Stick with us as we help you prepare for the ultimate road trip!

The first step of a road trip is to know where the heck you’re going! What is your final destination? That is the easiest way to start planning your route. Mark where you’ll start and where you’ll end. Mark any stops along the way, whether directly on the route or a little ways off. This helps with time to know how long this road trip is actually going to be.

Now that you know the points of your trip, look at potential routes. Use a map platform to see the different routes that you could take. It could be one route if you have multiple stops along the way, or a variety of different routes. Sometimes, a route can show you sights that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about. Pick the route that’s best for you so that you can easily follow that on trip day!

Having stops along the way can definitely break up a longer road trip. Hours and hours in the car can get tedious pretty quickly but having a great restaurant to go to, a nice hike, or a beautiful vista can be really refreshing. That being said, some road trips are just about getting to the destination. In that case, keeping the stops to a minimum is a great option!

Be sure in your route stops to plan for simple washroom and food breaks. No matter how much you may want to, no one can drive for 10 hours without stopping. Breaks are a necessary part of a road trip. Planning these breaks ahead can help you stop in well-developed areas with clean washrooms and good food options. Sometimes, road trips can get pretty remote and without the proper planning, it can be tricky to find somewhere to stop for even things as basic as fuel. Knowing where you will stop will give you peace of mind and allow you to track the trip more efficiently.

Now that you have a general sense of the trip, the length of time of your road trip is important to consider. How long is this trip going to take, including any stops and side destinations? You may need to book a hotel for a night or two depending on how far you are going, or more if the trip is mainly on the road. Budget time in for any rest stops and know the distance you’ll go in between them. This helps you to be prepared and stay on schedule!

Pack all that you think you might need and more! Despite all of the planning you’ve put into this trip, unexpected disruptions can still occur. You may get stuck in construction, trapped in line at the border, or one of the rest stops might be closed. You just never know so it’s always better to be prepared for anything! Pack road trip snacks and drinks in a bag or cooler. This can also save time and money with less food stops. Pack anything you might need to sleep or entertain yourself as a passenger. Some of our favourite items are a neck pillow, headphones for music, or a good book. A great tip we have is to bring along some hygiene products like wipes and tissues if you need to freshen up quickly at a rest stop!

Budget money for the road trip. Road trips aren’t cheap when you’re thinking about gas, food, hotels, and anything else. Budget some money for this so that you aren’t shocked when you get back from your trip and see your bank account! Your budget doesn’t need to be down to the dollar but a general idea of how much things are going to cost can be useful.

Before you head out, plan exactly when you’ll be driving. It may seem easy to say you’ll wake up really early and drive late into the night. However, it’s important to be realistic with yourself. It’s up to you for what you can handle and it’s perfectly okay to need to leave a little later or stay over in a hotel for a night. It’s better and safer to drive when you’re feeling good than to push yourself when you just need rest!

Road trips can be a great way to travel this summer and we hope our tips have helped you in your planning! There are countless destinations to check out so go and plan your incredible road trip today!