Planning before any road trip is an important element not only to make your trip enjoyable but also for your own safety. It will also helps and saves you from lot of troubles to find out the travel essentials before starting a road trip. travel essentials before starting a road trip
But even the most discerning road tripper knows that without thorough pre-trip planning and road-smart know-how, the most amazing trip can be a disaster. To help you out, we spoke to a few experts who know the dos (and don’ts) to make your trip a hassle-free one. travel essentials before starting a road trip
All you need is a reliable car, a killer playlist, and a schedule that’s flexible enough to allow a little wiggle room—because that’s where the fun comes in.
Below is a list of Top 10 travel essentials before starting a road trip for every type of travelers.
List of 10 Travel essentials before starting a road trip
1. Vehicle full Tune-Up before you Leave
On a long road trip, your car can be either your best friend or your worst enemy. To increase your chances of the former, schedule a full tune-up a week or two before departure. Having a professional check your oil and tire pressure and make sure your battery, brakes, and engine are working properly will prevent you from being stranded on the side of the road or calling AAA for a tow truck in a few hours. travel essentials before starting a road trip
2. Tidying up the house
We recommend making “a list of things to take care of while you’re away, including mail, lawn and garden, and houseplants. If you’re worried about leaving the house empty for days (or weeks), “Installing a home security system before you leave can offer peace of mind.”
3. Download Maps, Entertainment and Road Trip applications
If you want to avoid data charges at the end of your trip, you’ll need to download everything over Wi-Fi before you leave. download Google Maps ahead of time so you don’t have to use (or need) data to navigate. The same goes for Spotify playlists and whatever shows or movies you need to keep young travelers entertained. “Apps like Netflix, Spotify and Facebook are all seeing spikes due to heavy usage. Control your data in app settings. You can set how much data an app can use, and you can prevent photos from loading in your feed until you’re on Wi-Fi,” travel essentials before starting a road trip
In addition to recommending Roadtrippers planning app, we recommend that hikers download Waze for up-to-date traffic information, GasBuddy for gas searches and price comparisons, and Recreation.gov for managing campground reservations. travel essentials before starting a road trip
4. With a view to the tech accessories you need to stay online and in control
Pack a car charger (or upgrade to this multi-phone car charger) and make sure you have somewhere to put your phone so you can check directions without fumbling or looking down. This universal magnetic car mount from WizGear hooks into your car’s air vent to keep your phone in sight—and it’s under $10.
5. Leaving home with refrigerator for snacks and drinks
Chances are there are plenty of gas stations and fast food restaurants along the way, but a trip with burgers, fries, candy and chips gets old fast. Pack your fridge with pre-cut vegetables and fruits, nuts, sandwiches and of course some healthy snacks. To keep you hydrated and lightly caffeinated throughout the long day, try Gojai Caffeinated Sparkling Water. travel essentials before starting a road trip
6. Accessories to maintian order and cleanliness during the trip
When you live in your car, things can get messy quickly. Bring wet wipes, paper towels, and hand sanitizer and store everything in the seat back organizer (this one has a trash compartment, a tissue holder, and a place to store water bottles or tissues). When packing your car, load the things you won’t need first and then load them later, so the things you’ll use throughout the trip will be more accessible. travel essentials before starting a road trip
7. Plan everything so that there is no room for spontaneity
One of the best parts of a road trip is having the freedom to stop, explore, and change your route at any time. “Once you plan your trip, you can always deviate from your plan, but it’s a good idea to do your research beforehand to get the most out of your trip,” Boman said. “Travels are all about the journey – of course time or budget constraints may dictate the route, but the detours and unexpected stops are often the most memorable moments of the trip.”
8. Stop to stretch your legs often enough
If you have the final destination in mind, it can be tempting to drive right through, but if you do, you’ll miss out on everything that makes the trip fun. Side trips and highway attractions are a big part of road trips – you never know when you’ll stumble upon an Airbnb in the shape of a giant beagle or take a beautiful hike right off the road. travel essentials before starting a road trip
The biggest mistake people make when driving on the road is not stopping enough to stretch their legs and walk. To keep your mind fresh and focused on driving safely, it is recommended stopping once every hour so that they could move and stretch, whether that means getting gas or getting a cup of coffee and then taking a 30-minute break every four to five hours for a short walk or hike. According to the Journal of Safety Research, 30 minutes is enough to combat fatigue during longer journeys.” travel essentials before starting a road trip
9. Drive with a transmission (or know-how) to change a flat tire
Not every car (or rental car) comes with a set of spare tires. Take the time to make sure you have a fully inflated spare and everything you would need to deploy it – jack, wrench and owner’s manual. If you don’t have a spare tire, buy one (and the necessary tools) before take off. You should also get a little instruction (either in person or online) on how to replace a flat tire if something does appear. It’s no fun relying on Google Search when you’re in the middle of nowhere. travel essentials before starting a road trip
10. Emergency kit
Don’t leave home without preparing for some common road accidents. A flashlight with spare batteries, a tire pressure gauge, jump leads, a car battery charger (or spare battery), extra water, a few energy bars and some first aid essentials – pain reliever, bandages and scissors – come in handy. a long way should something go wrong. travel essentials before starting a road trip
