Road trips can go one of two ways: It can be a great experience if you are prepared for the long road ahead, or it can be a super uncomfortable experience. Between hours of putting up with your family, not getting to control the radio (or air conditioning) and possibly being crammed between people, it can really be more bad than good. However, in order to avoid having one of the worst road trips of your life, here are some important tips/things to remember when preparing for a road trip:
1. Have a seat partner picked out before the trip.
A seat partner needs to be someone with whom you can be comfortable. This is important because when the time comes for naps and getting comfy for the ride, you'll want someone who will put up with your snores, snacking and maybe even let you prop on them.
2. Bring snacks.
Notice that the word "snack" is plural. Let's be real, you don't want to keep stopping for multiple meals because that just means more time in the car. Therefore it will be easier to pack snacks so you don't get super hungry. Let me assure you that you can never have too many snacks.
3. Bring headphones.
Being cooped up in the car with your family for hours can get really annoying, so I would definitely suggest headphones. You can listen to music, open that Snapchat video without others listening in, tune out the world and probably get a good nap in. Just be sure to keep up with them on the trip. You're still going to need them for the ride back.
4. Bring a blanket and pillow.
This should really go without saying, especially if you know you'll be on the road for hours, but consider this a friendly reminder. You never know who is controlling the air conditioning, so it could get pretty cold in the car. Trust me, it's much better to be safe than sorry. Plus the pillow can be used to prop anywhere (or on anyone) so that's definitely a plus. You never know the comfort of a pillow until you try leaning on a window (or person) without one for long periods of time.
5. Portable phone chargers are a must.
Once again, this item is pretty self explanatory. You know you're going to use your phone, so why not be prepared instead of suffering while it slowly dies? Also, this will help you to remember to bring a cord for your phone too, so really it's a win-win situation.
6. Bring something to do.
You definitely don't want to use your data on your phone, so it's good to have a back-up plan. Whether it's "Uno," "Go Fish," crossword puzzles/word searches or even a board game, it will certainly help take up time so that you don't constantly look at your phone.
Be sure to prepare for every road trip so you have a great experience! Trips are meant for making memories, so make sure they are good ones.
