If you ever find yourself deciding to take a spontaneous road trip, there are some things you probably should and should not do. Having learned from experience, things tend to go much smoother when you at least have some sort of plan. But when you really are winging it, some incredible memories are made. So, speaking completely from a (not so) hypothetical situation, here are eight do’s and don’ts of a spontaneous road trip.
DO: Go with someone you know you can have fun with! This person should accept you and your uniqueness and be able to keep you entertained while sitting in two hours worth of traffic. Which brings me to my next point…
DON’T: If you don’t want to get stuck in the all too frustrating and familiar situation of bumper-to-bumper traffic, don’t try to drive through or near major cities around 5 p.m., on a holiday weekend, or on Superbowl Sunday. And especially do not combine the three. Trust me on that one.
DON’T: Depending on how far you are planning on going, do not assume that you can drive the whole way. Anything over nine hours, you’re probably going to want to stop and spend the night somewhere!
DO: Please make sure whatever lodging you are planning to utilize is available. For example, you don’t want to show up and find someone else’s belongings at your family member’s house who is out of town with a supposedly empty house…right? Right.
DO: Get enough sleep! Yes, there are times when delirium can have its fun effects and make everything seem that much funnier. Driving for eight hours down an interstate, however, is not the time to be tired. No one wants to be falling asleep at the wheel because that could end very, very badly.
DON’T: Never assume that the weather will be what you checked the day before you left. Especially if heading to Florida. Even though the forecast says sunny and beautiful for the next five days, it is quite possible that you will show up and it will rain all day. And that it’ll be forecasted to rain the next day, and possibly the next.
DON’T: Don’t just show up at your destination without having a clue as to what you’re going to do. Spontaneity is fun and all, but you should always have some sort of plan for what’s going to happen. Even if that’s not what you end up doing, it’s better to have some idea then no idea.
DO: Have the time of your life! This trip is probably something that you are going to remember for the rest of your life and something that will be talked about for weeks and months to come. Don’t worry about what’s going on at school or at home, worry about having the best time you possibly can on this insanely spontaneous trip. You never know what could end up happening!
So go forth and be spontaneous! The world is yours to explore, so hop to it!
