It's the midst of summer but college is right around the corner and that has got me thinking: what makes the best road trip? How can you turn that four hour drive into something that doesn’t make you want to jump out of the car? Well, have I got some good news for you. I have been thinking this over and am using my experience to compose a list for all of you road trippers. Here's everything you need to know in order to have a good, solid road trip.

Make sure to have good music and plenty of it.

If you are anything like me, singing and dancing in the car is just part of the job. What you will learn fairly quickly is that your favorite 10 songs will get very old very quick when you are stuck in a car for over four hours, so make sure you are supplied with an arsenal of all the best tunes. I also suggest keeping the slow and/or sad songs to a minimum. Nothing will put you to sleep and kill your mood faster in the middle of Kansas than thinking about all the deaths in Grey’s Anatomy while listening to “Never Say Never” by The Fray. Also, if you are in charge of the aux cord, I can guarantee you will kill everyone’s vibe when your playlist goes from “Party in the USA” to “Say Something,” so keep the mood light and leave the sad and slow songs to day dreaming in the back seat with headphones on.

Be smart when packing the car.

Nothing is worse than being in a car that is obnoxiously over packed or packed in the worst possible way. Be smart! If you are staying places on the way to your final destination, DO NOT pack your travel bag first. Pulling up to a motel at 9 pm and realizing you have to unpack and repack the entire car to get your tooth brush is awful, so think ahead. Keep your most important things: toothbrush, charger, change of clothes, in a bag at the top of everything or at your feet and then pack the rest according to how immediately you are going to need it when you reach your final destination. Also, do not over pack. My best advice is pack your car two or three days before you are scheduled to leave and drive around with it like that. This helps you to see how the drive is going to look and if you have way too much stuff. At least when you realize you over packed you are only a few minutes from home and not hours away. Less is always better. If you are going to college, remember your parents can always ship you things you forgot and if you are just going on a vacation, most places have a Walmart or something of the sort so getting something you left is not too hard.

Take good company.

This is a huge thing! You are going to be stuck in close quarters for hours on end with the company you have so choose wisely. If you know that Sarah tends to sweat a lot and forgets to wear deodorant, do not invite her to drive with you before you're sure you can roll down the windows. But once your eyes are as dry as the desert and your hair consists of one huge knot, you are going to have to face the reality that the awful B.O. you allowed is there to stay. If you have never spent more than two days straight with your BFF Jill, this road trip will either make or break your relationship. You will either have a new found connection and respect for her or you will want to rip her throat out and never speak to her again. Be aware of the commitment you are making.

SNACKS!!!

There is so much to say about snacks and drinks for a road trip. This first is, be financially smart when it comes to snack purchases. Those few dollar purchases will add up, especially if you are expecting to be on the road for some time. I'd advise you to buy a bunch of snacks initially and avoid buying snacks at gas stations. You do not want to be the person who spent their hard earned $1000 spending money before you even get to your destination. Second, be considerate of everyone else when you are buying snacks. Kelly, I know you love extra crunchy potato chips but you do not know how to chew with your mouth closed and if I have to hear or see your food one more time I am going to round house kick you out of this car. We get it Dave, you are a total badass and your snack of choice is wasabi covered jalapeños, but the next rest stop is 50 miles away and we all forgot to pack toothpaste so you are going to have deal with Cheetos or you will kill everyone in this car with your toxic breath. Susan if you burp one more time because you decided to drink 3 Rockstars, we are going to have to leave you at mile marker 73 in Utah and send you home. You are not the only in the car so be considerate and respectful.

Have fun!

This is probably the most important tip I can give you. You have spent hours and maybe days in a car with the same people, tensions are going to rise. You are going to be so over the ABBA CD that has been playing on loop for the fourth time now and you are going to be cranky from the dreadful car naps you have been taking. You have to remember that you are making a commitment and an hour in, you are not allowed to be done with the trip and have everyone turn back. Make sure to enjoy it while it happens because when you get back, you are going to look at the trip and have lasting memories. You do not want those memories to be of you complaining and moping, so live up the good and get over the bad!

As Miley Cyrus said “it’s the climb” so enjoy the traveling portion of the trip just as much as you enjoy the destination. Some of your best memories may come from it.

Happy road tripping!!!