Well, it's Spring Break season, and we all know the drill. College students reunite somewhere in Florida and have a week long, responsibility-free party. Some of you may have been so fortunate to fly to your Spring Break destination this year, but there are countless others (myself included) who had to drive all the way to the sunshine state. While this may seem like an affordable, understandable idea, at first, it typically doesn't end as quite the positive experience you may have guessed it to be. Here are the stages of a Spring Break road trip we can all relate to, broken down by the hour.
1. Hours 1 - 2: The Happy Hours
It's the moment you've been waiting for for weeks: Your Spring Break trip has begun! You pile in the car with blankets, snacks, and your best friends, and you're ready for a good time. The conversation is light, and the car is filled with excitement (and the radio blaring with the best Spring Break jams.)
2. Hours 2 - 4: The "This Isn't So Bad" Stage
Once the first couple of hours have flown by, the members of the car begin to settle down a bit. Snacks have been nearly devoured, and as you nestle down in your seat with your headphones in, you begin to think of reasonable it was to drive.
3. Hours 4 - 8: The Discomfort Begins
You've tried to nap about a million times, but your knees are hurting, your best friend won't stop falling asleep on you, and the driver is playing the music WAY too loud. You get sick of staring out your window and using gas station bathrooms. Oh, and you've already listened to all of your playlists on your phone.
4. Hours 8 - 10: The Angry Hours
Just when you've fallen asleep, the sun comes up, and you're (unfortunately) wide awake. You become angry at how chipper the driver seems. You just want food, and there's none left in the car. Everything anyone says just pisses you off. You question how long it takes before certifiable insanity sets in from being stuck in a vehicle for too long.
5. Hours 10 - 12: The Final Stretch
Finally! With every Florida road sign you see, you begin to be a bit more chipper. As you stop for food, you realize how warm it is outside. You gain more energy and begin to count down the mileage until you reach your sunny destination. The radio turns back up as you enter your final hour, and the entire car is happy.
6. All Hours of the Way Home (when you no longer have a sunny destination to look forward to)
"Why the hell didn't I just buy a plane ticket?"
Although driving in a car for too many hours can evoke anger, severe leg cramps, and temporarily turn friends against each other, road trips are undeniably one of the most fun parts of Spring Break. While being in such a cramped space for so long, you're bound to make memories (and come back with some good stories.) Plus, knowing that you're about to have one of the best weeks of your life with all of your best friends makes the trip 100 percent worth it.
