Kicking off my summer with a cross-country road trip, a friend and I took on the 1,844 mile journey from my school in North Dakota to home in southern California. Our adventure’s highs and lows taught us what we need to know to be a road trip professional.

1. Rest your head at night

We decided to split our trip up into three days, with manageable distances to go each day and beds to sleep in at night; it made the long journey much more bearable. If possible, I recommend booking a hotel that includes a continental breakfast. A well-balanced meal will allow you to have the energy to go the long distance ahead (and you can grab a mini box of cereal or a banana for later). Staying in a hotel also allows you to put your perishable foods in a fridge overnight and grab a new batch of ice in the morning for the cooler.

2. Keep food and drinks in arms reach

We learned the best place for the cooler was behind the center console, this way the passenger could easily access all snacks and beverages. Effortless travel foods; granola bars, carrots, or blueberries are perfect for on the road. We also brought along a whole bag of pre-made turkey sandwiches, which lasted throughout the trip. This allowed us to save money on food on the journey.

3. Make a playlist

Whether you are going 100 miles or 1,000 miles, music completely changes the mood of a trip. Get creative with your playlist and include fun sing along songs. Prior to our trip I purchased a 70s No. 1 hits CD, "Now that’s what I call the 80s," and a Disney hits CD. This playlist made the trip that much better; besides, what’s better than driving through the Rocky Mountains while listening to epic Disney hits?

4. When in doubt, make a stop

For a majority of our drive, the areas surrounding the road were sparsely populated and some places had no service--exactly where you would not want to run out of gas. We were always on the safe side when it came to gas, just in case the next rest stop wasn’t for a while. It is also good to stretch your legs and take a bathroom break during these stops as well.

5. Explore

A portion of our trip traveled through the Rocky Mountains. With breath-taking views, we couldn't resist stopping at the scenic lookouts to take photos. Looking back at our trip photos, I am glad we made those stops. Take as many pictures as you can on your journey and capture all the memories. These stops also help to make the long drive more bearable instead of sitting in the car for fourteen hours straight.

Whether it's for three hours or three days, these few road trip tips will help make the drive a little easier for you.