There’s a special romance and fun attached to hitting the open road with loved ones on board, carrying high hopes for a journey rich with vivid sights, tasty food, and bonding with pals. Planning road trips, where you take a long car ride and hit many stops on the way, present their own set of challenges (and opportunities). Here are a few things you should keep in mind to plan yourself and your friends the perfect road trip.

 

Make Sure Your Ride is Ready

First things first, right? You don’t want to ruin it all and end up with a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. Make sure that your vehicle is in primo condition. Check your vehicle’s vital fluids. Pack jumper cables to jump-start your battery in case it dies. Last but not least, make sure you have all the proper tools you need to change a flat tire in your trunk, and that your spare tire is ready to rumble.

 

Pack Smartly

Don’t ruin the pleasure of the road by loading the car with unneeded stuff, and then sit all jammed up the whole trip! Pack smartly. And don’t forget snacks, what’s a road trip without food? Bring a cooler of finger foods, cheese sticks, roasted nuts, and indulgent treats like a bar of your favourite chocolate.

 

Bring Along Any Entertainment That You’ll Need

If you’re the type of person who likes to spend hours in the car simply talking, sharing thoughts, listening to the radio, and watching the scenery, then you don’t need to bring much. All you need is a good playlist, and an auxiliary jack to play music. If you will be a passenger for part of the trip, bring something to occupy yourself with when the conversation dies down: a book, a journal, a game or a puzzle.

 

Pick The Right Companion

The tip that can make or break your trip! The thing about road trips is that they lack the luxury of airplanes and the speed of trains. So after few hours, even if the scenery is breathtaking, you will get use to it! Your back will start to ache, and all what will matter then is the company. Pick the kind of people who click with you, who never allow boredom to crack through their happy mood, who don’t nag, or complain. Pick someone who has your same adventurous spirit.

 

Designate Roles

Now that we have established who should be on the road with you, let’s put them to work. To stay organized, designate together roles to each person. One person in charge of the playlist, one person in charge of snacks, one in charge of the direction, etc.; this way you’ll be able to share responsibilities and ensure the trip goes as smoothly as possible.

 

Allow For Spontaneity

You’re on this trip to have fun, right? So allow it! Keep in mind that part of the fun is being spontaneous, so build time for freedom into the route. Stop to have lunch in a place you’ve never heard of but looks fun. Stop at the roadside attraction. If you drive alongside the sea, stop to breathe in the salty air. A road trip is all about the road, not the destination. So make each moment count.