Guide To A Long-Distance Road Trip: Packing, Safety, And More

By Amy Whitley
Guest Columnist

Does your spirit of adventure beckon you to the open road? With the right planning, packing, and adventure, a long-distance road trip can make for a wonderful and memorable vacation.

How to Prepare For Your Road Trip
Even if you want to be spontaneous and let the road be your guide, it’s important to decide before departure what type of trip you want to experience. Will you be camping each night, sleeping under the stars? If so, purchase forest service maps for the areas you’ll drive through so you know where you’re legally allowed to catch some Z’s.

Do you want luxury digs near popular destinations in peak season? Best to plan a route and book hotels in advance. Want to find the kookiest roadside attractions? Scout the roads less traveled, and take your time.

Whichever type of road trip you envision, make sure to bring the essentials with you, such as bottled water, an emergency blanket, a spare tire, and a cellphone charger. While travelers can buy supplies en route, it’s best to be prepared and self-reliant.

Consider investing in a roadside assistance plan before departure, keeping emergency numbers in your phone for easy access, and letting a friend or family member know your itinerary. Don’t rely solely on GPS mapping and cell service; keep paper maps in the car for reference.

Packing Your Car For Maximum Efficiency
On a long road trip, packing and repacking your car can become quite tedious. Save yourself time (and some back-breaking work) by packing efficiently. Place sleeping gear in a lockable, weatherproof cargo box or bag on top of your car; sleeping bags take up much-needed space. Put overnight bags into the car first because you’ll be retrieving them only once a day.

Place seasonal items you may need at pit stops close to the rear door. This way, you can quickly grab swimsuits, winter boots, recreational gear, and the like before getting outside to play. Use a canvas tote bag or small cargo box in the interior of your car to store things you’ll need on the go, like music, books, snacks, camera, and water.

Make Sure Your Car is Trip-Ready:
Responsible owners always have a spare tire and keep their cars maintained, but a long trip requires extra precaution. Before you start, check your wind-shield wiper fluid, tire pressure, and headlight brightness. Get your oil checked if you think you’ll hit the mileage for your next change while on the road, and purchase an extra set of wipers so you don’t need to hunt for a pair in an emergency.

Ensure that you have a flashlight, tire jack, and snow chains (if applicable) be-fore you depart. It doesn’t hurt to keep an extra pair of gloves and a blanket in the car at all times, as well. On a long-distance trip, you may experience all types of weather.

On The Road:
In addition to fun roadside attractions and iconic pit stops, you’ll need to stop when nature calls. Look for stops that perform double duty: travel-service plazas, where all amenities are in one place, or rest stops with welcome centers attached.

Ask locals for dining and attraction recommendations; no one knows the area better than those who live there! Seek out green spaces to ensure you get some exercise: hiking trails, state parks, playgrounds, and schools during the summer months all fit the bill. Consider picking up food at a grocery store or farmers market and eating picnic-style for a healthier, tastier alternative to fast food.

Finding The Best Pit Stops:
For those bucket-list-worthy stops, consult travel websites before your trip for ideas. State tourism boards are also a great resource. Make a list of national parks and historic sites along your route, and, if you plan to visit more than a handful of them, consider purchasing a national park annual pass to save time and money. Keep in mind that many urban sites, such as the Statue of Liberty or Independence Hall, are national park attractions.

Check apps like Yelp and Trekaroo (for families with young kids) for the best dining options using GPS. Ask locals for ideas, or crowd-source for tips on social media. Park in open, well-lit areas en route and at night, preferably where you can see your car from your restaurant table or hotel room.

Enjoy your long-distance journey! Each road trip is an adventure, even if you can’t “see it all” in one vacation!

Amy is a travel writer and editor based out of Southern Oregon. She specializes in planning outdoors adventures for children and founded the family travel site PitStopsForKids.com.