How To Prepare For A Road Trip

A road trip is the ultimate travel experience when it comes to convenience. You set the time of departure, determine the stops along the route, and even control who shares your cabin space. Not only that, but everyone certainly enjoys more legroom than they'd get flying economy. You should, however, take certain measures to optimize your road trip experience. With that in mind, consider these tips to learn how to prepare for a road trip.

Service Your Vehicle

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Given that you plan to operate your vehicle for extended lengths of time and distance, you want to get it serviced to ensure it's in fine working order. About a week before you start your trip, take your vehicle in to a service technician to check the following components:

• Air conditioner
• Brakes
• Fluid levels
• Tire pressure
• Wheel alignment
• Windshield wipers

You can use our online scheduling tool to book a service appointment with us. If you're a first-time customer, provide us with the details of your vehicle, select from the list of service items, and choose the date and time of your service. Let us know that you plan to take a road trip and we'll make sure you get precisely the service you need.

Stock Emergency Items

Road travel can present hazards, so you want to be certain you have the tools necessary to deal with emergencies. To ensure that you're prepared, check that your vehicle contains these essential items:

• Blankets
• Charging cables for electronic devices
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• Flares
• Jumper cables
• Umbrellas

Should you lack any of these things, acquire them before you depart on your trip.

Enroll in an Emergency Roadside Service

If you haven't already, seriously consider enrolling in an emergency roadside service such as AAA, as there are limits to what you can do with jumper cables and flashlights. Depending on the level of membership you choose, you can get free jump starts, battery replacements, and fuel deliveries, as well as lodging discounts and locksmith service up to a specified dollar amount. These benefits help to ensure that you reach your destination, stay safe, and enjoy savings during your trip.

Stock Snacks and Drinks

You could stop at service stations when you get hungry or thirsty, but stocking your own snacks and drinks beforehand is more cost-effective and convenient in the long term. Begin by attaining a cooler large enough to accommodate items for everyone in the vehicle, along with enough freezer packs to chill everything you plan to put inside. What you decide to place in the cooler is up to you, but we'd recommend several jugs of water at least. 

Also, when it comes to food, you might want to avoid items that are likely to crumble or stain. That way, you won't have to vacuum or shampoo the upholstery afterward.

Plan Your Entertainment

Whether you're traveling with friends or with family, you're likely to encounter periods of low stimulation. Prevent boredom by planning your entertainment options beforehand. Here are some specific ideas: 

• Make an extensive playlist that appeals to everyone in the cabin, or ask everyone to put together their own short playlist
• Encourage everyone to download apps and movies onto their personal electronic devices before heading out
• Stock up on books and magazines and keep them within easy reach during the ride
• Have a deck of cards on hand
• For kids, pack coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils

Research Your Route

Part of the appeal of a road trip is that you have opportunities to see more than just your final destination. To get the most out of your trip, look into what sights you can check out en route to where you're going. Again, encourage everyone on the trip to take part. Then compose a list of must-visit side destinations to enhance your trip. You may end up seeing some interesting landmarks, learning about unfamiliar places, and trying local delicacies.

Moreover, the research you conduct may lead you to places where you can spend the night. Preparation on that point is especially important if you're traveling with pets and need to know about pet-friendly accommodations ahead of time.

Tidy Up

Because your vehicle will essentially be the place in which you'll spend the crux of your time during your trip, it's a good idea to tidy it up before departure. Being in a clean environment can do wonders for your mental health as you travel, whereas being surrounded by clutter tends to trigger stress. So, a couple of days before you start your trip, spend about an hour vacuuming and wiping the interior of your vehicle. If you want, give the exterior a wash, too.

Additionally, consider acquiring litter bins for your vehicle. For around $20, you can get a leak-proof container to stow the trash you accumulate during your trip. Such a product makes it easy to contain and dispose of trash as you travel.

Check Your Home

When the day of departure finally comes, don't neglect to address the particulars of your home before you leave. Begin by cleaning so that you return to a welcoming environment when the trip is over. It doesn't have to be comprehensive. Vacuuming, sweeping, and taking out the trash are usually enough to brighten things up.

Then take care of any home-care appointments you may have. For example, if a gardener comes weekly, notify them that you'll be out of town. On a related note, if you're expecting any packages, ask a neighbor to keep an eye out and secure the parcels for you. 

Finally, before you lock the door, check that all cooking appliances are off and that at least one light is on to deter potential break-ins in your absence.

There you have our advice when it comes to preparing for a road trip. Now, as long as you have a reliable vehicle, you're good to go. If you find that you're lacking in the vehicle department, though, we can help you out. Consider any of our new Subarus for a roomy, reliable ride or one of the various models available in our pre-owned inventory.

Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. Complete the form on our contact page with your name, contact information, and message. After we receive your message, we'll try our best to respond to you as soon as possible. Then, when you're ready for a test drive, come down to our dealership on 757 Chase Road in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. We look forward to getting you behind the wheel for your next road trip.