Summer is officially here and the open road awaits!

Travelling offers a feeling of such richness and fulfillment, so it’s no surprise that you’re chomping at the bit to get in your car and hit the highway, but before you do that, you might want to read these helpful tips to ensure your trip runs smoothly.

Give your car a spring (or summer) clean before and during your trip 

Of course, you’re free to leave the candy wrappers and napkins in your car if you want but you’ll regret it. Why? Because as soon as your trip commences, the trash you gather at those gas stations and those fast-food drive-thrus is going to be on top of the old junk thus creating the mother of all messes.

Therefore, you’ll have no option but to stop your car and perform a major clean up. Suspending your journey to tidy up is no fun, so, you better get things in order before you set out on your adventure. While on the open road, do a quick tidying sweep every few days so you can tolerate the trash that will soon follow. 

Make sure your vehicle is up for the challenge

Are you quite certain your poor old car will manage all those miles? If not, you’d better get the vehicle checked just to be on the safe side. Take the car to the mechanics and ask them to review the fluid levels, tires and brakes. Sure, this will cost money but the price of hiring a mechanic pales in comparison to the price of being towed 200 miles on the highway because you broke down in the middle of nowhere. 

Have a plan in place

If you’re driving a long distance, expect to face potential delays. You’re likely to run into a ‘road closed’ and ‘road work ahead’ sign a few times on your journey, there’s also the risk of traffic jams, getting lost, your car breaking down or you getting a parking or speeding ticket (see TicketBust.com for advice).

You can deal with these problems by driving at off-peak times, bringing a map, having a fully charged phone (to call for help if you need it), and stopping for gas ahead of time. Remember to stop driving if you feel tired and don’t take any ‘shortcuts’. Read more on road safety. 

Road trips can be unforgettable experiences – for good or bad reasons. If you want your trip to be memorable for a positive reason, plan ahead, perform maintenance checks on your vehicle, and clean up your car. 

Fancy some inspiration?

If you’re not sure where to go for your 2021 road trip, what about these routes?

• Pacific Coast Highway
• Going-to-the-Sun Road 
• Red Rock Country 
• Olympic Peninsula
• Blue Ridge Parkway

We hope you have an epic adventure!