How to Survive A Summer Road Trip

I've been on more road trips with my family than I can count. Even though I love flying, I have to admit there's a certain appeal to traveling in a car that you can't really get when you board a plane. Despite some of their inconveniences, I love road trips because they allow me to bond with family or friends and see the changing nature and cities along the way. I'm also pretty sure that the reason I never get carsick anymore is because of how many road trips my family made me take when I was younger. So I'm thankful to them for that.

Since I've done it quite a few times, I wanted to share some of my favorite road trip tips for any of you venturing out onto the open road this summer.

Rent a Car or Van

My family and I rented a minivan instead of taking our own car when we road tripped to the Smoky Mountains. I’ll be honest, at first i didn’t like the idea because I wasn’t sure if it’d be worth it, money-wise. But if you have an older, less reliable car (or just don’t want to add a lot of miles to your usual vehicle), renting a car for your road trip might be the way to go. I ended up loving it because it didn't turn out to be that expensive and we got to pick out a rental that came equipped with charging stations and a DVD player (something our own minivan doesn’t have). Another unintended benefit was that we were extra careful to keep the van nice and neat, since we knew we’d have to return it. And it’s a lot more pleasant to travel in a clean car!

Switch Seats Along the Way

Don't just change seats in your car if you're the driver. Let everyone take turns riding shotgun, manning the playlist, and sitting in the comfiest part of the car. It'll give you an excuse to pull over and stretch your legs, as well as sit beside different family members or friends. You'll also get to enjoy different parts of the trip: like the best views or the perfect spot to sneak in that much needed nap.

Convenience Stores > Fast Food

The best option for a long trip is definitely to pack your own healthy meals and snacks for the road. But the reality is that isn't always feasible, and neither is stopping at a restaurant for a full meal whenever somebody gets hungry. So that leaves you to decide between convenience stores or fast food. Even though I do sometimes hit up fast food chains on a road trip, if I have a choice, I'd rather opt for a convenience store. I love stopping at convenience stores because it gives me a chance to get out of the car and stretch my legs, I'm more likely to find something (somewhat) healthy and I get to explore a new place. Even if it is just the souvenir section in the corner of the store ;)

Prepare Your Entertainment Materials Ahead of Time

If you're not going to be driving for the full length of the trip, make sure you plan how you're going to spend your time in the car so you don't "die" of boredom. Even as adults, sitting in the car can get pretty boring after a few hours. My favorite activity to avoid this is of course to read (I usually buy a new book the day before I leave), since like I said, I'm lucky enough to not get carsick. But I also like to write in a journal, listen to music or even daydream. Road trips are also great ways to get to know the people around you though, so don't just stick to the introvert-approved activities. I've never done this before, but I think writing down a bunch of questions (like these) and shuffling them to ask each other would be a great way to pass the time.

Create the Ultimate Playlist

What's a road trip without a playlist? My favorite kinds of songs to play when I'm driving somewhere far are the nostalgic ones that take you back to a time of your life when you were younger and loved the music. That means my road trip playlists tend to include a lot of early 2000's Vanessa Carlton, Avril Lavigne and All American Rejects. Plus the Fray of course, since they're my favorite band. Having each of your friends or family members make their own playlist and then shuffling them together is a neat way to make sure everyone gets to hear their favorite road trip songs.

In case you were wondering, here's a few of mine:

p.s. Thanks to my sister Dani for the cover photo! You can check out her awesome Instagram here.

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