Road trips are a staple of American automotive life. With the country's vast interstate highway system making sea to shining sea accessible by car, it honestly doesn't matter where you start. And with the world collectively emerging from a year-long lockdown without travel, and air travel still dubious, it’s safe to assume everybody is itching to get out. We know we are.
Before hitting the road, though, there are a few things to check off on your vehicle's maintenance, and list of road trip essentials, before any car, truck, or RAD VAN is certified Up For The Job™. These are the basic preparations every driver and passenger should take to ensure a safe and overall enjoyable adventure on the open road, singing tunes, camping, and eating an unhealthy amount of gas station snacks. But before we get to the all-important discussion about Spotify playlists, let’s dig into what needs to get done to your ride—and what needs to be in your trunk—so you can get on the highway!
So what's a road trip? Come on, you know what the answer is. t's a movie trope. A cliche piece of American existence. But most of all, it's a journey ranging from driving a few hours to a campground to weeks meandering through a continent, usually with an emphasis on the joy of the journey over just arriving at your chosen destination.
Any vehicle can be used, from an off-roader for driving off the beaten path, to a family wagon for fuel efficiency, to the crowd favorite, a van for partying with your friends at a campsite. No matter what you turn the key to, however, there are the same general plans you should make before leaving home.
Estimated Time Needed: Two to four hours of prep
Skill Level: Beginner
Vehicle System: General Maintenance
Working on your car and hitting the open road can be dangerous, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to ensure you don’t die, get maimed, or lose a finger and that you keep your jeans, shirt, and skin spotless—hopefully.
This list varies greatly depending on your plans, so for the purpose of this article, we’ll assume your routes and sleeping arrangements are set. Remember, though, check the weather and local temperatures of where you're headed, as well as where you're driving through, to make sure you don’t get stranded in a surprise blizzard or heatwave.
Keep these tools in your car as precautionary measures, just in case you need to do a quick pit stop.
There are two parts to a road trip: your prep, and your trip. Let’s dive into both.
As much as The Drive loves to put the "you" in do-it-yourself, we know that not everyone has the proper tools, a safe workspace, the spare time, or the confidence to tackle major automotive repairs. Sometimes, you just need quality repair work performed by professionals—like our partners at Goodyear Tire & Service.
We've crisscrossed the U.S. more times than we care to count. Here are our pro-tips.
Check out Greg’s Adventures for how he outfitted his SUV as a camper for ultra-long stints on the road!
You’ve got questions, The Drive has answers!
A: Literally anywhere, but the most fun for car enthusiasts is anywhere with some great roads. If you’re taking out a fun weekend car for the trip, you can make the journey as fun as the destination. For example: Try carving through the Appalachians on the way to Tail of the Dragon, or hitting the Pacific Coast Highway through California on your way to Mulholland Drive. If you’re taking a big SUV with 31” tires on it, try hitting some trails (that are at your skill level, of course!) and see the great outdoors.
A: Road trips can be planned on a variety of budgets, but the biggest expense you’ll be facing is the cost of gas and lodging. If you sleep out of your vehicle at campgrounds, you can get that cost down to a few dollars a night, but gas will depend on your car’s efficiency and average gas prices.
I’m personally choosing a relatively efficient diesel turbo van for my trip to help keep gas costs down, but I’m also planning a 5,000-mile trip—probably all told a few thousand dollars in costs by the time I return.
A: Even professional truckers are mandated to drive no more than 11 hours consecutively and are required to take a break after eight hours of driving. Assuming you’re not a professional semi-truck driver, you probably can’t last that long.
Personally, I take breaks about every 150 miles to stretch and relax, and I call it quits after 6-8 hours of driving. If you start getting tired and find driving difficult, there are rest areas or truck stops for that! Rest and get to your destination safely. I’ve done the dumb move where I tried to compress long trips into a single day or two by skipping naps and rest and I was miserable and exhausted. Not worth it.
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