How You Do: Planning a Road Trip

[I used to think I knew everything…until I found myself stranded in the middle of adulthood with no map and no one to guide me when I got lost. I have learned a lot since then - from how to balance a checkbook to how to sew on a button - and will share my wisdom with you.

By Carly

Every Monday I will be back to teach you how to do something useful, even if it also happens to be completely random. Because, hey, you never know when you just might need to know how to change a tire…or mix a perfect martini.]

I’m off to the Obama inauguration with some friends this weekend, and I am sooo psyched about it. The inauguration itself will be cool, obviously (despite our lack of tickets—we hope), but what will really be cool is the ROAD TRIP!!!!!

There’s nothing better than hitting the road with some pals and feeling your everyday responsibilities and stresses trickle away behind you. Road trips seem to enable a greater sense of freedom than other vacations, and they can be done so spontaneously—just pack up and go, basically.

Still, a little planning goes a long way (both in terms of miles and preparedness). To ensure your road trip is a smashing success, follow these 4 tips.

1. Print directions!

A map is incredibly useful, yes, but it won’t necessarily get you to where you’re going. Some maps have such tiny print that you can’t read anything on them, and other maps aren’t detailed enough to get you back on track when you’re lost. To be safe and save time, use Google Maps or Mapquest to print driving directions for your trip, and designate the person sitting shotgun to be your navigator.

2. Be open to sideshows.

Road trips aren’t any fun if you just drive the whole way through—you have to explore! Before you take off, show your directions to everyone in your group, and ask each person to find a few places along the way that sounds interesting. They could be restaurants, museums, or really crazy national monuments, but if you hit up even half of them, you’ll be guaranteed an entertaining journey.

3. Keep a kit of essentials in the car.

On the open road, anything is possible—so do as the Scouts do, and be prepared. Store a box in the car that you’ve filled with a first-aid kit, wet wipes, Purell, a clean towel, a blanket (if you’re driving in cold weather), emergency phone numbers, a flashlight, and high-energy snacks.

4. Research detours, roadways, and traffic patterns.

I’m told that numerous streets and bridges will be blocked off in the D.C. area early next week for the inauguration. If I don’t check which streets are blocked before I go, I won’t be able to get home (which may not be entirely a bad thing…). To drive as safely as possible, try to learn about the roadways you’ll be traveling on before you go. That way, you won’t have to pull off any risky driving maneuvers or make any split-second risky decisions. Staying safe now means you can go on as many road trips as you want later!

[Image courtesy of autos.canada.com.]