Everyone getting into a vehicle looks forward to a smooth and trouble-free ride to his/her destination but as we all know that is not always the case. Before you embark on any road trip or long distance travel it’s vital that you ensure you have put in place proper measures to guarantee you and your passengers (if any) a smooth journey. Preparation is crucial and is in fact the first step to any journey. In this article I have created a checklist that should act as a guide to anyone intending on traveling long distances or road trips.
1. Research your intended route:
– This should be the very first step in your preparation process.
– Know the route you will be using extensively.
– Failure to do this could very well lead to you not reaching your destination and/or getting lost countless times.
– Use certain landmarks e.g. gas stations or motels as checkpoints if possible.
– If you haven’t used the route in recent times, landmarks or parts of the routes could have changed so do not assume.
– Input the route onto your GPS navigation system.
– Carry a map as back-up if possible especially if it’s your first time on that route.
– If the trip lasts more than a day, fore-plan where to spend the night(s) and possibly make arrangements.
2. Service your vehicle properly:
– Now that you know your travel route well, make sure your vehicle is well prepared to cover that route from start to finish.
– Make sure your car tires are not worn off, find out if you will be traveling through a muddy, snowy, sandy or tarmac terrain and prepare accordingly.
– Have your mechanic check your engine, transmission, brakes, steering and other crucial vehicle systems.
3. Carry extra fuel:
– When traveling long distances it’s possible to get caught in between stretches of road that have no gas stations in between.
– Carry you back-up fuel in case you need it later and if you do use it, refill your container at the next station so that you have a back-up at all times.
4. Take breaks where possible:
– Traveling for long distances can be very tiring especially if you’re not accustomed to it.
– Take breaks after certain durations, for example every two hours.
– Breaks are a good time to take in the landscape if on a scenic route, eat a meal, use your phone without distractions, visit the bathroom or stretch a little. It’s also a good time to check the condition of the car especially the wheels.
– This will prevent you from getting fatigued and possibly dozing behind the wheel which could end in disaster.
– Choose the locations to take breaks in carefully; gas stations, restaurants and other non-deserted areas are much safer.
5. Carry snacks and water:
– Just like with the fuel, not all roads are laden with motels or restaurants.
– Carry some snacks and enough water to last you the entire journey.
– This will also help you stay rejuvenated and not to take unnecessary breaks.
6 .Double check everything:
– You can never be too sure when your safety is involved, nor can you afford to compromise.
– Check the tire treads, tire pressure, engine oil, cooling water and fuel.
– Check that you have a spare tire and the tools to change it.
– Check that your lights are working properly.
If you have gone through the checklist then you are okay to proceed with your trip. You will find that when you are well prepared you tend to be more relaxed and get to enjoy yourself more. Have a good trip!
About Me:
Natalia Dwain is a blogger and content writer from London, UK. She loves reading and writing about
Technology recent updates. As of now she is doing research work on flight information UK.
Great article! I’ve recently decided to spend 5 months next year travelling around the world. You’re so right about the fact that in most cases we could afford to do such a thing if we make that a priority rather than blowing cash on things that yield no return or substantial impact. I made my decision 2 weeks ago and already “found” $2000 to save toward my trip.
Some excellent advice Natalia. I don’t get to travel near as much as I’d like to, but I agree that preparation is key to a successful road trip.
Believe it or not the thing that stood out the most to me was taking a backup map. I normally just rely on my GPS, but technology does have a way of failing on you at the worst possible moment. After reading this immediately placed a physical map in my vehicle! 🙂
Great advice.
Look forward to applying it when driving more than 3000kms over the Christmas holidays.
Definitely things are around to be prepared and have a good planning before going. To be honest road trips with my family are my favorite. I also love taking a lot of photos and see places that other people haven’t which is probably only possible on a road trip.
I cant emphasize more the need to carry up to dates maps of where you are going .
I work in the Delivery industry in a modern day town of 120,000 people and STILL the sat-nav is not 100 % up to date . The amount of times we get phone calls from drivers saying ” where is this place ” and its clearly in a 2 year old A-Z and STILL they depend on sat navs as the definitive guide staggers me . Yes, use GPS but dont be surprised if sometimes your destination just ISNT in its database . And that applies to Google maps also !!
Very useful information, indeed. Thank you for the well structured guide and good luck with your blog
Wonderful article! It is especially important not to forget about Take breaks where possible! Thanks for the info!
Hi, Natalia Dwain. I like your article. It is very informative so it is very useful for my job. Thanks for sharing this post. Hope to read more helpful information from you. Have a nice day!
My dad has a bad habit of relying on his GPS too much. He never does research on where he is going anymore, and it has gotten us into a few pickles when his GPS has been wrong. I always like to compare my GPS route to mapquest. Also, knowing where hotels on your route is a must. You don’t want to get stuck in the middle of no where while you are sleep deprived.
Very nice article! I like it so much. Your total 6 advices is very helpful for me. Traveling is my hobby. I want to spend most of time in my life for visiting many places. I also marked your article and save this in my computer. Thank you.