DOs and DON’Ts for Your Road Trip in USA
Road trips are a great way to see the country. However, they need careful planning if they’re going to have enjoyable experiences. If you rent a car, plan properly, and follow these tips, your road trip will go smoothly!
Plan your route
Best part about planning your route is the freedom it gives you. Decide where to go & what to see. It’s important to consider all aspects of your trip before planning its route: how much time do you have? How much money to spend? Which available car rentals suit you? What kind of fuel are you using? How much food and water is required?
Plan ahead and pre-book your car from Rental24h.com for a variety of cheap & convenient options of vehicles for your trip where you can pick up from the airport.
Consider driver fatigue
Driving is a tiring business, when you get behind the wheel. Rest breaks are essential —you should pull over every two hours or so. If these symptoms start creeping up, keep an eye out for signs that indicate tiredness: yawning; difficulty focusing; feeling drowsy. If any of these things happen, exit at the next available rest stop and take some time out from driving.
Bring paper map & GPS
A GPS is a great resource to have if you’re driving in a place you’re not familiar with plus a physical map can help you navigate even unfamiliar territories because of its better accessibility. Having both types of maps will make sure that no matter what happens on the road, you’ll be ready. If both the GPS and the physical map don’t seem to give you an idea of the actual route and time it’ll take to reach your destination, you could use a route optimizer to find an optimal route quickly. So make sure to choose a vehicle with a GPS from the available cars for rental, for your journey to stay as smooth as possible!
Check Weather and Traffic reports
Checking the reports online before heading on your trip is a great way for staying ahead and preparing for the road and to minimize the unexpected situations.
Check the weather
Weather reports will tell what to expect & if there’s a chance of rain or snow, which can cause slippery roads.
Check traffic reports
Traffic reports are updated every few minutes and are extremely helpful in finding out how bad traffic is at a given moment on your route. Each state has its own website that collects this information, but Google Maps also provides real-time road conditions as well as estimated travel times between points along your route.
Check for road closures & construction zones
It’s better to take an alternate route if there are major delays due to construction or accidents ahead!
Be mindful of road hazards
Like deer (especially during hunting season), potholes, gravel or dirt surfaces, etc., which can cause unsafe situations for drivers who aren’t paying attention driving around these spots on the highway – especially at night when visibility isn’t good compared with daytime driving hours!
Prepare for worst-case scenarios
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, it’s time to look at the more important details.
- Make sure your phone’s fully charged & that you have a car charger. You never know when your device will run out of battery, so be prepared with this little lifesaver.
- Have spare tires & tools in case your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road. In addition to having these items in your possession, make sure they’re easy-to-access.
- Pack first aid kits, If any medical emergency should happen during travel time “Perish the thought”.
Bring entertainment
Best way to pass time on long trips is to bring something that will keep you entertained. Books, tablets & phones are great for this! Music players can give you hours of listening pleasure, especially if you have an old-school tape player. Portable DVD players are a fun treat—they’re heavier, but they make up for it in style points (& battery life). Finally, portable gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch or PlayStation Vita allow for some truly immersive gaming experiences.
Keep food & drinks handy
Road trips are the perfect time to get out of the habit of eating at restaurants, so pack some snacks. You’ll want to eat every few hours & especially before you get in the car as it can make you feel nauseous if you don’t eat enough. Most people like to stop for lunch around noon & for dinner around 6 pm.
It’s a good idea to bring as many water bottles as possible, better to have them and not need them than the opposite! It’s also important that all food items are kept in an airtight container so that bugs don’t crawl into them!
Conclusion
Road trips can be very fun but in order to get the best out of one you have to prepare for worst-case scenarios to be able to avoid any unexpected difficulty along the way, better safe than sorry. We hope this article has given you a slight idea on how to prepare for your next road-trip, if you have any essential advice which isn’t mentioned please share it with us in the comments.