How to plan that perfect road trip

Hitting the road driving across hundreds or thousands of miles can be the most incredible or excruciating trip of a lifetime, it really does come down to what you make of it. Luckily for you, we're nothing but experienced when it comes to maximising fun and comfort for long trips. We've compiled a list of some of the tops tips to make your road trips super easy and surprisingly relaxed.

Route Planning

Knowing where you want to go is all well and good but the fun is in how you get there. Don't just look for the shortest trips as you're guaranteed to drive by some incredible tourist hotspots so do a little research and find the most visited places in-between where you start and your final destination. The chances are that someone else has undertaken a similar route and might have some tips on places to visit so a few minutes spent online searching for these tips will hugely benefit your trip.

Food Stops

We all have that friend who suffers from h-anger like no other so make sure to add some food breaks along your trip, preferably as you're passing through larger towns to give yourselves a greater variety in dining options. It's always worth packing some snacks just in case you decide to drive a little extra one day or you're not hungry enough to warrant stopping.

Playlist

The mood setter of any epic road trip solely comes down to the playlist. Not only will this set the tone of your trip from the moment you get in the car but if you have any dilemmas or unexpected stops during the trip, a playlist can act as a major pick-me-up and get you back in the travelling mood. Make sure to bring a mix of music but typically high tempo pop is always good, personally, we're fans of oldies but goodies that everyone knows the words too as you can't beat a good sing-a-long.

Company

Don't make the vital mistake of inviting the wrong people, you're going to be locked in a car for numerous hours throughout the day with the people you choose to invite on this trip so make sure everyone gets along and follows the same kind of groove. It's probably not best to mix friendship groups for a road trip and stick to the friends that you've not been able to get rid of since primary school.

Transport

It's true here that bigger really is better. Whoever has the roomiest ride should be the one willing to take one for the team or, depending upon the type of trip, you could rent something for a few days or so. Leg space is everything and the fact that'll you'll most likely be in the car for 4-6 hours+ each day make sure you're not unnecessarily uncomfortable. Zeelo provides the perfect mini-bus hire for a road trip.

Pack Light

You have limited space and no one wants to be stuck sitting next to a suitcase during the drive to make sure everything you need can fit into the boot of the car. It may be worth sharing bags so those that pack less stuff can help accommodate those who can't live without 13 pairs of shoes for a 2-day trip. Daypacks are a must too so you don't have to carry everything you own around in a huge bag instead you'll have a convenient bag that you can keep essentials and water in, they're also a great place to put snacks!

Batteries

Mobile batteries are crucial to keep your phones or tablets ticking along so in those quiet moments you can keep yourselves entertained. Plus if your battery were to die during an emergency, having one of these batteries could save you a lot of hassle. Over everything else, you need to keep the tunes playing so keep those phones charged.

Split The Driving

Alternate the driving as often as possible, this will not only help break up the monotonous stream of roads the driving has to keep an eye on but will also help drivers stay fresh and alert.

Tell Others Your Route

Possibly one of the more sensible things to do that doesn't often cross our minds but give your route to a friend or family member that isn't tagging along for the trip. Them having a copy of your itinerary will come in handy in case you encounter any kind of accident.

Maps

If you're like us then you rely on Google maps to get you anywhere but when hitting the road it's a good idea to take some physical maps with you just in case you can't get signal or your phones die. It's probably a good idea to keep a compass with your map too.

Realistic Drive Times

Don't plan to drive 14 hours a day 7 days a week, break it up into sensible chunks and plan your route accordingly. Realistically you won't want to spend more than 6 hours in a car in a single day, it can quickly become too much and make you feel irritable/uncomfortable. Also try not to drive every day, visit attractions and grab a hotel or apartment for a couple of nights so you can enjoy the area you're in.

Emergency

Pack an emergency bag just in case. Make sure you have the essentials such as a first aid kit, spare tire, perhaps even an untouched phone. It's always better to be prepared for every situation to reduce any potential risk to you and your fellow travellers.