It might still very much feel like winter in the UK, but those warmer, brighter days aren’t so far away. In a matter of months, we’ll all have forgotten about the dreariness that the winter months bring, and instead, we’ll be fully focused on all the good times that spring and summer can bring.
And is there anything more enjoyable than a great summer road trip? Not in our book. It’s one of those life-affirming activities that can really lift our spirits and make summer truly memorable.
If it’s been a while since you last took a road trip, or you’ve actually never been on one, then this page is for you. We’ll run through everything you need — and need to know — about having a road trip adventure that lives long in the memory for all the right reasons.
A Reliable Vehicle
It’s handy to have a reliable vehicle at all times, but when you’re on the road, exploring all that the world has to offer? At that point, it’s outright essential. It’s bad enough breaking down when you’re a few minutes from your home, but when you’re in the middle of nowhere, it becomes an ordeal that you’d rather not deal with.
You’ll already have a sense of the overall capabilities of your vehicle, but even if you believe that your car is up to the task, it’s worthwhile having a mechanic take a look at any issues, no matter how minor they may be.
A Great Route
The quality of your road trip will depend, in large part, on your road trip route. You’re probably not going to have too much of a magical time if you’re spending all of your trip on boring, ugly motorways!
The UK is home to plenty of excellent road trip routes that allow you to explore some of the most beautiful regions that the country has to offer. Have a think about what types of landscapes you want to see, and then pick a region — you’ll have a better time if you’re focused on just seeing one area, rather than trying to see absolutely everything on a single trip.
The Right Amount of Time
It’s not just where you go on your road trip that counts, but also for how long. You’ll want to be on the road long enough where you can really forget about everyday life and settle into the adventure.
But equally, you’ll want to avoid going on the road for so long that you can’t wait to get back home. If you’re just sticking to the UK, then going on a trip for 5 – 7 days will be a good amount of time. If you’re heading internationally, and plan to do a big trip (say, touring all over the United States), then you’ll obviously need much longer. But even if you plan on spending weeks (or even months) driving around, it’s best to break it up into chunks. You’ll have more fun if you spend 4 – 7 days resting every couple of weeks.
Smart Packing
Road trips are much more enjoyable when there’s plenty of space in your car. After all, it’s bad enough driving anywhere when the car is cramped, let alone when you’re planning to spend days behind the wheel.
Alas, having a spacious car on a road trip can be challenging since, well, you’ll need to take a lot of things with you — clothes, camping supplies, food, and so forth — in order to have a smooth and enjoyable trip. If your boot isn’t big enough for everything you need to take, then look at adding a roof rack tray and box to your vehicle. That’ll give you plenty of additional storage, which means you won’t have to pile your items into the interior part of your car.
Tech Support
Technology will play a key supporting role in ensuring that your trip runs as smoothly as possible. It’s much easier to figure out where you’re going, where you should eat, and any nearby attractions that you must see when you have devices by your side.
Before setting off, look at downloading those key road trip travel apps, such as Google Maps and Waze. It’s also recommended to invest in a portable charger, which will allow you to keep your device fully charged even if you find yourself in a place where there are no wall outlets.
All the Entertainment
What’s a road trip without a great road trip playlist? Sure, it can be nice to open the windows and listen to the quiet hush of the great outdoors, but for the most part, you’ll find that it’s much more enjoyable when you’re blasting your favourite songs through your car’s speakers.
Put together a road trip playlist before you go (it’ll allow you to enjoy the journey, rather than constantly looking for songs), or use one of the pre-made playlists that you’ll find on music streaming platforms.
Even if you love music, there’ll come a point where you get a little tired of it. No one can listen to music for hours on end, multiple days in a row. Looking up some fun podcasts can help keep you entertained once you need a break from music.
Camping Supplies
You don’t necessarily need to camp while you’re on a road trip, but there are advantages to doing so. It’ll allow you to really head into the great outdoors, and it can also help save you money — it can be pretty expensive to stay in hotels every night, after all!
A tent, camping chairs, sleeping bags, and other camping supplies will ensure that you can get a good night’s rest after a long day of driving.
Even if you’re not planning on camping, it can still be useful to have a few camping supplies with you. A camping stove, for instance, will allow you to make coffee and delicious food even when you’re many miles away from civilisation.
Safety Kit
If your car is in good condition and you’re a safe driver, then it’s highly unlikely that anything will go wrong during your road trip. However, it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! Packing a safety kit will give you peace of mind that you can look after yourself should you break down or have any minor injuries. A first aid kit, torch, blankets, jumper cables, and water are just a few essentials that you should be carrying.
Comfort Touches
Going on a road trip is exciting, yes, but remember that there are some challenging aspects that you’ll need to be aware of. For instance, being in the car all day isn’t always the most comfortable experience in the world.
You can boost your enjoyment of your trip by investing in some touches of comfort. We’re talking blankets, pillows, comfortable socks, and travel grooming products — whatever you need, basically, to keep yourself in good spirits.
Tools for Documenting
You’ll have a great time on your road trip, and all going well, it’ll be something that you remember for the rest of your life. However, even though you might remember broadly what you did and how you felt on the road trip, over time, the details will become a little blurry.
You can keep those memories fully fresh and clear by documenting your journey. Taking photographs, videos, and making journal entries is the best way to avoid those details being lost to the hands of time. If you’re looking for a fun way to document your trip, then look at getting a disposable camera — there are a bunch of new ones on the market that are really fun to use, and which take excellent photos.
Plenty of Breaks
You’ll have much more fun if it doesn’t feel like you’re continually behind the wheel trying to get somewhere. Road trips are about the journey, not the destination. One way to keep spirits high is to schedule plenty of breaks. You don’t need to be driving for 6 – 8 hours continually. Make time for a good lunch, or just for a nice stroll when you come across a picturesque area.
This will help prevent you from becoming a little jaded from being in the car — and it’s also just safer, since the longer you drive, the more likely it will be that you have an accident.
An Adventurous Attitude
Finally, make sure to pack the most important thing for a road trip — an adventurous attitude! For most people, embarking on a road trip is one of the few times when they get to throw off the shackles of everyday life and live an existence that is truly exciting. The open road presents untold possibilities, so make sure that you’re getting behind the wheel with a healthy dose of freedom in your soul — it’ll ensure that you make the most of your trip.
Conclusion
And there we go! Begin planning your road trip now, when the weather is miserable, and you’ll be fully ready for adventure once the summer months roll around.