How to Make This Summer’s Road Trip the Best One Yet

Taking a summer road trip can give your family something to look forward to each year and also provide lots of bonding time. Some popular road trip destinations are: the beach, theme parks, scenic destinations, and waterparks. Here are some tips on how to make this summer’s road trip the best one yet!

1. Plan Ahead

Look at the route you will be taking and designate any stops along the way. If the road trip takes a few days to get to your final destination, finding affordable accommodations along the way can prove to be very beneficial (and beneficial to your wallet). Be sure to do your research and find the shortest route especially if you are traveling with small children. Many people now turn to their GPS navigation on their phone, but printing out directions can definitely be helpful. Having an idea of what you want to see and do while on vacation is also important for planning.

2. Create a Budget

Before your road trip, sit down with your family and prioritize the activities that are “must-dos”. By outlining the priorities, you will be able to budget accordingly on what is important. For example, your family might want to go to a theme park while on vacation, so you might want to pick some cheaper lodging. Try to create a budget for food, gas, lodging, and activities. Some things might come up and plans might change, but it is much easier to save money when you have a budget to go by.

Another way to save money is to pack a cooler of snacks and food so your family doesn’t have to stop to eat at a restaurant for every meal. Once you arrive at your destination, take a trip to the grocery store to pick out some food for the week. Allowing your kids to pick out food at the grocery store can be a fun way for them to get involved!

3. Participate in Car Games

Instead of just sleeping the whole way, take part in some car road trip games as a way to pass the time!
Here are some games you might enjoy:
I Spy
License Plates (Find letters in A-Z order, collect names of out-of-state plates, or build words or phrases using the letter sequence in the plates).

4. Car Check Up

No one wants to get stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire (especially if you are traveling with children). Tire problems on your road trip can be avoided by inspecting your tires thoroughly. Before leaving for your trip, make sure your tires are properly inflated with the correct air pressure. The correct air pressure may be found in your vehicle owner’s manual or on the tire placard. Another thing to check is the tread of your tires. You want to make sure you have more than 2/32 remaining tread depth (if not more). Investing in a service like AAA can be very beneficial if you take road trips often.

About a week before your road trip, take your car for a checkup appointment or check through it yourself. You should definitely make sure your tires, fluid levels, belts, lights, wipers, and your car battery are all working efficiently. Tires are definitely very important to the safety of all drivers, so making sure your tires are properly inflated is essential before hitting the road. Taking time to do some car maintenance before your trip can help prevent possible problems (and save you money!) during your road trip. Many families decide on rental car options if their cars don’t get great gas mileage or they don’t want to put those extra miles on their car.

Flying is definitely a faster way to get to your destination, but road trips can save money and create some wonderful memories for your family. Safe travels!

5. Pack an Emergency Kit

In case of an emergency, you definitely want to be prepared with an emergency kit. Emergency kits can include a wide range of things but some very important things to include are first aid supplies, a flashlight, jumper cables, tire gauge, tow strap, warm blanket, water, snacks, and a utility tool.

By Guest Author: Lauren Byrd
Lauren is a contributing writer and media specialist for Mavis Discount Tire. She regularly produces content for a variety of lifestyle and automotive blogs based around driver safety tips, auto service tips, and more.

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