Holiday Trip In Your Family Car

So many people travel by air these days, they forget about the classic American experience - a road trip. Car travel is the best way to get to know your national landscape because you must navigate every inch of it from the ground. Granted, some people pedal bikes across the country (takes forever), or ride motorbikes (a little too dangerous for most peoples' tastes), but a road holiday trip is fun, safe, and always exciting. From the comfort of your own vehicle, you can discover all the sights and attractions that your country has to offer. You can plan your own route, personalizing it so you see your favorite things. To ensure that you get a superior road trip, follow these simple rules before you hit the pavement.

The most important thing about traveling by car is to have a great plan in advance. Spend weeks or even months deciding on your route. Leave room for some flexibility because you might always hear of a great attraction when you're on the road that you didn't anticipate. However, it's essential to have a game plan starting out. There are hundreds of great books on the subject. Many informed authors have written about the great American road trip and the routes they have taken. You can check these books out of the library or buy them from your local bookstore. Invest in comprehensive maps as well. You will need them. No matter how well you plan, you can anticipate getting lost at least once.

When you plan your route, highlight the places where you would like to spend more than an hour or so. Decide where you would prefer to spend the night, whether you're camping, sleeping in a trailer, or staying at a five-star hotel. Anticipate where you might want to have your meals. Great restaurants abound in big cities but you might not be so lucky with your cuisine in tiny, roadside towns. If you don't want to spend a lot of your road budget on food, then consider packing a cooler. Every so often you can stop at a grocery store and fill up on sandwich supplies in drinks. This will save you money and time, as you will be able to stop at any rest area picnic table to dine.

Make sure that your car is in stellar shape before you hit the road. Get a complete inspection and make sure all your stickers are current. Tell a trusted mechanic that you are preparing to put thousands of miles on your car and you want everything in ship-shape. Make sure that your car's fluids, belts, and hoses are in ideal condition. Check your tire pressure frequently, as you can save a lot of gas money by driving on an even keel. If you are planning on driving through the desert or through a winter climate, plan accordingly. You may need extra air conditioning coolant or snow tires, depending on where you're going. Pack an emergency kit just in case. Road flares, a spare tire, and a tool box can be lifesavers on the road.