End off the summer by taking your friends or family on a road trip! Taking a long trip is always fun, but nobody wants to make a long trip even longer with unnecessary stops or unforseen car trouble.
Before you hit the road, here’s a road trip checklist to make sure that your long drive runs as smoothly as possible.
- Bring lots of snacks
Snacks are one of the small pleasures of long road trips. Bring your favourites and ask your passengers what they like as well. Make sure that the snacks you bring aren’t too messy and can be passed around easily, so you have less to clean, and you’ll make less stops along the way.
- Take your car for a checkup
Long drives are tough on your vehicle, so you’ll want to make sure that your car is in tip top shape before you leave. Take your vehicle in for a quick checkup so that you know your car is good to take the road by storm! If there are any chips or cracks on your windshield, take this time to have an auto glass replacement service. Also, consider car window tinting to keep your vehicle cooler on those hot summer days, and protect the interior from damaging UV rays.
- Wear comfortable clothes
Clothing that may seem comfortable after one hour may not seem that way after six. You can order custom hoodies at Lonely Kids Club to stay comfortable and warm. Layer up so that you can easily switch it up if you get cold or hot, and so that you’ll be comfortable sleeping in the car when you’re not driving. You can place your clothing in a protective vacuum storage bag. So if you need any vacuum bagging supplies, try to find here.
- Don’t drive with a full car
Even if four passenger seats are available in your vehicle, it’s better not to use them. Driving with a really full car on long distances can be taxing for everyone involved. Make sure that there’s enough room for your passengers to stretch out so that you all can have a more comfortable drive. You could also hire a car mover service to bring the vehicle to your destination if you’re going across the country.
- Have a schedule for drivers
Agree in advance who is driving and when, so that you can evenly split the drive and save yourself the trouble of figuring it out during a long trip.
- Take breaks when you need them
It’s tempting to drive all day and all night just to get to your destination, but take breaks when you need them. Even if drivers are rotating, sleeping in a car isn’t as good as sleeping in a bed, and you may find that everyone takes a turn before you reach your destination. Look up hotels en route to make sure that you’re prepared.
- Plan your stops
Long road trips are a great opportunity to see fun things on the way to your destination! Plan out stops along the road to make your drive more fun and entertaining.
- Chew gum
Chewing gum helps you stay alert and focused during long drives.
- Pack an emergency kit
Long trips mean large stretches of highway with no en route stations. Make sure that you have an emergency kit in your car for quick fixes like a tire change.
- Make sure you’re covered for assistance
Make sure that your coverage is updated for a roadside assistance service like CAA, just in case something happens to your vehicle that isn’t fixable with your emergency kit. You can also prepare some contacts for mobile commercial tire repair companies.
If you’re driving out of province, make sure that your auto insurance covers you Canada-wide. If your provider doesn’t cover you, compare your policy to others on the market to find the right coverage before you embark on your driving adventure.
