When planning long road trips, keep these tips in mind to arrive at your destination safely and comfortably.
You must plan ahead of time for your road trip, and we are not just talking about packing. When passengers haven’t prepared for the endurance needed for a long drive, they might succumb to “highway hypnosis.” According to a poll conducted by mattress retailer Sleepy’s, more than 60% of drivers admit to driving when tired.
With that statistic in mind, you should take precautions to prepare for long drives before getting behind the wheel and stay attentive and energized throughout the journey.
These long-distance driving tips cover preparation, self-care, entertaining activities, strategies to save money, and essential safety precautions.
Let’s begin!
1. Get lots of rest before your journey
It’s preferable to begin in the morning after a good night’s sleep, rather than after a long, exhausting day of work. Get at least seven hours of sleep for two nights in a row to restore your energy levels.
Take frequent breaks along the journey; stopping every 100 miles or two hours is a good idea to stay fresh and focused.
2. Bring healthy snacks for the road trip
Carrying a range of vitamin-packed, healthful meals will help you get by throughout the long drive while avoiding fast-food stops.
“Carrots and almonds are my faves for staying attentive,” says blogger and travel expert Gretchen Breuner, author of The RoadScholarz: Lessons from the Scenic Route.
A few ideas for healthy snacks to bring along on long drives are:
- Boiled Eggs
- Protein bars
- Granola Bars
- Popcorn
- Grapes
- Carrots
- Nuts
- Fresh fruits
- Energy Bites
- Roasted Chickpeas
3. Stay hydrated
For optimal energy, keep the water supply well-stocked. “Of course, one disadvantage is that you’ll need to make more restroom stops,” adds Breuner, who traveled to 19 states in an RV with her family in three months.
Electrolyte water is a fantastic hydration option infused with electrically charged minerals, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
4. Make a list of your rest stops & stretch
Stepping out of the car every couple of hours to stretch your legs is always good. Schedule these breaks into your long drive, whether they overlap with mealtimes or are scheduled to allow you to see exciting places.
Few exercises to do on a road trip
- Full Body Stretch – Stand tall, plant your feet firmly on the ground, take a deep breath, and sweep your arms out to the sides. Bring your hands to your heart center as you breathe. Repeat 3-5 times, focusing on stretching your front and sides on inhales and grounding on exhales. Make each breath larger and more energetic.
- Quad Stretch – Stand tall, shift your weight to your left leg, and use your right hand to grip your right ankle from the front. Draw your right foot to the right side of your buttocks. Hold for 3–5 breaths before repeating on the opposite side. You may perform this while holding anything or raising your free arm to the sky for balance.
- Side squats – Hold in a straddle forward fold, point your toes outward, and bend the right knee, bringing the right elbow inside the right knee and flexing the left foot. Switch sides 3-5 times, as if you were a speed skater. You can place your hands on the ground for light support.
5. Chew gum
Chewing gum improves circulation and attentiveness. “You don’t need the sugary kind to achieve the intended effect,” says Breus, who is also the author of Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health.
6. Use scents that are energizing
Breus also suggests keeping a source of peppermint fragrance close while traveling long distances.
He describes it as a “pleasant, all-natural pick-me-up” that has been proved to relieve weariness and improve attentiveness. Take a whiff whenever you need a pick-me-up.
Few scents that would do the trick are as follows
- Fresh aquatic scents
- Tropical scent (coconuts, lime, white rum kind of blend)
- Fruity scents
- Citrus scents
7. Sit up straight
Make sure your seat is appropriately set for your body and slanted for optimal blood flow. Sit up if you sense a driving “trance” coming on.
“Take a deep breath and scan your body for stress,” advises Elaine Masters, a yoga instructor and health expert. They wrote Drivetime Yoga: Yoga Benefits in the Convenience of Your Car.
This video has more information about the Ideal Position for Driving.
A two- to three-finger space should be between the back of your knees and the front of your seat. Ensure your eye level is at least 3 inches above the driving wheel, with enough space between your head and roof.
Adjust the lumbar support in your car to feel even pressure from hips to shoulders. The seat will put a minor strain on your back if set at 100 to 110 degrees. Leaning back too much can cause neck and shoulder pain and tingling in the fingers.
8. Keep passengers engaged and entertained
Long drives may result in tussles. So keep youngsters occupied with books, puzzles, and other time-killing activities. Car trip activities like “find the license plate” are excellent for keeping everyone entertained.
The USA License Plate Game is a simple but enjoyable road trip game. It entails collecting points by spotting license plates from various states while driving.
As license plates are spotted, a player earns points.
The game’s goal is to find a license plate from each of the 50 states or get more points than the other players in a set amount of time.
You may also play by yourself and try to achieve the greatest possible score.
9. Listen to audiobooks
Audiobooks assist in keeping the brain busy while avoiding dangerous distractions. Breus recommends reading literature or listening to comedy CDs. “Laughing will keep you awake.” Few recommended audiobooks for long drives include:
- All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle (Length: 12 hours, 20 minutes)
- One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (Length: 14 hours 58 minutes)
- Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Length: 16 hours 21 minutes)
10. Make sure you have all of your key documents ready
Prepare all of the essential documents that you will need.
This covers roadside assistance, your driver’s license, auto insurance, and your owner’s manual.
If you don’t have your license, being pulled over by the police may be a lot more problematic than it has to be, and the last thing you want is for your vacation to be entirely disrupted as a result of something like this.
11. Pack an emergency kit
Include an emergency kit on your packing list for your road trip.
Accidents do occur. You must be prepared, especially if you are traveling a long distance and may be far from home or your next stop.
It is essential always to bring an emergency kit for a long driving trip.
Include:
- first-aid kit,
- roadside safety kit,
- water,
- blankets,
- jerry can, and a
- torch (accidents happen even in the dark!)
It’s wise to prepare for the worst.
12. Prepare your car properly (mechanically)
While not all of our long road trip recommendations are safety-related, prepping your automobile is one of the most significant ways to avoid danger and have peace of mind on a lengthy journey.
Before you hit the road, it’s good to schedule a service for your vehicle. This ensures that everything is in working condition and reduces the likelihood of anything going wrong while traveling.
13. Dress comfortably for the trip
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a cushion if your back aches after being behind the wheel for a lengthy amount of time.
Apply sunscreen before leaving and reapply every two hours. Driving throughout the day exposes your arms or legs to direct sunlight for extended periods, and even if you don’t feel the sun on your skin through the windows, especially if they are tinted, you still risk sunburn.
Conclusion
Road trips are unquestionably one of the most enjoyable ways to travel and discover new places. Even though road trips are an exciting and adventurous idea, it is common for people to start without sufficient planning and preparation.
If not appropriately planned, long drives can be uncomfortable for yourself and others.
Please refer to the guidelines above to have a nice long trip.
