7 Tips for Planning a Great American Trip
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The Great American Journey has been celebrated in movies and music for decades. Every year, tens of millions of Americans hit the road, heading to parts of the country they haven't been before.
If you are in New England, you can head to Cape Cod to relax and be close to the ocean. If you're in the Southeast, a weekend in South Beach to enjoy great food and nightlife can recharge your batteries. And if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, a weekend in Napa for a little wine tasting is always enticing.
But not all trips are short. Some stretch for thousands of kilometers and give travelers experiences they don't even know they have. When you fly over the USA, you see many small towns and many farms. There is no way to stop and appreciate different places.
That's why road trips are great. You'll see parts of the US you didn't even know existed, taste never-before-seen food, and meet all sorts of wonderful people.
Tip 1: Pick a Destination
The Great American Journey begins rather offhand (or at least it should). Just getting into a car and heading off in an unknown direction is not a good idea. It is better to sit down in advance and discuss all the expectations from the trip.
You may find that one person wants to visit as many baseball stadiums as possible. Maybe the other person doesn't want to be on the road every day and prefers to stay in one place for a few days to soak up the local culture. Still others may want to have fun in amusement parks. Well, if all this is on the table in advance.
Tip 2: Organize your logistics
Here are some of the questions you need to decide before you hit the road:
How long will you be gone?
What is your budget?
Where do you want to go - big cities, small towns, beach, camping or historical sites?
Do you have any ideas about what you want to do when you get to your destination, or are you going to do it?
Ideally, how long would you like to spend at each destination? Do you want to spend a few days at each location or do you want to see what you can do in a day and keep moving?
How many hours a day will you spend driving?
Is your car ready for a long trip?
What are the expectations from the placement? Would a motel near the highway be fine, or would something upscale be better?
Do you want to book a hotel room before you leave to make sure you have a room every night, or do you want to wait? It is better to book in advance, as this eliminates the need to look for a room at the height of the tourist season. The downside is that it locks you into a schedule.
Knowing the answers to some (or all) of these questions will help you set expectations before you hit the road.
Tip 3: Pack smart
Many people take things with them on trips, even on weekends. The thought of leaving home for a few weeks is likely to trigger an “I definitely need to take this” gene overload. You must try to resist the urge to take everything you have and pack it lightly.
Why? Well, there are several reasons.
The more you pack, the heavier the car will be, which means you will be buying more gas. You will be packing and unpacking your suitcases every day when you arrive at the hotel. Do you really want to go through your entire wardrobe every day?
If camping is on your agenda, you will have camping equipment. You will need trunk space.
And traveling in the summer means it will be hot everywhere. It is safe to leave warm and heavy clothing at home. Shorts, t-shirts and maybe one nice outfit is all you need.
Tip 4: Stuff in the car
Clothes are not the only thing you need to pack. You'll need car interior stuff to keep you moving in the right direction, entertain you, and feed you in between meals.
Here are some things you should take with you:
Printed routes or map. Yes, both are old fashioned, but just in case your GPS goes down or you can't get a signal, it's good to have a backup.
Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks
Duty coins
Music, video, games, cameras
Paper towels
toilet paper roll
Hand sanitizer
Baby wipes (even if you don't have a baby, these will come in handy)
First aid kit
And if you forget something really very important, there will be shops in other cities. You can go back and re-purchase an item if you forgot.
Tip 4: Get your car in order
The most important thing you can do before you go on a trip is to get your car in the best possible condition. Here is a checklist of some things you want to check:
change oil
Check your tires to make sure they are properly inflated, have adequate tread and wear evenly. If the tires wear unevenly, your vehicle may fail. You need to make sure your wheels are aligned before you hit the road.
Add liquids. Oil, battery, transmission and windshield wipers must be kept in order. It's a good idea to put a bottle of coolant and windshield wiper fluid in the trunk. An extra can of oil and a funnel wouldn't hurt either.
Make sure the wiper blades clean the windshield well. If your windshield wipers tend to get dirty, install a new set of wipers.
Check the battery to make sure it is strong and clean. Wipe off corrosion on battery cables with a little baking soda and water.
Assemble a small set of tools that can be used for basic repairs if necessary.
Check the heating and cooling system.
Make sure all external lights are working.
Check the belts to make sure they are tight and show no signs of wear.
Check the spare wheel. If possible, fill it with air. Make sure you have a jack and all the tools to use it. Take a piece of wood with you in case you need to lift the car on soft or uneven ground.
If you have lock nuts, be sure to bring a wrench with you.
Add jumper cables to your carry list
Tip 5: Get your house in order
You are going to leave your house unattended for a few weeks. This is just enough time for something to go wrong. Take precautions before you go and get your house in order:
Clean out the refrigerator. You don't want to go home to rotting food.
Remove food that would normally be left on the counter. You don't want the rodents to settle in while you're away.
Decide what you are going to do with your mail - let the post office hold it, or let the neighbor pick it up. Same with paper (if you actually get paper).
Leave a bunch of house keys with a neighbor. You never know when something might happen and someone has to come in.
Take care of dogs and cats.
It's a good idea to call your credit or debit card company and let them know you'll be on the road so they don't disable your cards.
Tip 6: Useful Apps
There are a number of great apps and websites to help you along your journey. Here are a few to get you started:
World Explorer is a travel guide that uses your GPS location to tell you what's around you on foot, by car or by bike. The app is global, so if you're traveling in Italy, it will work the same as if you were in the US.
EMNet findER - This app will use your GPS location to provide you with a list of the nearest emergency rooms. You can get directions directly from Maps and call 9-1-1 directly from the app.
Laundry next to me - at some point you will need to wash your clothes. This app uses your GPS to point you to the nearest laundromat.
Hotel Tonight - This app helps you find a hotel room at the last minute.
GasBuddy - Find cheap gas based on your location.
iCamp - Search for nearby campsites.
Yelp - Find places to eat and drink.
Tip 7: Helpful Websites
You are likely to have many pit stops as you tackle long and open roads. Here are some other useful websites you can check out:
Where to find campsites.
List of all rest stops in the USA.
If you're driving an RV, you can park in most Walmart parking lots. Here is a list of stores that allow overnight parking.
If you follow all these tips, a great trip will become inevitable. AvtoTachki can help you along the way. Ideally, you should have a service technician inspect the vehicle before you leave. AvtoTachki technicians can perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle to make sure your tires, brakes, fluids, air conditioning and other systems are in top condition before you take off.
