road trip planning

Unless you take long trips by car very frequently, you probably don’t have road trip routines. But you totally should! Every just like in every other area of life routines have a magical power to keep things simple and on track – exactly what you need for a road trip!

Here are four road trip routines that make everything easier:

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1. Try these road trip routines before you head out:

Create a routine for what needs to be done before you head out for the day. On shorter day trips this might just be something that you do once but for longer trips it’s so helpful to start every morning on the road in the same way.

Here are some ideas for what to put on your “Before Heading Out” road trip routine:

When you’re loading up, make sure to load frequently used items last so that they are easy to access if needed throughout your day. (Think: coolers, snacks, diaper bag, extra blanket.)
Start each road trip day with an empty trash container/bag in an easy to reach spot.
Make sure each person in the car has a beverage and/or snack, activity and extra clothing layer within reach.
Check tire pressure, fluids and fuel levels before you go.

2. Create a road trip routine for stops along the way.

When traveling on US Interstates we try to stop no more than every two hours. What this looks like for us is that every other stop will fuel up our vehicle and on the other stops we try if it all possible to use a rest stop instead of a gas station or convenience stores. This saves us money and makes getting in and out much quicker. Also rest stops usually have more room to walk around and stretch your legs.

Here’s the routine we use for each and every road trip stop:

Every person in the car uses the bathroom whether they “need” to or not. Click here to read our simple trick for keeping everyone hydrated without having to make extra bathroom stops.
Do a quick trash pick up and toss in the public trash can on your way into the restroom.
Clean up any toys/activities/etc. Tuck things away and just take a minute to generally tidy everything.
Just like when you started out for the morning, make sure each person has an activity/snack/beverage/extra layer handy.

3. Set up road trip routines for when you stop for the night:

Stopping for the night is the biggest reset of all, especially when you’re on a longer trip. As tempting as it is to pile into the hotel room and crash in the bed, or hot tub, what will help the most is to make sure you’re set for the morning before you relax for the night.

Empty all of the trash out of the car. Clean up toys and activities, and make sure that you’re grabbing everything you need for your stay for the night.
Don’t forget to grab water bottles and snacks for while you’re in your hotel room, plus any activities or books to read while you’re winding down for the evening.
Last but not least, reset all of your luggage so that it will be easy to pack up again in the morning when you’re headed up out of your hotel. The more organizing you do as you go the easier it will be to get in and out without too much hassle.

4. Start an end of road trip routine:

Debrief with your crew. Ask questions as you’re get close to home. Find out what everyone’s favorite parts of the trip were. What wasn’t great? What would we like to do more of next time?

Take note of these mental notes, but write them down of course! Along your trip make note of inexpensive stops, great restaurants, and hotels that have pet friendly policies, if that applies to you. What are things that you wish you had brought along on this trip? Write these down so you’ll remember them for future road trips.

Save all your receipts.

This may sound like a weird tip, but saving all of our receipts has been so helpful in planning future road trips! Not only do you have hard copy records in case there are any credit card disputes, but you also have a to the penny record of how much your trip cost. This data is so helpful for budgeting future trips.

Reset right away.

Unpack and do laundry as soon as you can once you’re home. Quick clean the car. Restock toiletry bags and other travel essentials before packing your luggage away.

Routines are the saving grace of a busy life, and our road trip routines have made travel so much easier for our family. Is there anything you would add? Please comment! Was this post helpful? Please spread the love by sharing the link with your friends!

Road trips are a ton of fun but they can also be really stressful too especially if you’re not prepared. There are some things you can do though to make sure that you’ll have a stress-free trip as possible. Here are four things to prep before your next trip.

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Stress reducing road trip prep:

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Get your car serviced.

It seems like a common-sense advice but taking your car in for a quick check and service is something that so easy to forget in your road trip prep. It doesn’t take very long and it’s definitely worth it! Getting your car serviced before you go can even prevent costly repairs on the road.

Clean and declutter your car.

There is nothing worse than starting off a road trip and an already cluttered up and grungy car. Taking the time to vacuum, wipe everything down, and get rid of any unnecessary clutter will definitely start your trip on the right foot. This is also a great time to find containers to organize any stuff that needs to stay in the car so it’s not just rolling around.

Check your emergency equipment.

Is your spare tire is filled with air? Do you know where your jack and tire iron is? Do you know how to use them? Is there a working first aid kit in the car? Are all of the contents fresh and up-to-date? Answering these questions will make sure that you’re prepared for any minor emergencies that arise on the trip. It’s not fun to think about them, but let’s face it life happens. It’s just better to be prepared.

Do a quick document check.

You’ll want to make sure that your license and registration are up-to-date before setting out on your next road trip, but that’s not the only paperwork to have on hand. Make sure you have proper identification for children if you’re taking them out of state, as well as any info for roadside assistance, updated health insurance cards, and any other documents you might need should an emergency arise on the road.

Take some time in your road trip prep to make sure you’re on top of these four things. It doesn’t take long, and can make all the difference in reducing stress while you’re on the road. You will never ever regret being prepared.

For more great tips for road trip travel, click here. Was this helpful? Please spread the love by sharing the link with your friends. Click here to Pin on Pinterest:

Essential Road Trip Routines (That Make Everything Easier)