Preparing for the Short and the Long Distance Road Trip
Short trip preparations
For a shorter trip, those to see a concert or sporting event, for example, naturally will have fewer preparations but there are still some things to consider before leaving. The first, and most important, is to check the condition of the car you will be driving. For a shorter trip, check the oil and add a quart or two as needed. Check the tires and make sure the pressure is correct. Top off any fluids; coolant, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, that may be low. Finally, wash the windows on the car (run it through a carwash if necessary), gas up, and your transportation is ready for the trip.
Check your destination, especially if you are leaving just in time to get to your event. If necessary, call the city government office of the city where you are going. Find out about event parking, especially if the event you are going to is a small venue concert, and mass transit systems to and from the event. Also find out about any possible detours that might make your trip longer than expected. Of course some delays such as accidents or in climate weather cannot be avoided, or predicted, but construction or special event detour delays can be avoided. Make these calls a couple of days but no more than a week in advance. That way any information that you are given isn’t likely to change in the time between receiving it and getting to your destination.
Longer trip preparations
When going on a longer trip (basically speaking, any trip where you will be in a car for longer than four hours and staying, as opposed to trips where you come and go in the same day) more considerations will have to be taken before you can head out on your trip. Of course, if you are taking a longer trip this probably means that you aren’t going for a specific event, or will be staying in a hotel where parking for the event won’t be (as big) an issue.
Because you are traveling farther, a more extensive check up on your vehicle is in order. A full tune up is recommended but if that is not possible be sure to get an oil and filter change, have your brakes checked and the pads and fluid changed if so needed. Continue as you would for a short trip; check the tires and fluids, wash the windows and gas up, and your car will be ready to make your longer road trip.
And for as long as there have been stereos in automobiles, there has been road trip music. A few days before your trip get together with your trip mates and plot out the music you plan to take along. The average CD is 60 – 70 minutes long so use that figure to calculate how much music to take along. For example, for a six hour trip (one way) you will need a minimum of six albums, but of course more is better. Remember that you will probably do some driving while at your destination location and will want music for that too.
If you and your companions share the same tastes in music then making these choices should only be as hard as “we can’t take everything.” But if you have vastly different tastes, perhaps the best choice is to have a listening party a few days prior to leaving. Have everyone bring five or six albums they would like to bring on the trip and have everyone listen to them and vote on whether or not they would like, or could tolerate, listening to it on the trip. Another way to bring along music on the trip is to use a CD burning program and create your own CD’s. On the average these hold between eighteen and twenty two songs, depending on song length, allowing for each road tripper (in a car of four) approximately five contributions to each disc.
Snacks are also very important for long road trips. This is not necessarily something that everyone needs to agree on before setting out; each person can bring their own favorite road-trip snacks. However you may consider suggesting that everyone pitch in for drinks as it is often cheaper to buy such things as bottled water and bottled soda in cases rather than individually. Also, you may want to pack sandwiches or salads in a cooler to avoid having to stop for fast food along the way (this will shave a few dollars off the bottom line of your trip). For packing convenience, try separating your drinks and food into smaller, lunch-sized coolers rather than trying to pack suitcases in around one, larger, container. Also consider only chilling enough drinks for the people in the car and making sure that if one is removed a new one is put in its place to be chilled for later. That way you only have to have a cooler large enough for four bottles of water or soda instead of one large enough for twelve.
With your car in proper working order, your music prepared and your snacks purchased, you are now ready to set out on your road trip. Have fun and enjoy the wonders of the open road. And don’t forget to take in the scenery as you go.
