It’s finally time to take that well-deserved break and this time around you are planning to take a road trip with a couple of friends across the USA.
A road trip always presents an opportunity to unwind, blow steam off and break the monotony of the everyday hustle. Friends are the icing on the cake and a good time is always guaranteed.
But to have a successful trip there is a lot that goes into planning. Good planning can be the difference between having a good time and a bad time.
This article discusses how to plan a road trip across the USA when bringing friends along, to make your next trip a success and one that will be full of memories.
But before embarking on the journey, it is important to first arrange for the car that you will use during the trip. If you choose to use a rental car, there are many rental car companies that you can use, each offering different categories of cars including vehicles young renters allowed to drive, luxury cars, and even vans.
The choice is entirely yours. Just ensure you book early to avoid last-minute inconvenience and also to get a better rate. Below are some of the things you should not forget to bring along on your trip.
Car essentials
After settling on the car to use for the road trip, there are essentials that you have to carry along. A valid driver’s license for all would-be drivers. Vehicle registration is also important to ensure you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
A spare tire, a car, a jack, and all the tools you would require to change a tire in case of a puncture are also very crucial. Lack of these essentials can have you stranded on the road and can be a nightmare especially if you need a tire change at night.
A portable car charger is important and can be of a lot of help in case one of your phones goes dead. Jumper cables are also among the things to have in the car for a road trip.
Map or GPS
Maps are important for navigation, especially in areas that you are not familiar with. They come in handy to avoid getting lost which can also lead to loss of valuable time. Some people prefer a physical map, but you can also get a GPS or use a smartphone as one.
A physical map is, however, encouraged because a phone is dependent on network signal and might not be able to offer directions in case you lose signal. Bringing along a portable wifi hotspot is also a good idea as it may help too.
Personal items
These may include toiletries, clothing that is appropriate for the expected weather, sunglasses, shoes including hiking shoes if you intend to hike, swimming costumes, and even sunscreen if you plan to visit the beach.
You should also not forget to carry first aid kits and any medication or prescriptions you may require. A flashlight also comes in handy and should not be left behind. Don’t forget to put your essentials in your backpack so that you always have everything you need at hand.
Food and drinks
For a road trip, sometimes eating places can be far in between and you might get hungry or thirsty before reaching the next place where you can find some food or drink. Carry some food or snacks and drink like water that you may need along the way.
You can carry a cooler box to store perishable food and reusable water bottles to refill your water. Remember it is important to stay hydrated. If you plan on camping, you should bring along utensils like cups, plates, and all the equipment you may require for outdoor cooking.
Entertainment
For a group road trip you have to designate duties to everyone and one of you has to be in charge of entertainment. This is the person who will be in charge of your playlist, movies, podcasts, or even audiobooks.
As an individual, you can bring along your headphones as sometimes not all music will resonate with everybody and during those moments you can plug in and listen to what you like.
Another form of entertainment is games. These can be card games or other road trip games like the Alphabet Game or the License Plate Game.
Camera
To capture the memories you will have to bring along a camera. Although smartphones can also take nice photos, cameras are always a good addition to a road trip. For those professionally looking photos, they don’t disappoint.
Conclusion
We all love a good road trip with friends. But for the road trip to be successful a lot goes into planning, especially for one that will include several people. An important part of the planning as discussed earlier is arranging for your means of movement. If it is a rental car you have to settle on your preferred type and book early enough.
For the youth, there is a large variety of rental cars for the youth you can choose from and this should not be a difficult task. Identify your preferred one, compare prices and rental policies from at least three car rental companies, and then decide on the most suitable one for you.
On rental policies, some of the questions you should ask yourself include what car rental place allow under 25 drivers. And what are their rental policies including their Young Drivers Fee? Knowledge of this will help you make a better decision on the under 25 car rental to choose and in the end, help you save money.
With your means of movement sorted, what remains is ensuring you bring along all that you will need for the trip. This article has discussed the essentials you should take with you. Ensure you carry them along and have the time of your life. Won’t you?
