5 Tips For Your Next Road Trip

We love going for road trips and have gone for quite a few pretty lengthy trips. There is nothing like the beauty of the open road whizzing by. Plus, we solve all the world's problems while we're out for a long drive. :-)

This post is sponsored by EatSmart Products. All content and opinions are my own.

Here are some of our favorite tips for a successful road trip.

Pack Snacks

Pack healthy snacks to bring with you in the car. Dried fruits are great for a sweet snack. Nuts for some protein. If you have room in your cooler, cut up some veggies for the beginning of your trip for some crunch. Granola is good, too. Or make your own trail mix to get a variety of sweet, salty, and crunchy.

Depending on the length of your road trip, you may need to restock your snacks. Instead of buying something quick at the gas station when refueling, get off the freeway and go into a town with a grocery store. The prices and variety will be worth it.

Water

Make sure you have plenty of water in the car. We bring our LifeSaver jerry can to fill up our water bottles while on the road. No need to buy water. Pack some flavor packets to add some variety when you want a little some different.

Pack Wisely

Hard case luggage might be ideal for plane travel, but soft-sided bags are better for road trips. The soft sides allow for better manipulation when packing up your vehicle to more efficiently use the space. Packing cubes are great to use inside a duffel or on their own.

I love the TravelWise Packing Cube System! They will seriously change your life {as far as packing is concerned}. I tested out the 5-piece Weekender Set on our most recent road trip and it worked out so well. I used the smallest size for my toiletries. The medium size for my dog's food, treats, and toys. The large size for clothes. I brought the 2nd large size along to use for dirty clothes. Perfect! The cubes made it super easy to stay organized throughout the trip. Each cube has a mesh insert which acts like a little window. No guessing on what is packed in which cube!

Check out more tips on how these cubes will improve your next trip!

5 tips from @EnjoytheCourse to make your next road trip your best road trip.

Dress Comfortably

When you're sitting in a car for several hours at a time, you're gonna want to be comfortable. Keep in mind that you're not in the privacy of your living room, though. Choose clothes that are comfortable for the ride, but that you'll also be comfortable wearing in public. There will be stops at the gas station or a restaurant, the grocery store, etc.  I prefer cute leggings or capris.

If you travel with your pup like we do, wear clothes that are easier to wipe off the inevitable dog hair or that doesn't show. I avoid black because Sallie's hair is wheaten. A lint brush may also be helpful to dust off prior to going inside a store.

Plan Your Stops

I know, I know. Part of the fun of a road trip is finding unexpected places to stop, exploring the unbeaten path, pulling into a particularly intriguing viewpoint, or exiting to see an attraction that you didn't know existed. There is something exciting about the spontaneity of a road trip.

That said, it's a good idea to have a general plan of where you'll be stopping each night. We tend to car sleep, so knowing where the truck stops or Walmarts are along the route is very helpful. Same is true if you're looking for a campground or hotel/motel instead. Check to see if reservations will be required.
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We're hoping to do our next long, just-for-fun road trip next fall {or summer} along the South. Neither of us have really ever explored the southern states, so that should be a fun excursion.

I'm linking up today with Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0. This week's theme is Things That Makes You Go Hmmm….