Many states have lifted their coronavirus-related restrictions, but you still must protect yourself while traveling. You must continue to practice social distancing guidelines and you may be required to wear a face mask when you stop for gas, groceries, or other supplies.

To create the best experience, it is best to be prepared.   

 

Listed below are some ideas to make your road trip more pleasurable and help you make the most of your trip. 

    

1) Bring navigational materials. This may sound obvious, but sometimes the most obvious slips our mind. Make sure you have a paper map, a GPS system, or a smartphone with a trip planner. It is also a good idea to have an itinerary, city guide and a travel book.

2) Check your emergency gear. Check your spare tire and have a set of jumper cables and a jack. Consider a roadside assistance service like AAA. Give your travel companions a spare set of car keys in case you lock yours in the car or lose them when you are far from home.  

3) Have the proper documents. Make sure you have your driver’s license, car registration, and proof of car insurance. If you are crossing the border, i.e., going into Canada or crossing any borders, make sure you pack your passports. 

4) Make sure you pack your sunscreen and sunglasses. Be sure to apply sunscreen liberally and periodically. Sun streaming through the windows can lead to a horrific sunburn if you do not protect yourself.  

5) Make sure you pack your first aid supplies and spare toiletries. Bring basics like ibuprofen, antacids, bug repellent, bandages, cortisone for bug bites, an ointment for cuts and scrapes (like Neosporin), and hand sanitizer. These items will make your life easier if some unforeseen ailment occurs. If anyone in the car is prone to motion sickness, it is good to travel with Dramamine or a similar medicine. Pack your medications or any vitamins you take regularly with your first aid supplies, so everything is easy to find.

6) You can never have enough paper products: tissue, napkins, or paper towels. Make sure you bring extra toilet paper as well, because you never know when understocked rest areas will thwart your plans. Road trips can be messy affairs, and it is best to be prepared for spills, sneezes, or calls of nature. Also pack some plastic bags for all those used paper products and the rest of the trash that will get created along the way.

7) If you are weight conscious or just want to avoid greasy, fast food that usually comes along with road trips, make sure you pack snacks like fruit, pretzels, granola bars, and crackers. It is also a good idea to pack sandwiches or a picnic lunch for your first day on the road. Pack a small cooler with a few water bottles that you can refill along the way. It is better to use icepacks than ice, since they will cause less mess and can be refrozen in mini fridges. Bring bag clips to reseal partially empty snack bags. 

8) Bring some activity gear for the road. Pack items like a frisbee, a ball, or cards to play at road stops or in evenings when you are stopped in places that do not have any entertainment. If you are travelling with kids, you may need some in car activity items like coloring books and portable games. A portable DVD player, laptop, or iPad for movies, and travel versions of board games are also good options. Having plenty of good reading material for those long stretches on the road is also a good idea.  

9) Make sure you have some music. Have a good mix of music on a CD or on your iPod so that everyone in the car has something to listen to. You can also get a subscription so Sirius XM.  

10) Pack comfortable clothes. Obviously, you should wear comfortable clothes for your time in the car, but you should also consider bringing along blankets or a sweater in case you and your travel companions cannot agree on the temperature in the car. Temperatures also change when you go through deserts or mountains. Slip on and slip off shoes are also a great idea. In case you sleep in the car, bring along pillows and blankets or sleeping bags. Prepare for rain by bring umbrellas or ponchos.  

11) Aside from the navigation and entertainment items mentioned above, you are going to need your phone charger (and perhaps even one that plugs into the cigarette lighter), your camera, a spare camera battery, a travel alarm clock (a phone alarm will also do), and extra batteries for any gear that might need it.

With so much stress because of Covid-19, the purpose of this road trip is to get away and have fun with your friends and family, but paying attention to the tips above you will make the most of the time with your friends and family .

Do you want to take a road trip? Contact Colesville Travel and will arrange the perfect road trip for you and your family. 

Like these tips? Visit our website http://www.colesvilletravel.com and stay inspired 

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Cynthia Amin Hall

Colesville Travel

Phone: 301-989-1654

Email: cindy@colesvilletravel.com