If you have a long summer weekend coming up, going on a road trip with loved ones is probably the best way to make the most of it. However, if you plan on doing so, there are a few road trip prep tips you must follow in order to make the trip hassle-free and safe!

Road Trip Prep Tips

Safety

A broken down car is the last thing you would want to happen during your trip. Apart from the car breaking down, there are number of other major mechanical issues that might occur. This will not only nearly ruin your carefully planned holiday trip, but also risks your safety. And in order to avoid such problems, it is more than recommended that you get your car meticulously inspected. This includes not only tuning and servicing the engine and transmission, but also checking various important parts and components of the car including the wipers, head and tail lights, battery, tires, climate control, etc.

However, to ensure maximum safety, you also need to carry some essentials including:

Spare tire
Right set of tools for changing tires
A first aid kit
Led or normal flares
A torch
Jumper cable
Tow rope
Coolant for maintaining the right car temperature at all times

Navigation

Taking the wrong route or exit on a road trip is less adventurous and more dangerous. Sure all of us want to explore new roads, but that only seems logical when we know the ways in and out. Most smartphone users are familiar with Google Maps, the most trusted navigation application there is. Therefore, it is important that you have such an application installed in your phone. You are also good to go if the infotainment system in your car has a built-in navigation system.

Food and Drinks

Long road trips require you to be behind the wheel for extended periods of time. Therefore, it is necessary that the driver as well as the passengers stay hydrated and nourished. Apart from taking small stops for lunch and snacks, it is important that there is food in the car. To stay both active and focused, you should carry energy drinks to maintain a sufficient caffeine level, energy bars, chips lots of water and dried fruits. You can also keep a USB powered mini car-fridge to keep soft drinks and cold water.

Other Essentials

As you will be using your navigation on your phone very often, your phone’s battery will drain faster. Therefore, charging cables and portable chargers for phones are a must-have for road trip prep. Another thing you should prepare before you hit the road is a music playlist. Without the right songs, driving could get a bit boring. You must also ensure the sound audio system in your car is up to the mark and working properly as a loose wire can make the best of songs quite irritating. Lastly, you must carry some cash with you and must not rely entirely on your credit or debit cards.