Over my winter break, I went on my very first road trip with a dear friend of mine. It felt quite a bit like a rite of passage; my experience brings to mind Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, who undergoes a journey “there and back again” across Middle-earth. From approximately 15 hours down to Florida and back to DC (plus an additional drive to Boston at the end), I gained a few insights that will hopefully make you smile and potentially help you prepare for your future road trips!
1. Start early in the morning. You won’t regret it!
My friend and I left around 4:30 in the morning to start the first leg of our drive from DC to Charleston. While it was tempting to leave at a more “normal” time (a.k.a. not before dawn), we knew that we’d be able to maximize our time on our first stop if we arrived by the early afternoon. Arriving to a destination in the evening might seem to make sense, but it may ultimately leave you with less time to wander around whatever destination you arrive at first. Also, you may find that after driving for several hours, you aren’t too thrilled to wrap up your road trip in the dark.
Not a morning person? That’s totally valid! Be sure to have coffee/caffeinated tea (if you drink caffeinated beverage) ready to go in the morning (thermoses are a godsend). Bringing along a “portable breakfast” (granola bars, peanut butter, apples, etc.) will help you fuel up for the day ahead as you’re getting the first several miles in.
2. Wear layers!
This is a big one, particularly if you’re planning to cross through multiple states in the fall or winter. You don’t want to start out in a t-shirt, thinking that the car will be nice and warm, only to end up shivering and uncomfortable. You also don’t want to cloak yourself in a heavy sweater to combat the chilly morning and end up sweating. When in doubt, more clothing options are always better for the car!
3. Oh, and DEFINITELY bring sunglasses.
I had a great time cruising along until the sun started to rise and I was suddenly squinting grumpily at the road. Sun visors don’t always help block out all the light, so sunglasses are an ideal backup option.
4. Still, enjoy golden hour!
Whether it’s around sunrise or sunset, it’s even more beautiful on the road.
5. And bring SUNSCREEN!
It sounds silly, but I’ve been completely fried in cars before. This time around, I think I managed to escape with just a bit of color across my nose, which is a huge accomplishment.
6. Themed music playlists are the way to go.
If you’re traveling with a companion, now is the perfect time to learn more about their music tastes! My friend and I made a playlist for every State we crossed through on the way to Florida, but we divided the States up so that we’d be able to hear each other’s songs. It was a lot of fun to transition from country tunes in Georgia to beach party music in Florida. However you choose to make the playlists, don’t be afraid to be adventurous! With all the time you have in the car, it’s better to have too much music prepared than not enough.
7. Know where to stop along the way.
Sometimes, “it’s about the journey, not the destination,” right? My friend and I knew we wanted to see a couple of historic cities, so we chose Charleston and Savannah as stopping points around the 7-hour mark there and back. Think about cities or landmarks you’ve always wanted to see, what kind of vibe you want, and how far away from the main road you’re willing to drive. My friend and I used Airbnb, but there might be some quaint bed n’ breakfasts you can take advantage of wherever you stop.
8. But, be prepared for potential disruptions to your schedule.
If it ends up pouring rain when you’re supposed to do a self-guided walking tour of a city along your drive, what should you do? My friend and I faced this question when we were scheduled to stop in Savannah on our way back to DC. It was pouring rain on the day we were supposed to arrive, so we decided to change our schedule up a bit by giving ourselves a few extra hours in St. Pete Beach, arriving at Savannah in the evening, and exploring the city for a few hours the next morning. Weather is absolutely unpredictable, and sometimes, it quite literally “rains on your parade.” Flexibility—perhaps leaving a few days open at the end of the road trip in case something comes up—is super important!
9. It’s possible to demolish an entire can of Pringles while driving if you aren’t careful.
Luckily, I had my friend there to moderate my Pringle intake! If you like to snack while driving, that’s great, but it’s probably a good idea to steer clear of the really addictive ones to prevent…digestive issues later.
10. Route 99 is a godsend.
It’s incredibly easy to plan a road trip that leads you up or down the East Coast on this highway. It runs by multiple major cities and makes for a very pleasant driving experience. Picture cruising on a two-lane road for hundreds of miles….ah, so relaxing!
11. The billboards are actually incredibly entertaining.
I would like to give a special shoutout to all of the creative billboards we saw for accident & injury lawyers (particularly “Don’t scream—Call Akeem!”) and the 60+ billboards we saw advertising a roadside stop called South of the Border. Big props to the Route 99 marketing teams!
12. Don’t underestimate the power of “alphabet” and “category” games!
Our favorite game to play on this trip involved naming items in a category—say, animals or music artists—starting with every letter of the alphabet. For example, if the category is “animals,” the first person might say “aardvark” and the second person has to say “aardvark, buffalo.” By the time you’ve gotten all the way through the alphabet, quite a bit of time has passed by!
13. You’ll see a lot of the same fast food places over and over again, but there are some regional ones you might want to try!
Because my friend and I are a vegetarian and a vegan, we couldn’t sample southern favorites like Bojangles and Cookout, but if you’re a Yankee headed south, you won’t find these places anywhere else!
14. Take a few minutes to hope out of the car and stretch every few hours.
After completing part of the drive from South Carolina back to DC with a horrendous leg cramp, I can confirm that it’s not worth saving a few minutes if driving is giving you aches and pains. Just pull over, please. Driving for an extended period of time can affect your muscles in wacky ways, even though it seems like an innocent, sedentary activity.
15. You may find yourself becoming a sophisticated “license plate critic.”
My friend and I decided we like Colorado license plates the most and New York license plates the least. What about you?
Most importantly, though: have a terrific time! If you’re headed on a road trip, you’re probably giving yourself some much-needed time off from school or work. Step away from those emails and hit the gas!
