How to Plan Long Driving Trips

Any driving trip of two hours or more should be carefully planned; especially if you are driving in unfamiliar areas. There are different things to think about depending if you are driving alone or with another individual. It isn't really necessary to have extensive knowledge of how to work today's modern gadgets, but such know-how always helps.

The first and most obvious thing to address is plotting out a route to the location where you are traveling. I personally advise using google maps over mapquest if you are looking online for directions, however google maps has a tendency to leave out the numbers for exits and use the city names instead or vice-versa so if you are already comfortable with mapquest's way of doing things then by all means use that site instead. If you are like me and even when you have written directions you still mess up and get lost, then your best method would be to use a GPS service. You don't have to run out and by a $300 Garmin GPS device, most phone carriers offer a GPS application that you can purchase for a monthly rate. Such applications are really easy to use and are very convenient since they are on your personal cellphone. To acquire a program like that you can usually download it directly through your phone's options, but if you run into problems or get confused your phone service provider will be more than happy to walk you through it or you can go to their webpage. When planning your route think about things like where to get gas or where to eat. These things aren't as big of a concern if you are traveling using major highways or expressways since these routes always have intermittent rest-stops for travelers.

If you are traveling alone it is a good idea to keep a snack and a drink in an easy-to-reach place. No one person should ever drive more than 15 hours straight without rest. If you are in a situation where you cannot share driving responsibility with another person then plan from the start to pull over somewhere and rest for a little while. If a motel isn't in the budget then truck-stops are a good place to rest or sometimes chain stores like Walmart are okay with people parking overnight. It's a really bad idea to just park by the side of the road because you can be considered a problem for traffic flow and you may be approached by the police, so only park by the road if you absolutely have no other options.

If you find yourself pressed for time and you're unusually tired caffeine is an obvious choice, but coffee or Mountain Dew aren't the only ways to stay awake. Putting on the air conditioner a little higher than normal can help keep you from falling asleep or rolling down the windows; being just a little uncomfortable can keep you alert and safe. Remember the most important thing about traveling is to arrive at your destination in one piece. Be aware of local rush hour times and ongoing construction sites. You should always check the TV, radio, or computer for traffic flow reports and accident alerts. Taking a little extra time for these steps can save you a lot of time and keep you from rushing recklessly later on in the day. Most importantly respect the weather. Do not even attempt to drive in things like ice storms and severe thunderstorms. Your personal safety should be your absolute priority, no job or personal affair should make you drive in severe weather conditions.

Long trips can be stressful, but if you take the time to plan your trip you can make it into an enjoyable event. Going someplace new should be an adventure not a chore. Plan well, be safe and enjoy the things around you!