Top Tips for Planning a Family Road Trip

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There is nothing like the feeling of being out on the open road and the sense of adventure that it provides. Of course, if you have kids, there are one or two more challenges involved – namely keeping them entertained and preventing them from driving you totally crazy! However, put a bit of extra planning and preparation into your trip and you are likely to enjoy one of the times of yours and your family’s lives. So, in this blog post, we are going to be talking about how to plan your road trip, no matter what your final destination or the stops you will be making along the way. Hopefully, this will make the task seem that little bit more manageable and less daunting. 

Do Your Research

If you head out on your trip without having done any research, you are likely to miss some key landmarks, attractions and stopping points on your travels. The internet is an invaluable tool that lets you get a good overview of your route, as well as endless options of where to stop and stay along the way. You are bound to discover one or two hidden gems to tick off your bucket list during your drip if you let yourself. You can also discover the best route to take based on advice that you read online from people who have made similar journeys in the past.

Make Your Plan

Once you have done your research, the next stage is to turn this into a concrete plan. This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved so that they can provide their own suggestions and ideas of where you should stop. It feels much more like a family vacation if everyone gives their input on what they want to do and see along the way. Although you will probably rely heavily on a GPS system to provide you with directions, it still helps to research your route as much as possible as well as with recent road closures and other traffic updates. This way, there are no nasty surprises en route. If you can plan and book your accommodation in advance such as a one-bedroom with den apartment in Philadelphia, this saves you a job and also gives you a place to aim at each day.  

Prepare Your Car

Obviously, first and foremost, you should get your car physically ready to handle the open road. This means checking the tyre pressure, monitoring the essential fluids like oil, windscreen washer fluid and brake fluid, and watching out for clear signs of problems. You may need to invest in new items like a car seat. Also, check your trunk for essentials like a spare tyre, first aid kit, jump leads, blankets, and anything else that may be useful in difficult times. It is also a good idea to brush up on some basic skills like changing a tyre and fixing a flat battery. If you can solve these common issues without having to call out your repair company, you will be able to get back on the road as quickly as possible.