Road Tripping Tips for this Thanksgiving

There is nothing like the open road! In fact, it’s probably one of the most intimate ways to travel - you’re in full control of your destiny and what happens.

While we can all romanticize traveling by car (and have through a number of Hollywood movies) let’s not forget that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies.

As amazing as traveling by car is you need to make sure you have a realistic understanding of the limitations that could make or break your trip.

First things first: it is apparent that when traveling by car you (or your travel companions) will have to be driving. This is a rather obvious fact to consider however it is often overlooked. The longer the trip the more strained the driver(s) will be and this, if not dealt with properly or taken into account, can ruin the camaraderie of the trip.

The best way to mitigate these issues is to ensure that either a) the driver is prepared to tackle the entire trip or b) you have multiple drivers in shifts. More importantly, the passengers need to be willing to engage the driver.

Nothing is worse than getting stuck on the night shift only to find yourself alone, quiet, while everyone else in your party is sleeping. Be considerate and make sure everyone is on the same page!

Another thing to consider is your travel route - are there likely areas of congestion, any geographic issues that may need to be dealt with, or even certain driving restrictions? In some parts of the country you can find yourself (depending on your class and size of vehicle) you are required, by law, to carry certain equipment during certain parts of the year (chains, snow tires, etc).

In addition, there are often ‘suggestions’ that should be taken seriously - towing can often be costly in situations where a vehicle has bottomed-out and there is a ‘suggestion’ for all-wheel drive.

Simply plan your route and you shouldn’t have to worry too much - as long as you’re willing to listen to the road conditions and advice of the state DOT.

While there are going to be unexpected things that come up in your road trips, these two things are probably the most damaging in terms of making a good trip bad.

The tension between a driver and a passenger or the inability to get your car moving can truly kill the good memories you can have on a road trip.

At the end of the day, this should be fun and provide some amazing memories so don’t stress too much but make sure to do some thinking on the front-end so that you will have many more laughs on the back-end.

Wanna read more on this? Check these out: Looking To Travel Over The Holidays? Europe May Be The Place For You (more); Traveling By Train This Weekend? Here Are Some Tips and Tricks (more); Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle by Picking Travel Destinations (more); Tips and Tricks on How to Plan Your Travel (more).

And here are some more related articles: 2018 Empty Lighthouse Family and Budget Travel Website Awards (more); 2018 Empty Lighthouse Luxury Travel Website Awards (more); 2018 Empty Lighthouse Travel Website Awards (more).

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