How To Plan For A Road Trip
An 8-step guide on how you can prepare for a road trip.
- Plan your route and stops - Select any rest stops, scenic detours, and refuelling points. Plan to stop every two hours to stretch your legs and refresh.
- Prepare your car with a pre-trip check-up - Visit your local Kwik Fit for a vehicle inspection.
- Pack Smartly - Bring essentials such as snacks, water, a first-aid kit, and a fully-charged mobile phone.
- Check you have your documents - Ensure you have your driving licence, insurance details, and breakdown cover information.
- Prepare for passenger comfort - Pack games or activities to keep kids entertained and avoid backseat boredom.
- Check weather conditions - Look up the forecast for your route and destination. Be prepared for potential weather changes.
- Fuel up or charge fully - If you’re driving a petrol or diesel car, start with a full tank of fuel. For electric vehicles, plan your charging stops ahead of time.
- Perform a final vehicle check before departure - Before setting off, check that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, your lights are working, and you’ve packed all necessary items.
If you, like so many others, enjoy a road trip, you are likely to be faced with a long drive over a short period of time. No matter how scenic the route is, a long drive to a holiday destination can sometimes be gruelling, particularly on hot days or with a family of young children.
So, whether you’re heading down to Land’s End, up to John o’Groats, or somewhere in between, read on for our tips on how to make the drive that little bit easier.
Prepare your vehicle and documents
Before starting your road trip, taking the time to prepare your vehicle and ensure all necessary documents are in order is vital for a smooth journey. Start by reviewing your vehicle with a thorough safety check.
If you haven’t had your car serviced recently, now is the perfect time to schedule one. This includes ensuring your tyres are in good condition, your brakes are functioning optimally, and all fluid levels — oil, coolant, and washer fluid — are topped up. A pre-trip check at your local Kwik Fit centre can cover these essential points.
Additionally, confirm you have all necessary documents on hand. These should include your driving licence, insurance certificate, and breakdown cover information. Store these documents in a waterproof folder within easy reach, such as your glove compartment, to avoid any delays or stress during your trip. Taking these steps ensures that both you and your car are fully prepared for the road ahead, giving you peace of mind and helping to avoid unnecessary disruptions to your journey.
Keep everyone entertained
First is entertainment. If you are travelling a long distance with a car full of passengers, they will definitely need something to keep them occupied and pass the time. This rings especially true if you are travelling with young children oh-so-likely to reel off the “Are we there yet?” spiel every few miles.
When it comes to in-car entertainment, it is all about prior planning. There is nothing worse than getting a few hours in and realising you have nothing to do. Make sure any electronics are charged up before you depart — this may include:
- Tablets
- Portable gaming consoles
- Phones
These will provide a few hours of entertainment in the form of apps or multi-player games. You could also invest in travel board games such as Travel Scrabble, Connect 4, Battleships Grab & Go, or Yahtzee.
But there’s nothing wrong with the good old-fashioned in-car games either. A few of the old classics that surface around the 5-hour mark include: ‘eye-spy’, ‘the number plate game’, ‘20 questions’, and ‘the memory game’.
For more tips on keeping the kids entertained in the car, check out our recommendations.
Stock up on food
Next up is food. Driving long distances is always a bit easier when both you and your car have enough fuel.
So, take time before you set off to pack some snacks that will be sure to keep you going. In our experience, we’d recommend avoiding any foods that are likely to melt or spoil, and sticking to the classics like sandwiches, crisps, or wraps.
Most importantly, though, it is essential to stay hydrated; so pack a variety of drinks. You can read through all of our road trip snack recommendations in our blog.
Make sure you plan rest breaks
As you might have seen on motorway signs, tiredness can kill. According to research by GOV.UK, up to one fifth of road accidents happen from drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
If your staycation drive is longer than 2 hours, it is essential that you factor in rest breaks for both driver and passenger safety. Be wary if you are having to drive at night too. The government has outlined the following two times as periods when drivers are most inclined to drift off:
- Midnight to 6am
- 2pm to 4pm
Not only do rest breaks make long distance driving safer, they also make it easier. By breaking the journey down into small, manageable chunks, the drive will likely feel far less daunting. This way, you can check off each stop as a milestone and use the next one as something to motivate you as you go.
Nowadays, service stations are fully equipped with everything you need to relax and refresh yourself on your travels.
Stay comfortable with climate control
An often underrated way of improving long distance drivers is climate control.
Being stuck in traffic on a hot day without air conditioning is many people’s idea of personal hell. Equally, driving for a long time without heating in winter isn’t much fun either.
So, before you go, check your air conditioning unit is in full working order. If you are unsure of how to go about this, book in for a free Air Con Check with Kwik Fit. For more serious problems with your air con system, you may need to book in for a recharge too.
Travelling to your staycation destination, especially in the summer, will feel much less laboured with the fans blowing. What’s more, air conditioning can also be used to recirculate fresh air around the cabin. When sitting in a car for long periods of time without opening the windows, the air can stagnate — so it’s always nice to have clean, fresh air circulating.
Adopt smooth driving styles
A lot of the stresses and difficulties of long drives can be alleviated by simply changing your own driving style.
For a start, there are plenty of techniques you can use to avoid using excessive amounts of petrol and accelerating and braking a lot. You can start by making a habit of checking further ahead when you drive; if the cars in front are braking, you can anticipate this in good time and slow down gently instead of braking suddenly. Also, try to maintain a constant cruising speed instead of constantly speeding up and slowing down to overtake.
Research has shown that accelerating and decelerating your speed between 75km/h and 85km/h (roughly 45mph to 52mph) every 18 seconds can increase fuel consumption by 20%!
Finally, if you are off on a staycation with another adult who is insured to drive the vehicle, switch out the driver every few hours. This will help give you both a rest and keep you alert.
Stay safe while on staycation
As you gear up for your staycation adventure, ensuring your car is road-ready is essential for a stress-free and safe journey. Preparing for your journey, not only keeps you and your passengers secure but also helps prevent unexpected breakdowns along the way.
From checking your tyre tread and pressure to topping up fluids and ensuring your brakes and lights are functioning correctly, these small steps can make a big difference. We’re here to help you get your car in perfect condition before you hit the road. Book a service at your local Kwik Fit centre today, where our expert technicians will perform a thorough check-up to ensure your car is ready for the journey ahead. Let us help you make it a safe and enjoyable one!
