Road Trip Travel hacks

Helpful tips to know while road tripping.

When deciding on how you should travel there are really only two ways to get places. By a plan or car. Now most people will probably choose a plane because it's easier and faster, but what people do not realize is that a road trip can be part of the trip, not just how you get there. There is a lot that goes into a road trip but we are going to break it down so it's easy and fun.

Whether you are traveling alone or with many people these road trip hacks will help no matter the occasion.

Hack #1 Car Organization

With a bunch of bags packed into a car it can seem hard to have the car stay clean. There are many great products on Amazon that can help keep the back seat clear. One of the easiest ones is this backseat car organizer. They come in a set of two which is perfect for both seats and nobody has to reach over someone else. They are good for storing head phones, ipads, any snacks or water bottles. You can really put anything you may have in there to keep it out of the way.

Another good item to have is a door trash can. This way you do not have to worry about any wrappers getting tossed under the seats. You can easily store them in each door so everybody has one. They can be taken out anytime you stop so they do not over fill.

Hack #2 Distractions While Traveling

This one is great if you have smaller kids. It's hard to keep kids occupied in a car for a long period of time. But with sticker books, coloring books and car games it all gets easier.

There are so many different ones to choose from that you will find someone for each kid to have and like. The best part is there is no mess with these activities. Having something else to worry about can get tiring and make the trip less fun for yourself.

Games as simple as looking at clouds or naming the colors of cars are effective and will cost nothing to keep a child entertained. There are many things you can look up to keep everyone entertained throughout the ride.

Hack #3 Containers for Food

If you will be in the car long, you are bound to get hungry at one point. Stopping to eat at a restaurant seems like unnecessary time added to an already long trip. Using a car eating tray will keep everything in one space and make it easier to eat. This way you do not have food flying all over the car and people can eat their food in their lap.

Do not forget to load up on the snacks for the ride. Having a cooler filled with smaller snacks is another great way to eat and not have to stop. It may take up room but this one will be worth it. This can extend how long you have until your next stop. Bring snack sized bags is the easiest way to do this, like goldfish, pretzels and resealable candy.

Hack #4 Pack with a Purpose

Staying organized while traveling is a need for me. One of my favorite ways is to pack by day. When I pack I lay all my outfits out and make sure I have everything I may need. Whether it's just for a hike or shopping day I will put the outfit together. I do this so when I unpack I do not forget what I wanted to wear something with. I also keep all bathroom items in the same packing cube. Same goes with anything that will be sued in the same situation.

Putting things into packing cubes also maximizes all the space used within a luggage. When road tripping you are limited to what you can bring. Although it's more than just a carry-on you still need to keep in mind how many other people you are traveling with and how big the trunk is. It's also important to pack the trunk correctly in the first place. Put the least important bags into the trunk first and the ones you may need to grab for most at the front.

Hack #5 Get out and Stretch

When passengers start to get restless and board it's a good time to stop and stretch. Try to utilize this time to go to the bathroom, get more snacks or drinks and just simply walk a little bit. You would be surprised what even a 5 minute break will do to you. Thai does not always have to be a rest stop or gas station, it can be a fun roadside attraction. Like I said easier road trips can be part of the fun not just how you get someone

If you research what highways you will be on, chances are there is someone along the way that you can stop and see. This might add time into the trip but it will be worth it to see something new with the people you are traveling with. Take some pictures and get back one to trip.

Hack #6 Overnight Bags

Now this might not always be needed but if you stop overnight at a hotel this will be helpful. Having an overnight bag you can take into the hotel will save time and be more effective than a suitcase.

Having refresher items in here is all you need. Things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush and a change of clothes for the morning is really all you would need. You can have more in there but most of the tim you will just be taking up space with something you will not need. You shouldn't need this bag for more than a few hours.

Hack #7 Have Fun

I think the most important part of any road trip is that you need to have fun and enjoy the time in the car. Yes it's a small space and you really do not do much but there are plenty of ways to make it better. Listen to music or a podcast, tell stories and talk. Ways to make a road trip boarding is when everyone just sits there on their phone nd the driver has to just stare out the window.

The people you are traveling with should be people you would want to send this time with so enjoy it will it last.