Several months ago, I ruminated over some of the characteristics of road trips – the portrayal of them in movies vs. reality, and popular roadside attractions and pit stops.
Now that we are a few weeks into travel season, I thought I’d dig a little deeper into the Great American Road Trip and share a few packing tips that I’ve picked up over the years.
So, let’s take some Willy Nelson with us and “Like a band of gypsies we [let’s] go down the highway…” and get packing! (Please note I’ve been out of the kid stage for a while, so aside from earplugs and Advil, I won’t be much help on that front.)
Traveling by car certainly has its advantages; no baggage fees for starters.
You can take as many pairs of shoes as you wish, you can pack a cooler full of snacks and picnic lunches to avoid costly restaurants, and you can make unplanned stops along the way to see off-the-beaten-path obscurities (try the Atlas Obscura app).
In preparation, make sure that Google Maps or the map app that you are using has the correct directions, especially when you are traveling off the beaten path.
Check prescription medication quantities and let your travel buddies know where to find emergency supplies, such as EpiPens for allergic reactions and glucose tablets or fast-acting sugar for diabetes.
Call ahead for ticket prices, hours of operation, or additional rotating exhibit options at places you plan to visit; some places have reserved time slots or are closed on specific days of the week.
Your automobile
Bob and I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the driver’s side door cupholder so it is always handy. Wet wipes work too, but they may dry out before they are all used up.
Consider placing an old dish towel in the glove box or center console to quickly absorb any spills that might occur along the way.
Grab a gallon-sized zip-lock bag and put in napkins, plastic utensils, and a plastic grocery bag for trash.
I also keep a roll of toilet paper in the back of my car. In 25 years, that habit has come in handy three times.
To be road-ready, AAA suggests checking tires, tire pressure, brakes, battery, belts and hoses, topping off engine oil and other fluids, replacing wiper blades and replenishing windshield cleaner, and making sure the AC is running cool.
Check the weather of your intended destination before packing. You’ll also want to know if there are any destination-specific preparations to be aware of.
For instance, when we traveled to Michigan a couple of years ago, our research revealed that we could be arriving toward the end of black fly season.
We read up on what the locals use to combat these pesky biting critters since standbys like OFF with DEET don’t work. Planning lessens the chance of unwanted surprises.
Take a look at clothing items you can discard as you go. I keep a stash of old socks and underwear to take on trips to wear “one last time” before they go in the trash.
A friend of mine takes this one step further. She keeps old T-shirts that she doesn’t intend to bring home and discards them as she travels.
Toiletry items
Bear in mind altitude changes when packing shampoos and lotion containers.
If you are headed up into higher elevations, you may find that the pressure changes cause these items to expand and leak all over the place, creating a mess in your car and/or luggage.
Squeeze out any excess air first, and bag bottles to contain any mishaps. When descending from higher elevations, the opposite occurs: those containers contract.
Shampoo and conditioner bars, instead of bottled containers, will help you avoid potential messes – they look like bars of soap.
Personally, I like the convenience of these for shorter trips. (Any trip over a long weekend, and I must have my routine hair care products.)
Disposable facial cleansing cloths are the bees-knees for travel, eliminating the need for bulky containers. I’ve used both Walmart’s Equate brand and Oil of Olay.
Think of any over-the-counter medicines you might need; this could save you a trip to an overpriced, tourist-driven convenience store: ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), digestive aids like Tums, Beano or Lactaid, throat lozenges, hydrocortisone, an antibiotic ointment, denture cream, etc. include bandages, cotton balls, cotton swabs, tweezers and the like for assembling a go-to first aid kit.
Most of us like to treat ourselves to the occasional road-trip convenience-store snack.
For me, those treats are my once-a-year package of Corn Nuts and the everyday on-the-road gas-station cappuccino.
Snacks and meals can add up, so decide where you want your hard-earned dollar spent: fast food vs. a day at a water park, for example.
Bob and I pack our lunches, beverages, and snacks 90% of the time we’re headed down the highway.
Speaking of highway, the iExit interstate app is free and one that we use routinely. Appropriately named, it doesn’t work if you are not on an interstate.
According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), 83% of people said they plan to drive to their summer vacation destination this year.
Travel safe! We’ll wave to you on the highway.
(Laura Schulteis-Jungbluth is an educator and longtime area resident. She can be reached at writelsj@gmail.com.)
