Road trips are all about adventure and possibility, and the sense of freedom and flexibility they come with is a huge part of the appeal. But it never hurts to be prepared, particularly as car and RV vacations continue to skyrocket in popularity. Here’s our guide to a stress-free trip.

Even if you're a fast-food lover, you might get a little tired of burgers and corn dogs on your trip. You should also plan for the possibility that places might be closed, even for takeout. Make sure you have some emergency bites with you on the road – think items with a long shelf life, like snack bars and instant noodles. If you have a portable stove or are staying in places with cooking facilities, some tins of beans, tomatoes, dried pasta and other pantry staples will be a great back-up.

At least, don’t wing it too much. Part of the joy of a road trip is the freedom to change plans, stay in a particular place for a little longer or maybe head someplace you’ve just been recommended. And an open mind is important when last-minute changes may be forced upon you. Equally, though, leaving too much to chance could leave you stuck without a suitable place to stay or being turned away from a park that’s closed or full. Strike a balance to reduce unnecessary risks or stress.

If you’re camping or sleeping in your RV, book at least the first night or three in advance so you don’t end up being turned away. Some campsites in national parks are closed, for example, or require reservations (check the NPS site for details). If you’re driving and planning to stay at motels and hotels along the route, do some research. It’s also a good idea to find places with flexible cancellation policies in case your plans change.

It’s always sensible to have your car or RV checked by a professional mechanic before hitting the road, especially if it’s been parked up for weeks or months. Take it in at least a week before setting off and pack a basic toolkit for the journey: spare wheel, a few liters of water and extra fuel. If you're hiring a car or campervan, check carefully for any damage and get it all documented before you drive off to avoid any doubt – and a hefty check – when it’s returned.

Whether it’s your own RV that’s been sitting on the driveway for the past year or a rental car or camper van, take some time to get to know it – or to reacquaint yourself with all its quirks. If it's a rental, ask the company if it’s possible to take it for a test drive or at least a spin around the parking lot before getting on the road. It’ll help you be more confident, especially if it’s larger than you’re used to. And there’s nothing worse than realizing you don’t know how to switch the headlights on just when you really need them.

Whether it’s your vehicle or a rental, it's your responsibility to make sure it meets local conditions. For example, many EU countries require you to carry a reflective jacket, warning triangle and medical kit. Depending where you're going and the time of year, you may also need winter tires or snow chains. Be sure to do some research beforehand so you have all of the kit required.

It’s easy to forget travel documents when you’re jumping in your vehicle and hitting the road. But if there’s any chance you may end up traveling between countries, it’s important to have them where they're easily accessible. Keep car, travel and insurance documents to hand in your vehicle. Some countries may require an International Driving License so check well in advance.

 

Whether you’re traveling with a partner, friends or family, being clear on who does what from the outset should (hopefully) help prevent any rows. One way to avoid cross words is to have a pre-trip planning session to discuss sharing out jobs – that might not sound like fun, but it could help to avoid stress once you’re out on the road. You might also want to have a schedule so, while one person is driving, others are in charge of navigation or handing out the snacks.

Don’t rely on your phone for directions. The signal could be patchy and your battery could also run out – maps tend to use a lot of power, so even keeping it plugged into the USB port may not be enough on a long journey. Download maps that can be used offline and have a paper map as a back up. And tune in to local traffic alerts to stay on top of last-minute detours and closures.

Local radio stations can be kind of like musical roulette: sometimes you find a gem, other times all you find is static, white noise and experimental jazz. Which is fine, but perhaps not for those times when you’re cruising down a tree-lined road and just want to blast some classic tunes. Download playlists before you go and make sure you have all the leads you need to connect devices to the car stereo.

It might be tempting to treat your car or campervan like a giant suitcase on wheels, but don't cram it too full. You'll need room for the supplies you pick up along the way and you don't want to feel cramped. Pack as mindfully as you would for any other vacation and keep important items close to hand, so you can avoid constant repacking. Always go for soft bags over structured cases too. They're far easier to squeeze in.

Leave room for a couple of easy-fold camping chairs – they're a godsend for life on the road. Wherever you pull over to get some fresh air or admire an amazing view, you’ll always have somewhere to sit and linger for a while. And, of course, they’ll be indispensable if you're camping – whether planned or due to a last-minute detour.

For peace of mind, take out breakdown cover rather than relying on finding a suitable local garage who can squeeze you in. They aren't always on hand and and costs could quickly escalate if you run into problems and need vehicle recovery. If you’re renting, it’s often cheaper to buy cover separately than use the hire company’s option, so do the research before you go.

Some rental vehicles have a toll transponder box that records when you go through toll booths and adds the charge to your check, though sometimes you have to request it to be activated – and there might be an admin fee on top. Other tolls have to be paid in advance online, so it’s important to check. Where you pay at a booth, make sure you have a widely accepted debit or credit card to hand as many places are no longer accepting cash.

A good old-fashioned cool box is an essential road trip item. You'll have a cold drink to hand whenever you want and, if you're not likely to be passing anywhere to eat, you can pull up for a roadside picnic. A large cool box doubles as a bench or table, too. Just remember to replenish the ice when you pull into a gas station. Or you could even invest in an electric box to plug into the car.

 

Obviously this isn’t something you’d do deliberately. But gas stations can be few and far between in remote areas and some may be closed at the moment – so, even if you know the route inside-out, things might have changed. Try to plan stops to minimize the risk of running out and to avoid unnecessary interactions. Apps like GasBuddy can be useful for locating the nearest places to fill up.

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Sunglasses, glasses, tissues, lip balm, water, sweets, driving license… Make sure all of your essentials are easily accessible, whether that means in a glove box or a dedicated bag of important bits. Otherwise, expect regular, unnecessary stops and lots of frantic rummaging around saying: “I’m sure it’s here somewhere…”

If you're driving in areas where wild animals are likely to be roaming free, take extra special care and think carefully about when you drive. Driving after dusk can increase the risk of you hitting an animal, for example, and in some national parks here in the US it isn’t recommended to be on the road in the dark. Whatever the rules, drive slowly and, if possible, have one person on the lookout for animals that might leap into the road.

Knowing whether to drive on the left or right is obvious, but it pays to brush up on other rules too – and these can vary even between areas within a country, such as different US states. Know the speed limits and stick to them. If you’re driving somewhere utterly unfamiliar, go online before you leave and do some research into local road signs, place names and driving customs.

Take it all in and don't rush. Stop to drink in an amazing view, head down a walking trail or simply soak in the moment. This is important both for enjoyment and safety, as driver fatigue is one of the major causes of road accidents. Be sure to take regular breaks, especially if you're covering long distances – pull over somewhere safe and have a nap.

This is especially important if you have kids or teenagers on board. Plan in extra time for plenty of stops, where it’s safe. Go big on the snacks, invest in a portable DVD player for when boredom inevitably sets in, and pack a few surprise gifts to entertain them at strategic moments. But be sure to encourage them to look out of the window at the sights too.

It's a good idea to let people know where you are and where you're heading, especially if you're on your own. Mobiles are a godsend if you breakdown or get lost, but don’t rely on them – you could lose signal or run out of battery. Make a habit of letting someone you trust know your plans each day and regularly checking in, so they can raise the alarm if they don’t hear from you.

There's nothing better after a long day behind the wheel than arriving at your destination and cracking open a cold drink – whether that means a beer, tumbler of wine or a refreshing seltzer – in time for sunset. This is especially important if you’re camping, or even if you’re staying somewhere that may not have a bar or shop. Just don’t forget where you stashed the bottle opener.

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