I love road trips. My parents were legendary road trippers. When Mom or Dad yelled road trip, anything was possible. It could be a few hours of leisurely driving admiring the countryside and making frequent stops to view local sites of interest. It could be a 300 mile trip to visit my favorite uncle. It could be an impromptu camping trip. To properly prepare for a road trip you need to have a general idea of just what kind of road trip it is.

Hopefully, your car or truck is already prepared by being well maintained and having a fully stocked emergency kit. If it isn't, please make sure to check your spare tire and ensure you have a lug wrench, jack, and triangle warning reflectors in case of a flat. No emergency kit is complete without a basic tool kit, flashlight, a gallon jug of water, and a quart of oil..

Think about your passengers. If you have small children make sure to have a few small toys to keep them busy. Older children can easily be engaged in road trip games like spotting out of state license plates, I Spy and the like. Teenagers well that's an issue in itself. You know your teen as well as anyone can. Reading material, handheld games, etc can help keep a teen occupied.

If the trip has potential to be a long one, grab some snacks and a cooler jug full of ice water, ice tea, or Kool-aid. If it's an impromptu trip just think about basics. Have one change of clothes for everyone (more of course, for little passengers), the camera, the cell phone (including chargers), sweaters or jackets, and a blanket, just in case. When my kids were young I always carried a wet washcloth in a Ziploc bag for quick and environmentally friendly clean ups.

If you had some time to plan ahead, a picnic basket and a small cooler is a great addition. There is nothing more fun and relaxing than just stopping and having a picnic lunch somewhere. Don't forget the paper plates, cups and throwaway silverware. In this case, include a ball or a Frisbee for some outdoor exercise after lunch.

If your family is the more adventurous type and the road trip will culminate in a camping trip, I'm sure you have the camping equipment already set. Give it the once over and make sure nothing has been left out since the last time you used it. Air out the sleeping bags if you have time, if you don't you can do it when you get there. How's the propane for the stove and the kerosene or batteries for the lantern?

Spontaneity is good for the soul. Don't stress out making sure you have every little thing you might possibly need. Just grab the basic necessities and roll with it. You can always stop somewhere and pick up something you need. Do a final check on the house making sure everything is turned off and the doors are locked. Jump in, buckle up and enjoy your road trip!

Learn more about this author, Tina Hartley.
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