Recently, I made the trip down to Denver, Colo. to capture the enjoyment of the local Little Leaguers walking the warning track of Coors Field.
That trip provided me with six hours on the road to think about what makes a good road trip. Road trips used to be daunting for me, but now that I have several trips and many hours in the car under my belt, road trips are just another part of my job. If you are an athlete, have an athlete in the family, religiously follow local athletics or just love road tripping on a weekend, here are some of my top tips to make the drive more manageable.
1. Plan – First thing’s first, you need to know where you are going and how long it’ll take to get there. If you’re traveling during the winter, check the road maps online to see if you need to alter your route for road closures, or even if the trip is possible.
2. Tracks – If you have your trip planned out and know where you’re going, the next thing to do is get to the finer points of the voyage. Nothing makes a road trip more manageable than a solid play list of your favorite songs. I’m partial to early 2000’s hip-hop and pop because it gets me jamming, but that’s just me.
3. Tolerable co-pilot – If you have an awesome mix tape to pop into the ol’ CD player, odds are you’re going to test out your vocal cords. If someone is making the trip with you, they’re going to have to put up with your singing. On the off chance that they don’t like it, some earmuffs may be better than a silent car ride with no music at all.
4. Entertaining passengers – If you have a car full of people, or even just one more person in the car – the more conversation, the better. If you can chat the whole trip, it makes time go faster.
5. Snacks – Nothing accompanies your favorite tunes like your favorite snacks. That sucker or beef jerky could give you the extra boost to finish out the last 50 miles.
6. Slacks – If you have to sit in a car for hours on end, of course you want to be comfortable. I usually don a shirt and tie at whatever event I’m driving to, but be assured that I am certainly not wearing that tie while driving. If an uncomfortable dress code is required for wherever you’re driving to, wear a change of clothes or at least a change of shoes.
7. Don’t look down – Whether you have your destination plugged into a GPS, your phone or even a set of printed out directions, do not constantly look to see how far you’ve gone and how much further is left to go. Spacing out your glances at the ETA is way better than seeing your remaining miles tick down one by one.
8. Fill ups and empties – This ties into the planning stage. Make sure you know how far it is until the nearest gas station or restroom. You don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road without fuel and/or a full bladder.
9. Enjoy – Road trips are fun. You get out of your own backyard and see the wonders of the world. Don’t look at them as a problem, but more of an opportunity to see the sites around you.
10. Be safe – Last but certainly not least, be safe because after all, you are driving an automobile. Always adjust your mirrors, keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
