If you’re a lover of the open road and all of the adventures that can be found out there, whether you’re flying by the coast or hitting every major city on your way in a given direction, planning a road trip can be a great way to spend your vacation time. However, if you want to make better use of the weekends, breaks, and other opportunities you have, a more improvisational approach to exploring on wheels can be a lot of fun, as well.
Keep A Go Bag At The Ready
You’re still going to need to pack all of your road trip essentials to get out there more spontaneously. It just means that you should always keep it partially packed ahead of time. Your go bag can include chargers, toiletries, a power bank, snacks, first aid kits, sunglasses, and a travel pillow, so all you have to throw in there are a few changes of clothes so you can get on your way.
Stay Trip-Ready With Your Vehicle
Your wheels are the real star of the show here, and you have to make sure that they are treated as such. Regularly check the oil, tyre pressure, brake fluid and wiper blades on your vehicle, or think about investing in one that is practically built for road trips, like a Vauxhall Combo van conversion with the room and amenities that allow it to serve as your accommodation as well as your way around. If you don’t have to pack camping gear but you can still find your rest spots wherever your wheels stop, it can make it a lot easier to just get out there and drive.
Research Your Routes Ahead Of Time
While you can certainly have some fun and discover some new favourite hotspots by being more willing to simply go in a given direction, it is also a relatively easy way to end up lost for an hour with nothing exciting to see. Take your time to research and plan a few trips ahead of time, even keeping a list of the places you would like to hit up if you have the chance. Even one or two objectives can be enough, and then you can find more improvised stops on the way there.
Keep Your Tech Setup Ready
Sometimes you might want to get away from screens and gadgets, but don’t underestimate how helpful they can be on road trips, especially if you’re getting out there with an improvised plan. Create a minimalist travel tech setup that’s always ready to go, including a car charger, phone mount, offline maps, and a backup power bank. Download playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks ahead of time and keep a dedicated USB stick or SD card ready with some audiobooks or playlists in case your signal drops at some point.
Being spontaneous and getting out on the road doesn’t mean that you don’t have a plan; it just means that you’re ready to put your plans into action at any point. It’s still important to ensure you’re equipped and prepared for your next adventure.
