How To Road Trip: Practical, Comprehensive Guide
Remember being a kid in the back seat and the radio is on and you’re day dreaming about being an adult while you watch the world pass you by. Maybe being stuck in traffic in the summer meant seeing another cute kid in the backseat, or special roadside chips, the smell of the country wafting through the windows and trying to not be sick while reading to pass the time. Thinking about where you would go, what it would mean to be free and moving through the world of your own volition - fabulous sunglasses on, shoes off, singing at the top of your lungs with a cold drink in the cup holder and your bestfriend beside you, snapping pictures of each other with the wind rolling through your hair as it whips around your face, the speed a little too fast to have them down but it’s more fun than the AC….
And now you’re an adult, and you can have those moments, and you realize that yes there is whimsy and magic about it all and there are also practicalities that aren’t so much a part of the picture when you’re a kid - like buying gas or having the right snacks with you.
So as a person who loves roadtrips and is well versed in 4-12 hour drives, this is my road trip guide to help you use the magic of this experience as a ritual/portal/spell
Practicalities
Resources
food / gas / supplies
Okay so lets start with the most important stuff - if you are going alone or with someone it’s good to know how much gas mileage your car gets, how your splitting the responsibility of pumping and paying for gas, and if you’re really into it you can even add gas stops into your route (google maps is the best imo for navigating long stretches with multiple stops and will also show you how much gas is at each respective place). I think the less fun things are important to talk about if you’re making a journey with other people so it’s clear what is needed, what the expectations are etc. Some places have different gas regulations (for example in NS gas is the same price everywhere, but in New Brunswick it’s more expensive overall, and in Quebec it is cheaper in the country). You can tally up the total at the end and split it, take turns buying tanks - whatever suits you and your travel needs. I love road tripping because often if you have more than one person, it can be less expensive than flying and so many memories can be made along the way.
Food wise, I think doing a snack grocery shop the day before leaving is essential. Get the favourites of everyone who is going to be there (or just your own favourites if it’s just you) and try to get balance of fun snacks and practical snacks, as well as accessible. I always buy things for road trips that I would never buy for real life - like yogurt cups. Pre-wrapped cheese is great, salad kits, and of course having a variety of fun beverages. I try to avoid things that are complicated, too crumby, will cause blood sugar crashes (if I’m driving alone because it will make me sleepy). Always bring a set of utensils, and I pack everything in a cool or bag that can easily be accessed by everyone in the car. If I’m alone it’s in the passenger seat and organized so I can access it all with ease and if I’m with others it usually goes in the back seat behind the middle console. Bring lots of water, ice packs, etc. I try to only do one “meal” on the road for efficiency in timing but also for money purposes. Plus when you get to your destination you’ll have all the leftover snacks which is ideal in my world.
My favourite roadtrip snacks:
bagged salad kits, just toss everything in them and mix it up in the bag
babybel cheese
chips
sour jujubes
coconut water
a can of nestea
hummus
crackers
berries (no peel or core to deal with)
Supplies! Like advil, phone chargers, neck pillows… Listen you are in a car, you likely have space, bring the things you want/need to be comfortable. Sometimes I bring headphones if I’m with others and need quiet/alone time, I usually have my iPad charged with a game I can play, and I also love to bring stuff to do my nails. Yes, I will absolutely give myself a mini mani/pedi in the passenger seat - I have the time! I also love friendship bracelets and crafts that are easy/not messy - knitting and crocheting are also great car activities.
My must have essentials:
advil
phone charger
sunglasses
deodorant
nail file
hand cream
gum
deck of cards (only if there are 3 or more people)
neck pillow
hat with brim
blanket
sanitary wipes
toilet paper (u just never know)
flashlight
bag for garbage
bathing suit (even in winter lol - you just never know what will be along the way of your journey!)
Responsibilities
driving / navigating / car packing
Who’s driving when? For how long? What are your needs when driving (do you need certain music or a podcast, do you need the navigation a certain way or with the sound on or off). I think just having a conversation about what makes you AND your passengers feel safe while driving is important. Like if there is a speed that doesn’t feel comfortable or if there is someone who doesn’t use signals while changing lanes (that is the biggest driving sin imo). Setting up a rotation and knowing what’s happening is important - and also just communication in general. If you start to feel sleepy or tired, change drivers or pull over for a rest! Make it strategic as well if you can - change at pit stops, for example. Or if you’re driving to a place one of the people knows really well, give them the last driving shift because they’ll be more comfortable and know where to go better! PLUS - when are you leaving? When are you picking people up? This is soooooo fucking important and I cannot stress enough how important it is to lay out this BEFORE leaving!
ALSO! Adjust!!!! Adjust your mirrors, your seat, your temperature, your steering wheel. Just be as comfy as possible - give everyone time to figure out what feels good for them and what they need during their driving time. I don’t like to talk a lot when I’m the driver but I do like to talk when I’m the passenger.
Navigation wise, I always think it’s better to use google maps and get a clear idea of stops along the way. There are some stretches where there won’t be a gas station for a long time so you’ll want to fill-up before hand. Check the hours of different locations, make sure that if you’re crossing a border everyone has their passports etc.
Car Packing… This is so underrated and totally essential in my opinion. I always want to see out the back window if I can, I want to make sure nothing is sliding around, and the things I need are easily accessible. Sometimes I’ll put all the seats down for a long back, sometimes I’ll keep it sectioned off so it’s more compact and orderly. It depends on what I have with me, who’s with me, how long I’m travelling for. In my experience, ALWAYS pack the night before! It will just save you so much stress - I even put all the food in bags ready to pull from the fridge for when I leave and give myself an alarm reminder if there are things I can’t pack the night before. Part of car packing is also outfit planning so that what you want to wear isn’t tucked into something in your bag. Make your car/driving outfit comfy but also a part of the overall vibe of what you’re bringing with you. USE THE MIDDLE CONSOLE! This is where I put chargers, gum, mini snacks, a lighter and crystals, etc. It’s a key player.
Routine
pit stops / pre-game / car rituals
If you’re like me, then driving is a ritual! A portal! I have pit-stops and places in my journey that are a part of the experience for me, and I like to communicate them with people as well as learn what they need. A McDonalds sausage and egg mcmuffin before I leave the city is a roadtrip staple for me. So is starbucks with an obscene iced beverage with chocolate cold foam. I prefer Big Stops to random stops and try to go to them if I can, and I also love to find an Arby’s for my meal if I can because they are just generally hard to find and I love it. Pit Stops aren’t just practical, they can also be nostalgic and feel like an important part of the experience so communicate them without judgement because road trip energy is not normal energy imo - like I wouldn’t generally go to mcdonalds but I feel fucked up if I don’t start my long journey with it.
Pre-Game is like having a really good shower, getting a good sleep, stretching, packing everything, getting your playlist or podcast or albums in order, checking the weather, and making sure everything in your car is okay (tire pressure, do you need an oil change, I also love to do a vacuum and clean out and make it smell good in there). Pre-game is also knowing you’re leaving home so for me I want to come back to a place that is clean and orderly - I take out the garbage, do the dishes, clean my sheets, do my laundry and water my plants. I want to come home and be soooo fucking stoked that everything is as it should be and how I left it. I also like to have some easy things in the freezer to make when I get back so I don’t have to order food or go grocery shopping right away when returning home. I can just throw a pizza in there and take a hot shower and do my travel laundry. STRETCHING is also vital I find. Just a good stretch or mini flow before leaving to avoid soreness and tension!
Car Rituals for me are literally little spells. Every time I go back to Nova Scotia I get fresh rosemary from my best friend. I have palo santo in the dashboard, I keep a journal and pen in the mid-console along with crystals for ease, communication, safety, prosperity etc. These things make me feel safe and protected on my journeys.
Vibes
Music
If you’re going alone, I like to have a list of my favourite albums queued up for ease as well as a podcast to listen to (or an audio book). If you’re going with people, make a shared playlist on spotify and also take turns putting on your own music! This is a wonderful time to share things you love as well as build memories together. Nostalgic 90/2000’s playlists are my ALL time favourite for roadtrips. Sometimes it’s also nice to just turn the music off and be quiet - so much of my driving time is about thinking and having time even with others when you can all be quiet and do your own thing is so important for long journeys.
Outfits
Okay I’m an outfit girlie! I want to emulate a vibe! I like to wear something super cozy but also that matches. I want shoes that are easy to take on and off, things I can bend and fold in, and that are breathable! Natural fabrics and fibres, as well as workout things. I will also have layers readily available if I am wearing shorts and want pants for example. My driving outfit does add an element of what the trip will be and the vibe im emulating and I love it so much. I always pick it out the night before and put it aside with other essentials (like tooth brush and deodorant) for ease of getting ready.
Rituals
We talked about this a lot already but rituals for me are truly an essential part of the vibe and why I put so much work into the prep. I get disregulated easily (you want to stop for a charger outside of our designated stopping times and places even tho I asked if you had a charger???) so having these rituals reminds me to ground myself. I have special road trip drinks, special roadtrip albums, special roadtrip stopping points to look at the view or just remind myself I am FREE! The ritual of it all is what makes it potent and builds magic for me - the gas station titty out selfie is my favourite ritual of all time. I think it’s so funny and silly and gives me something tangible to look back on! I also try to always make my gas an angel number and save all the receipts for them if they are angel numbers as well (I actually have a collection of receipts with angel numbers in general lol). I’ve also learned that my solo road trips and shared roadtrips have a different energy and require different rituals. The point isn’t just to get where I’m going but to be present in the journey itself which these allow me to do.
AND that’s how I roadtrip. A little planning, a little whimsy, a little ritualistic action. I find driving sooo cathartic and truly use that time and space to reconnect with myself. It’s so special and such a privilege to be able to drive the places I want to go and I like to treat it as a precious thing.