How to prepare for your next roadtrip?

Are you planning to hit the road and need to know how to prepare for your road trip? Do you need a list of essential things to take with you for a successful trip?

Well, you've come to the right place!

Preparing for your road trip can make the difference between the best trip of your life and a real nightmare. You need to make sure you have everything you need, from your means of transport to the items you will be packing in your luggage.

In this article, you will discover:

• Everything you need to know about a road trip
• The benefits of road tripping
• The essential items to take on a road trip

With all our tips, not only will you know what and how to prepare a roadtrip, but you will know all the tips for a successful road trip.

Let's find out right away.

I - Roadtrip: Everything you need to know?

Before discovering how to prepare for your next road trip, let's start with the road trip itself and see together what it's all about.

What is a road trip?

What does "road trip" mean? Road means road and journey means journey. This is an English expression commonly used to refer to travel by car or motorhome.

A road trip is, as its name suggests, a trip that consists of visiting several different destinations, moving between the different points indicated in the itinerary by road, using a vehicle, with transport in common or even on foot.

A road trip is a journey that one makes in a vehicle, which can be a car, a motorhome, a caravan, a motorcycle, a bicycle, etc.

How long does a road trip take?

Compared to typical vacations, road trips are more about the journey than the destination. There is, as you will have understood, no time limit on your trip.

When we go on vacation, usually it is one to several weeks, depending on your schedule and vacation.

For a roadtrip, it's just the opposite. No more time constraints and departure dates. This will end when you decide.

Afterwards, you can just as well set yourself goals and destinations to reach within the given deadlines, but most of the time it is difficult to respect them because of the vagaries of the trip.

How to plan a road trip

- Choose destination

Even if you have a clear idea of ​​the country you want to visit, time usually does not allow you to visit everything in detail, so you will have to give up some options, such as the most remote ones.

The most interesting for this type of trip is to identify the stages or stops that are interesting or that you consider essential for your trip.

- Choose your mode of transport

Depending on the destination and, above all, the state of the roads, the vehicle you will need will change.

In some destinations, if you prefer, you can opt for a caravan or van to also use your vehicle as accommodation.

Finally, if you don't like to plan your vacation in advance and you feel like an adventurer, you can always pack your backpack and go on an adventure!

II - The advantages of the road trip

Absolute flexibility

You and you alone are the owner of your time and you manage it as you wish. By not depending on train or bus timetables, you are totally free to start the day at the time you want and stop when you want.

Discover unique places

Having your own vehicle to visit a region or a country is a great way to get to know places that, for the most part, are not accessible by public transport.

Travel at very low cost if desired

It is a fact and it is generally the very essence of the road trip. In addition to luggage, you can take a sleeping bag and a tent to save on accommodation and sleep under the stars. You can even buy food along the way to prepare your own feasts and avoid the restaurant space which is often what weighs on your vacation budget.

III - The essential elements to take on a road trip

Now that we have seen what the advantages of roadtrips are, let's see together everything you need for a successful roadtrip, alone or with others.

It is true that any roadtrip requires a little preparation. Here is a list of things that we think are useful (some are essential) to have a mastered road trip.

Backpack or suitcase ?

It will depend on your preferences, the distance, the weather and especially the number of days you will spend there.

If it's a relatively close place and you want to be light, you can opt for a backpack, but if it's a bit further away, you can use a suitcase.

Bring clothes

For a roadtrip, rest assured, you won't need a lot of clothes.

However, we cannot talk about luggage for a road trip without mentioning the importance of suitable clothing for this type of trip. You should therefore choose clothes that are light, multifunctional, comfortable and, above all, easy to maintain.

After all, you want to look good, smell great, and not have to worry about keeping your clothes clean and wrinkle-free for the entire trip.

To avoid the complexity of daily laundry while traveling, we recommend packing a smart capsule wardrobe with items in natural fabrics that can be easily layered, mixed and matched.

Toiletries and hygiene items

There are probably several places you will come across on your trip to buy toiletries, so it's not completely necessary to bring all of your toiletries from home.

However, for a minimum of hygiene and in case you cannot find stores, we recommend that you bring the basic items, namely, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

We strongly advise you to keep your toiletries well organized with a toiletry bag or travel vanity if you are traveling by car.

A well-made toiletry bag allows you to keep all the items you need on a daily basis. Prefer a model that has a hook on the top. You can hang it for a better comfort of use.

Moreover, if you want to prepare your complete toiletries to be quiet before departure, you can discover our article which explains what put in a toiletry bag .

Our latest tips

As with any trip, prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and a first aid kit for minor ailments or injuries. Like your toiletries, you can bring a first aid vanity if you have space.

Snacks and drinks to enjoy along the way, a charger, music, your phone and camera, GPS, etc. are obviously recommended if you want to immortalize the moments of your stay and travel more easily.

We list them for you quickly, but you get the idea. Anything that can improve your roadtrip or make it more comfortable is good to take!

And with all that, your sunglasses and good company, you don't need anything else to make your trip a great one.

It's your turn to prepare your roadtrip!

One last tip for the road. The climate or your road trip destination can have a big influence on what you should pack. Before embarking on your journey, first check the weather forecast for the regions you will be crossing.

Depending on the weather, you may want to bring more or less warm-weather or cooler-weather clothing, and adjust the rest of your luggage accordingly.

Remember it's always best to plan your trip in advance to avoid disappointment and we're not just talking about luggage.

If you have any questions or experiences to share with us, do not hesitate to leave us a comment, our team will be happy to answer them.