Who’s got travel on their mind? If you’re like me and have a permanent travel bug, you’ve been itching to get back to exploring. With everything going on, it’s still really tricky to travel internationally. The good news is, road trips are still an option and honestly a lost art in my opinion!
I went to college in Illinois and drove all the way from my hometown of Sacramento to Chicago and LOVED it! Since then, I regularly plan road trips and have gathered all the tips and tricks to make it enjoyable, memorable & most importantly – safe.
My Top Road Trip Tips for Traveling in 2020
Table of Contents
Let’s get into it!
What to Pack for a Road Trip
Pack a cooler full of lux snacks & drinks:
It’s okay to be super picky here and I’m just going to say it – gas station snacks are an absolute no! It’s 2020 – we have options! Packing up a cute cooler (mine here) with snacks you feel good about, makes the road trip SO much better and reduces your risk by minimizing exposure during COVID. I promise we’ll get you super yummy & healthy snacks instead! Keep reading 🙂
So what do I pack in my cooler for road trips?
I like to break it down into thirds.
- 1/3 of the cooler should be drinks: coconut water, prebiotic sodas & cold brews
- 1/3 of the cooler is dedicated to snacky foods: Water LilyPops, Bare Organic Apple Chips, Thunderbird Cashew-Fig Bars, Smart Sweets Gummy Bears, or Smashmallow Crispy Strawberry & Cream Bars. Thank me later. 😉
- 1/3 of the cooler should be for pre-made foods – like homemade wraps & dates stuffed with almond butter
This method has saved me from stopping for food so many times throughout my road trip and with the rule of thirds, you only pack what you need and tend not to overeat.
If you’re going on a road trip longer than two days, increase the size of your cooler or pack another medium-sized one. If you’re looking for an affordable option, this cutie is at Urban Outfitters for under $45.
A more robust option that will help you get through 5+ days on the road is, of course – the YETI. We’ve had one for our road trip from San Diego to Zion and it kept ice from melting for 72+ hours in the insane heat. It’s an investment, but really works!
Shop my cooler filler recommendations here:
Road Trip Tip #1: Clean out the inside of your car + organize it (quickly)
I know it’s so tempting to skip this step since your car will probably get dirty along the course of the road trip. But it’s worth taking the extra time to do it.
Removing any paper, trash & cups from the doors and seats will make the car feel larger and less crowded while you’re on your road trip. Also, take a second to open up the center console and remove anything you will not need on the trip. Doing these two things takes less than five minutes and will help keep your sanity in check on the trip ha!
Pro road trip tip: manage trash on the road by attaching this nifty gadget to the back of the passenger seat. My fiance has one for all the soda he drinks on road trips and it’s saved his car from turning into a trash can. BLESS.
Road Trip Tip #2: Make sure your car insurance is good to go
I feel like my Dad is proud of me for this one haha! And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone on a road trip and called my Dad asking what I should do when my car is making a weird noise. I’m so glad I got my car insurance policy with the best coverage for my road trip adventures.
I like using Clearcover for my car insurance for a few reasons- first being it’s really easy to access on road trips (Clearcover’s mobile app allows you to view your insurance card at any time).
I know everyone has different concerns when it comes to types of auto coverage. But Clearcover covers all the bases and makes it easy to understand what you are paying for and the types of car coverages that they offer. I was able to get a quote really fast that was within my budget & I swear it’s made for millennials.
This car insurance company has its own mobile app, where you can manage your policy and request roadside assistance no matter where you are. I personally LOVE that feature because I want to be able to road trip on my own (or with a buddy) and still feel safe.
The app lets you file a claims 24/7, get electronic access to your ID cards, and exceptional service from their team.
I ended up saving quite a good chunk of money by switching to Clearcover and really appreciate the savings. More money to dedicate to travel 🙂 Clearcover is available in 8 states, AZ, CA, TX, IL, WI, LA, UT, or OH. Great news for the babes in these states!
Check it out here to learn more!
Road Trip Tip #3: Fill your center console with necessities
This one is especially important for staying safe on your road trip during COVID-19. The center console should be filled with safety items that you can grab in a pinch and access easily.
Here’s what to include:
- Face masks
- Gloves
- Hand Sanitizer
Feel free to add things like your phone charger, sunglasses, and anything else you have room for BUT don’t skimp on the safety measures. We want to reduce your exposure to COVID and keep you healthy.
Road Trip Tip #4: Preload your phone with podcasts & playlists
Spotify playlists are key here. I know everyone has unique music tastes, so I leave this one up to you! Podcasts, however, are my jam, and here are the best ones to preload on your phone prior to your road trip!
- What We Said Podcast – a classic and wholesome show by two best friends that run an excellent advice column style podcast. Start at the beginning and you’ll want to binge the whole show!
2. Heal Thy Self Podcast – a unique take on physical and emotional health + tons of tangible takeaways. Come with an open mind!
3. The Him and Her Show – absolutely hilarious! Run by the blogger behind The Skinny Confidential and her husband, Michael. They interview the coolest people and I always leave the podcast feeling like I learned something that will help me someday.
4. My Favorite Murder – OH MY GOSH! My best friend and I played this podcast for 12 hours on a road trip in May. This true crime/comedy podcast run by two female comediennes is not to be missed!
5. Cult Liter – another hilarious true-crime podcast. The host always has me in stitches over the most ridiculous cult stories. If you like dry humor, you will LOVE this one.
6. Organic Olivia – a health podcast from the perspective of an herbalist. Her episodes about her parents dealing with COVID was breathtaking and jaw-dropping!
7. Work Party – run by the creator of Create & Cultivate (Jaclyn Johnson) focusing on really cool interviews with female entrepreneurs.
Consider these car organization hacks:
1. Head Rest Purse Hook
This $10 gadget from Amazon is SO convenient for road trips! It easily holds your purse or backpack and keeps it out of the way while your driving but is easy to get to. I use these all the time, even when I’m home running errands.
2. Sun Visor Tissue Holder:
This so handy and affordable. I personally really hate fumbling around my car looking for a tissue box and this is such an easy thing to install. It’s basically a large clip that attaches to your passenger side visor and stays put. It’s accessible while you’re driving too! Love an organization hack like this 🙂
3. Mini Car Humidifier and Diffuser:
This under $11 gadget connects to your car’s cigarette lighter and does a great job at relieving passengers from dry & cold air. If you’re road-tripping somewhere with colder weather, this will save your skin and nose!
It also doubles as a diffuser and is great for adding a pleasant scent of your choosing. I recommend tangerine essential oil.
4. Reusable Iced Coffee Cup Insulator:
This under $12 coffee sleeve is a must-have for your next road trip. It keeps your iced drinks colder for longer and prevents condensation and spills. They come in over 22 different colors and patterns + have prime shipping.
5. Multifunctional Car Tray, Personal Travel Plate and Drink Organizer:
I found out about this organizer/car tray on TikTok and now I can’t imagine living life without it! It can be placed on your lap, buckled into a seat, or placed over a center console. This makes it fantastic for road trips as well as organizing your things while you’re home and running errands. So worth it!
Now that you’re ready to hit the road and have the best road trip ever, where do you want to go? The southwest has so many incredible highlights and I highly recommend the Posada House in Tucson! Check out my review and stay here for the lowdown.
Also, check out this post for the Best Walking Shoes while you’re exploring your destination!
So what do you think? I would love to hear about your road trip tips/hacks and if you try any of the above tips! Here’s the link to Clearcover to grab your info & quote too!
Thank you so much to Clearcover for partnering with me on this post! As always, all opinions are my own. xx Katie
