7 Smart Strategies for Road Tripping

He was white knuckling it and I was hushing the kids. It was my husbands first time driving in lunch hour traffic. As I think back upon it now, I laugh because he will not even drive out of town, but here he was in the worst traffic imaginable. Driving down the road going 70 miles per hour with walls on either side, Oklahoma city was his first real stressful opportunity to drive in rush hour.

Travel was never really an option for us until recently. We had taken small trips to the mall but nothing really major. The last couple of years we have had the option to go a handful of places but it has always been with extended family members. The first trip with only my kids, husband and self was to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. The twenty-two hour drive over two days was new to us and one of the most memorable times I have ever had.

Driving twenty-two hours is an accomplishment for anyone. We had prepared the best way possible by packing meals and drinks. Our kids brought things to do and watch and my husband and I sat and talked the entire way there and back. With a road trip, you may save money, but are you truthfully ready for what it takes?

• Be Prepared For Rush Hour - I fully forgot that we were going to be traveling through Oklahoma City, let alone at lunch. If I would have remembered, I would have changed drivers before we met the traffic. Drivers are going fast, slamming on breaks, and occasionally sharing their road rage with a certain hand signal.

• Be Prepared For Speed Traps - There are areas where police officers watch like a hawk. To be safe, make sure you wear your seat belts, drive the speed limit, and watch your surroundings. They are not there to be mean, but to keep you safe during harsh driving times and areas.

• Fill Up Often - One of the best things we did was to fill up when we were around 1/4 tank of gas left in our car. The reason is that you may not see another functioning gas station for miles upon miles. There was one area where we drove 300 miles and did not see anything around us.

• Have More Than One Map/Navigation System Going - Guess what?! Sometimes the Google Map is wrong!

• Get As Many Miles Done As Possible On The First Day - Your second day is going to feel like you have been in the car FOREVER! Get as many miles in as possible the first day so that you do not have road exhaustion.

• Set A Stopping Point Before You Even Get On The Road - Our first day of traveling was over 12 hours and we had made a hotel reservation months in advance. We had picked a hotel with great reviews and our first stop was lovely. On our way back, we stopped at a hotel that we had reserved the night before. Talk about a scare! Walking up to get into the room, there was a window with a small hole to get your key. The room had no light bulbs in it and when we finally found a light, cockroaches scattered across the beds. We knew we had to leave, and as I was grabbing my bag, under the bed there was a used needle. TAKE MY ADVICE, PLAN AHEAD!

• Bring Snacks, Drinks, Food, and Things to Do! - You will save a lot of money and time by having stuff ready to go inside the car. Passing out soda and treats made our life so much easier. Also make sure that you have some cash on yourself for toll booths.

• Trade Off Drivers And Often - You will be a happier driver and passenger if you are not carrying the full burden of your trip.
  

Road trips can be a great money saver, but at the end of the day, it depends on how much you really are willing to tolerate. You may be better off driving with older kids that can really keep themselves entertained. Smaller children may be prone to get "bored" or cry. Take your time and really weigh all of the options.