Do you want to know the secret to going on an amazing road trip? Of course, you do, that’s why you’re reading this article. You may be surprised by the secret though – it’s not something that many people associate with road trips.

The secret to a great road trip is… Planning!

Yes, you read that right. As we said before, most people don’t think of planning when they think of road trips. Most people think of spontaneity,  taking chances, and discovering beautiful places by accident.

But, why leave it up to chance? Preparing well for a road trip will guarantee that you have a good time. You won’t need luck to be on your side. From staying dry in summer to keeping cosy in winter, a bamboo doona cover is a dream to sleep under any time of the year

In this article, we’re going to give you 5 tips that will guarantee your next road trip is the best you’ve ever been on. Load up google maps, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s plan that trip of a lifetime.

#1 – Plan your route

Let’s start with the fun bit – decide where you want to go and plot out your route.

When it comes to road trips, the destination isn’t really the most important part of the trip, but it will be the icing on the cake.

Once you have decided when you want to go, it’s time to plot out your route. You can do this the old-fashioned way on a paper map. Or you can make the most of modern technology and do it on google maps.

Try to plot your route around at least one interesting place every day. This will help break up the monotony of being on the road all day. We like to take a different route back to the way we came, to fit in extra activities.

#2 – Set your budget

The next step is to set a budget for the trip.

You should include anything you need to buy to prepare for the trip, gas costs, accommodation costs, and then spending money for the trip.

We also like to set aside a pot of spending money for activities on the road. We like to plan in at least one daily excursion when we are planning out our itinerary. With the money set aside in advance, we know we won’t miss out on anything that we’ve planned.

We recommend being generous is your budget. It’s better to set aside too much money, rather than not enough. And if we under spend then that’s more money to spend on food at local restaurants.

#3 – Plan where you are going to sleep

Motels are often the sleeping arrangement of choice on road trips. This was the same for us when we were younger. However, over time we have come to realize that we can save ourselves a lot of hassle and money by bringing our own sleeping arrangements.

What do we mean by that? Well, we now bring our beloved camper on road trips with us, and we will never go back.

Our camper holds everything we need and we know exactly how clean it is going to be too. We love being able to bring our own bamboo bedding and a few of our favorite things with us.

When you’re looking at how to plan your next road trip, you may also want to check out top-up campers that you can tow behind a motorbike here: camperguide.org/motorcycle-pop-up-camper

#4 – Plan out your itinerary

Before you head out on your trip you should do as much research as you can into the areas that you are visiting.

There are so many hidden gems out there and you want to make sure you know what your options are for day trips. Check out sites like TripAdvisor, as well as local travel blogs. This way you will know where the best places to eat are before you get there. And you won’t waste your time on any dud tourist traps.

#5 – Pack well

Finally, make sure that you pack well for your trip. If you are in an RV or taking a camper with you then you will have a lot more space to play with when it comes to packing. Check RV Parts and Accessories Near Me for items needed in your RV.

You will want to make sure that you have essentials like charging cables and a well stocked first aid kit. But you might also want to pack a few luxuries like a s’mores making kit and some good board games (these are lifesavers on rainy days). If you’re traveling in the summer you will want to pack a fan. If you are traveling in the winter then you may want to invest in a heated blanket.