Road trips are some of the best ways to create beautiful, lasting memories with the people close to you. This is especially true if they are done right, with all considerations made as far as safety and planning go. Read on to see five ways in which you can plan for a road trip and get the best experience when you travel.

1. Service Your Vehicle

The first thing that you should do is to service the vehicle that you will be going on your road trip in. Setting out in a vehicle with everything in proper working order is a great way to make sure that you will be safe as you travel. Take the car to a mechanic for the service so that they can do everything that’s necessary, including changing the oil. According to Quick and Dirty Tips, it’s recommended that you change your oil once every 3,000 miles or according to the recommendations of the manufacturer. This and other details during servicing can make a big difference as far as your safety while on the road goes.

2. Consider Entertainment

It’s a good idea to think about entertainment during your road trip, especially if you are traveling with young children. This is because they may get bored with the trip and become cranky if they don’t have something to focus on. There are many games and entertainment options that you can avail for them, including compiling a collection of popular road trip songs that you can sing while on the road.

3. Plan Your Route in Detail

Next, remember to plan out the route you will take in detail. This includes taking note of rest stops which are a necessity. Taking breaks and knowing exactly what awaits you up ahead can help you focus on driving safely as you look forward to arriving at the destination. According to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, over 94% of the 2.6 million miles of paved roads in the United States are made of asphalt. This means that the trip may be easy and safe thanks to the presence of good roads as long as you know where you’re going.

4. Pack Enough Food and Water

Pack enough food and water for everyone on the trip so that there is no need to stop at roadside convenience stores to stock up. This will not only be more affordable and convenient, but it will also save you a lot of time as you don’t have to keep stopping for food. The fact that you can also bring exactly what you want with you is a definite plus of carrying your own food and water.

5. Carry an Emergency Kit

Finally, it’s good to keep in mind that anything can happen while you travel, and for this reason, pack an emergency kit. This should have the most important supplies for the season in which you are traveling and also cover some common basics. It should have things like painkillers, allergy medication, blankets, and band-aids. Remember to also pack a vehicle roadside emergency kit that has a flashlight, jack, and a safety triangle road sign among others. These should enable you to travel safe while you are on asphalt roads and even off-road. Asphalt roads will likely be the most common for your trip, since according to National Asphalt Pavement Association, 94% of asphalt mixture was reclaimed from old pavements and used in new ones in 2019.

Use these tips to plan for a road trip that you will be sure to enjoy and remember for a long time to come. They may make your road trip so much fun that you become better able to plan another one easily and make road tripping a regular part of your life!