5 Tips For Long Car Journeys

The car is one of the favorite transport methods of the Spanish for road trips in this summer time. Whether for work, vacations, or to see relatives who live in another part of the country, at some point we have to take a long drive.

When making a long journey in your own car, there are certain points that we must take into consideration before embarking on this adventure.

Basically, the main thing is to have a good organization after choosing the destination and the route that we will follow to reach it. Despite this, there are certain topics that we tend to overlook and can give us a hard time on the road.

If you are about to take a long trip by car, here you will find five tips to face it in the best way and make your trip a success.

Five tips for long car trips

Do a check-up of your car before leaving

The first step before traveling should always be to have the car serviced. It is surely in perfect condition, it does not hurt for an expert to evaluate it to avoid any breakdown during the trip.

It is important to have all the car documentation and insurance in order, as well as to keep this documentation, the safety triangles and the reflective vests in an easily accessible place, essential in terms of safety in the event of a breakdown on the road.

Prepare a travel itinerary

When making long car trips, we generally entrust our route and stops to GPS, a device that works without any difficulty. Of course, it is worth planning a travel itinerary in advance, calculating the time it will take us to travel a route, establish stops and the time we will stay on them.

Taking a good look at the roads we will pass before leaving will give us an idea of ​​where we should go in the event of a GPS failure. You can take a map to be able to consult it if you have any questions, and in the same way the GPS device must be updated, lest changes have been made in the route that we will take.

Take breaks between legs

Road safety authorities recommend that long car journeys be divided into sections and make stops at least every two hours to help maintain the driver’s concentration. It is much better if we have a partner to share the driving and take turns until reaching the destination.

During breaks, it is best to stretch your legs a bit and take a short walk to improve circulation after sitting for so long in the same position. Thus, cramps will be avoided and the tension of the body will be calmed.

It is important to take a look at the gas stations located on our route, which saves us time when recharging the tank if we already know where the closest to us is.

Bring enough snacks

Spending a lot of time at the wheel –especially on the highway– can be monotonous for us and, if we cannot find a stop to eat on the road, it is best to be prepared. Therefore, it is advisable to bring a portable cooler.

You can include among your snacks  fresh drinks, sandwiches, cookies, cheeses … They are very practical options to regain energy and satisfy your appetite in case you cannot find a restaurant for a very long stretch of your route.

It is essential that you carry plenty of water to keep the driver and his occupants hydrated, and it is also recommended to have a coffee to combat the feeling of fatigue.

Take a light luggage

Remember that you will spend many hours in the car, and to make this long journey as comfortable as possible it is advisable to only carry in your luggage what you will really need on your journey and destination.

This will facilitate freedom of movement and to be able to feel comfortable inside the vehicle. If we overload the car with suitcases and objects up to the rear seats, it will be much more overwhelming and uncomfortable to spend hours without being able to change position frequently.

Surely, after reading these tips you feel more oriented to take that road trip to your favorite destination for the holidays. The key on long car journeys is always organization and prevention ; With these two simple premises, your trip will be a success.