Ah. . . the open road.  Time to stuff our trunks full with luggage and take control of the wheel.  Some like to drive for the scenic views, the cost savings, or spur of the moment decision.  How do you plan the trip, though?

When my final destination is within twelve hours from me, I usually drive.  I noticed that the time it takes me to get to the airport, check my luggage, go through security, onto my layover, then off the plane, to baggage claim and to my vacation location is often just as long, if not longer, than if I drove.  As a topper, I now have to rent a car or pay for cabs.  Road trip it is.

There are some common sense things that you can do to prepare, like check your car tires and oil, fill’r up and then go to Google Maps or Mapquest to print off your map.  We all do this, so I am going to cover some things that are a little over and above this.

Before I leave the driveway, I ensure my AAA card is active.  I have locked my keys in my car once, and it was a life-saver to have this.  Then I would look up places along the way to stop and eat.  For instance, my wife and I love the Cheesecake Factory and try to make that a pit stop if possible.  There may be a really interesting landmark on the way also.  I used to Google all of this, but now I have a navigation system and it does the work for me.

Time to get comfortable.  I like to grab my pillow from my bed for when I am not driving.  Nothing beats laying my head on my own pillow.  Also, pack some snacks that keep you busy like trail mix, pistachios or sunflower seeds.  This helps keep your hands busy and you awake.

What are some things that you do or some tips you may have to share with us routine road trippers?