While you might be someone that likes driving, long journeys can get to the best of us at times. It could be that you have to travel far for work, or perhaps you are visiting relatives that live far away. No matter what the reason is, if you have a long journey ahead of you, you want to make the most of it and not spend the time leading up to it dreading it. If you’re heading with family and friends or going solo, we’ve put together some top tips that will help you make the most of long car journeys.
PLANT STOPS ALONG THE WAY
One of the first things you should do when planning your route is to find plenty of stops along the way. These could be stops for you to stop and get a bite to eat as well as something to drive, or just somewhere you can use the bathroom. It’s important you know where these are to keep you functioning when on the road. Factor in a stop at least every hour even if it’s just to stretch your legs and give your eyes and brain a break from focusing on the road. Being tired can be dangerous so you want to ensure you’ve got a clear mind.
DRIVE A NICE VEHICLE
If you know you’re going to be on long car journeys a lot, for example visiting family that live far away or for work, factor this is when you shop for your new vehicle. Think about something that’s comfortable to sit in and drive such as the new, innovative range of electric cars from VinFast. By taking into account the driving you’re going to be doing you can look out for features that will make it better, such as ergonomic seats and connectivity. Consider fuel costs, technology features and how much room there is to stretch out in the cabin itself.
ADD IN AN OVERNIGHT STOP
If your journey is looking to be quite far, why not add in an overnight stop? This can help to make the journey more fun and mean you aren’t spending hours staring at a road. Instead, you can do half the drive one day, relax and have a nice dinner and sleep, then finish it off the next. Driving when tired can cause accidents so by adding an overnight stop you’re being safer and can enjoy your next day feeling well rested, happy and ready to face whatever it is that you’re driving to.
GO A SCENIC ROUTE
Just because you’re driving with a destination in mind doesn’t mean you have to stick to boring roads. Instead, why not look at scenic routes where you can take in the sites? You could even consider adding in a stop or two if there’s something specific you want to see. This way you get some culture, something interesting to see out the window and could learn something along the way too! It’s a win-win situation!
Sort out your music and snacks ahead of time
When on the road you’ll likely get hungry, thirsty and bored at some point! To try and combat this, pack yourself plenty of snacks such as sweets that are good to snack on and can give you a sugar boost without being too smelly or messy for the car. Be careful with things like chocolate as this can melt and ruin your upholstery for example. You also want to get a good playlist together before you get going – the last thing you want is to be into your journey and unable to find any good songs!
GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME
Being stressed on the road is never fun. Avoid this by giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, always allowing for delays and accidents that might happen. This means you won’t need to rush and can take it easy.
These are just a few things you can do that can ensure you make the most of your next car journey. You want to allow yourself plenty of time so you won’t be stressed and worrying about being late and also factor in stop so you can eat, drink and rest up when you need to. Choosing a car that’s fun and safe to drive is also a necessity as you want to get there in comfort and not worry about breaking down on route! What are some of your top tips you have for making the most of long car journeys? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
