Road trip tips and tricks

Driving is a part of my soul. For the past 4 years I’ve been living on the road for a multitude of reasons; work, touring and out of town boyfriends being some. For this reason I’ve managed to cultivate some tips to get the trip done without breaking the bank or totaling the love of my life, Lucy the Chrysler 300

PACK BEFOREHAND INSTEAD OF BUYING LATER    

One of the many issues i first encountered while commuting incredibly long distances every week was my insatiable hunger and love for food. While that’s not exactly an issue in the everyday world, when you’re driving long distances on a highway and only have truck stops to accommodate you, it can be. The food at said truck stops isn’t exactly what one could consider healthy if that’s something that matters to you and the cost over many stops can really start to add up. My best combat to this issue is to pack food from home beforehand, and i know, duh. However in reality it’s not always that easy and obvious, those gas station hotdogs tend to call to your average road tripper like a siren in the night. Pack things that are easy to grab while driving, granola bars, bananas and jerky are my fav. If you’re messy and disgusting like me stay away from popcorn, chips or anything loose that will inevitably fall between your seats and refuse to be evicted like your shitty roommate. 

FIND THE CHEAPEST GAS 

 In my experience one of the biggest deterrents for people spending time on the road is gas prices. Theres a few easy ways to get around it though. Keep in mind that prices rise in the summer and drop in the winter. If you’re lucky enough to live in/near a climate where you can still get away with road tripping in the winter months then you’re in luck, if you live in the Pacific Northwest like i do that might not always be an option. Whenever i see my tank getting on the low end i use a few different strategies. One is sites like Gasbuddy, you type in a zip code or city near you and it will tell you the cheapest gas in that city. A simple google search of “cheapest gas near me” will do the same too but might not be as frequently updated. Also, pay with cash when you can. Gas prices can cheapen drastically when they don’t have to run a card. In Tacoma Washington i once filled my giant tank for $15 because i paid in cash instead of the 2.99/PG they were charging for card transactions. Also FILL YOUR TANK, putting in smaller increments at a time will only cost you more in the long run and might leave you in a pickle if there’s an issue where you have to idle your car for longer periods of time. 

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

If you think I’m full of shit and don’t follow the rest of my advice please follow this one. Always pack an emergency bag in your trunk. Including a first aid kit, blankets, water, Fix-a-flat and flashlights. I cant tell you how many times I’ve been caught in a blizzard, had a flat or some other annoying vibe killer with my car. Jumper cables and and extra gas can are useful as well. If you’re stuck in the snow or ice you can pour bleach around your car and it will melt it pretty rapidly. Just don’t spill the bleach inside your car with the windows up, that will only win you few less brain cells. Roadside services like AAA or commercial are great too, make sure you have a knowledge of who’s available in the state you’re in or traveling to as they vary across the US and Canada. The Les Schwab boys has saved my life and sanity more times than I can count. 

DONT FORGET TO STOP 

No matter where you’re driving there’s almost guaranteed to be some touristy/scenic/historical/sometimes scary attraction on the way. If you’re driving the same route back it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll stop then, you won’t. It only takes a few moments to pull off and smell the roses and it’s usually worth it. On a trip through the Columbia gorge a friend and i once stopped at a scenic overlook to stretch our legs but upon further investigation we learned there was a lavender farm just up the hill from there. The rest of the afternoon was spent picking lavender, sipping lemonade and acquiring Instagram content in one of the most picturesque locations I’ve ever been. If you don’t know what the roadside stops are on your trip then apps like Fotospot can give you the quick lowdown. If that doesn’t work, ask a local. Worst that could happen is you end up seeing things you haven’t seen before and discovering your own hidden treasures.

DONT FEAR THE MOTEL SIGN 

For some reason in our modern society, especially in my generation, Motels and hostels have developed a bad rep. They’re not scary i promise. If you really want to go the extra mile you can even bring your own blankets and pillows so you don’t have to sleep directly on the provided sheets. At $30-60 a night you’re never going to hear me complaining about the amenities in a motel room. Hostel bars have provided me with life long friends and amazing stories. At a hostel in  San Francisco a man once sat me down and gave me a full on 2 hour Zulu language lesson. As long as you use the common sense your mama gave you you’ll be able to stay comfortably in these roadside retreats, keep your doors locked and don’t buy any crack off that sketchy guy by the vending machine. 

EAT THAT GAS STATION HOTDOG 

i know, i know, i just told you the perils of the gas station hotdog. Well I’m gonna be conflicting here and tell you to eat it. We have so much to deal with on a daily basis whether it be school, work, kids or demonic possession we all deserve a little break. Maybe don’t live off of the processed cholesterol but enjoy yourself! We are only here for a few blinks in this life, scream your favorite song, roll the windows down, and eat that hotdog (They’re actually really fucking delicious i can’t lie to you). These days i don’t eat Pork or chicken brains so i opt for a moon pie. I’ll never forget the best days of my youth though, screaming to a Simon and Garfunkel song and clutching a gas station hotdog like a hungry bald eagle. 

If you have any road trip questions for the girl who sleeps in her car most nights you can find me on social media @skyeline_ or leave a comment down below. Enjoy the road.