Holiday Road Trip Tips

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Head out on the Highway

The big three holidays for road trips this time of year are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. According to AAA, over 115 million Americans will take a road trip of 50 miles or more over the ten-day year-end period of the holiday season. As we all know, a family road trip always requires ample planning, looking at weather forecasts, traffic patterns, preplanning hotel reservations (especially if you are bringing pets), and planning your route. Then there's prepping the car by changing the oil, topping off the fluids, checking the tire pressure and the condition of the tires, and that's all before you even start thinking about packing the necessities for the trip. Whew!

With all this and more in mind, we present to you, our Holiday Road Trip Tips; sure to help you navigate the highways of family adventure this season with ease.
Plan Ahead
As a good friend often said, "All I need is five thousand dollars… and a plan." We can all relate to that. When organizing a family holiday road trip, planning the following steps to make sure you don't forget any important details.


Target dates: Sit down with the fam and figure out which dates will work for your trip. After all, you've got to get out of work and knowing the trip dates well in advance will help the entire thing go smoothly, or at least smoother. Look at when you'll leave, when you hope to arrive at your destination, and do the same for your return.

Map it out: Go online and map out the entire trip from start to finish. AAA still offers its excellent "Triptiks" both as an online app and as a paper printout. It sources highways and backroads, showing maps and directions, even gas stations or EV charge stations, motels, hotels and restaurants along the way. Don't forget to factor in traffic and weather (such as snow) that might add time to your journey.

Credit Alert: If you are traveling any distance, such as a state far away, alert your bank, your credit card companies and gasoline cards a few days before you leave on your trip so they will not flag your debt and credit card use out of state.

Out-Of-Office: Don't forget to create an out-of-office recording for your work phone and an automatic email response, to let people know you are on vacation and alert them to when you will be back in the office.

Lock in the GPS: Once you have mapped out the trip, use your vehicle's GPS to navigate. This is great to show you any unexpected traffic jams coming up or route changes due to accidents or road work.
Check the Weather: Just as you can check ahead for road blockage or accidents, weather apps will show you if you are driving into a storm and how to possibly avoid it. Visit the Federal Highway Administration site here to check roads and weather.

Pay Bills: Be sure to pay any outstanding bills early before you leave if they will come due while you are away.

House Sitter: If you will be gone for several days or a week, ask a friendly neighbor to keep an eye on your house, collect your mail each day and feed your pets if they are not coming along. When you leave the house, make sure the windows and doors are all locked and make sure you have your house keys.

Holiday Gifts: If you are taking any special holiday foods or gifts with you, cook foods that can be kept warm during your travel and pack gifts and load them gently so they will make the trip intact.

Take Breaks: Whether you are just driving for a few hours or a few days to get where you are going, remember to schedule in time to take breaks from driving for a meal, a coffee break, or sightseeing along the way. You'll need to hit rest stops for potty breaks anyway (especially if you bring along the family dog) and part of the fun of a family holiday vacation involves stopping to enjoy the natural splendor of America. Roadside attractions and our National Parks can be great fun. If you are taking a trip in an electric vehicle, you'll need charge time so you should schedule recharging that combines with seeing local sights in places you've never been before. It's part of the adventure.
Prep the Car
A few days or weeks before the trip, make sure your vehicle is ready for the long drive. Pay attention to any unusual sounds such as squealing brakes, and make sure you don't have any warning lights showing on the dashboard.


Heater and Defroster: Make sure your car heater and defroster are working properly before you take the car in for service.

Check the Tires: Make sure your tires have plenty of tread, are fully inflated, and are in good shape for the trip. If you will be driving in snowy conditions, consider switching over to winter tires.

Get the Car Serviced: Bring your car to a Lithia Service Center to get an engine oil and filter change and have all the fluids topped off. Your technician should check all the hoses and belts as well as the wiper blades and lights to make sure you are good to go.
Clean the Car: Your holiday adventure will be more comfortable in a clean car. Vacuum the interior and wipe down the dash and seats. Give it a good wash and remove anything you don't need. You'll need room for gifts. 

Last minute Checks: Make sure you have an ice scraper and snow brush. Jumper cables and an Emergency Kit is also a good idea. It should include a first-aid kit, road flares, flashlights, and a snow shovel.

On Trip Day

Stop by a service station and fill the car with gas and check all the fluid levels once again. This includes the antifreeze, engine oil, power steering and brake fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Check your tire pressure before you hit the road.

When it comes to packing the car for the trip, bring along your favorite road trip snacks in a bag or box that's easy to get to. Place a small cooler in the cargo area with soft drinks, juice, and bottled water. It's best to be sure you are able to get to your snacks and drinks without stopping the car and shifting everything around.
Bring a few road trip games to play. Games such as "Poetry for Neanderthals" is a hoot to play as is "I Should Have Known That" and "Games on the Go". If you don't have any games, there's always "I Spy with my Little Eye" and "20 Questions" or you can just shout out license plates from other states. It is good to bring your favorite road tunes including holiday musical favorites that everyone can sing along to.

It's also good to bring a few blankets and pillows to keep you cozy or need a nap (as long as you are not driving). If there are kids along for the ride, reading a coloring can be fun activities. DVD players, smartphones and tablets will keep them occupied for hours. Don't forget headphones or earbuds as well as your charging cables and adapters.

Have Fun!
Most of us have fond memories of road trips with our family. We hope these tips will help make your next holiday trip wonderful… and be safe.