So you’ve got the dandy idea to drive down to the beach or over to the mountains for a fun weekend getaway. It’s a great idea! You’ll save money most of the time, get to be on your own time, and you get to have your own car wherever you are going.
Win-Win.
We live in Missouri. Good old central Midwest. So driving to most places of interest take about 800 hours. I don’t know why we keep doing this to ourselves.. but, So far, we’ve driven to Virginia, Florida, and Colorado (three times). In this, we have lived and learned. Let me help you live through a long road trip with anyone!
Use these tips to not only get through a long road trip but have fun too.
Let’s take it back to 2006… Oh my, that trip to Colorado, our very first trip together, was a MESS on the road!!! Haha
We left around 9pm, so we could get into town at 7am. Sounds lovely, right?! We thought we would be able to leave right after work and have that whole next day there, instead of a whole day driving.
Let me stop your train of thought right here if that’s what you’re thinking too.
I slept almost all 11 hours. 🤷🏻♀️
We found out the hard way that if you put me in a car at bedtime, it’s sleep time. This means he had to drive and end up pulling over to sleep for about an hour. The next day was tough. But, in all other regards, the whole ski weekend was a blast. I’ll save that for another post. That trip was a lesson. All others since have been smooth sailing.
Here are some of our tips on how to survive road trips with your spouse.
Map out how long it will take you to get from A to B. Add 30-45 minutes for bathroom breaks and your lunch break. Then make sure that you are not hitting major cities within rush hours. This will make life easier.
Have good snacks and drinks packed to keep you alert and energized. Our favorites; Ben: Salted Caramel Protein Bars… and s’mores cereal. Terra: Clif energy gels; tons of carbs and caffeine, not messy!
Fill your water bottles/Yetis up at the gas stations or roadside stops instead of bringing a bunch of water bottles. OR if the thought of water out of a fountain bothers you, bring a small cooler. This is a perfect idea for also bringing a small lunch to eat along the way. A wrap/sandwich and chips are easy to eat on the go. Added plus: Grab an outdoor blanket and find a pretty place to stop along the way for an impromptu picnic. If on a long road trip, this is a good leg stretcher!
If it’s a long trip, have an audiobook or movie downloaded before you go while you have WIFI. Don’t forget your chargers.
Wear something comfortable, in layers. No doubt about it, at some point, you will be boiling hot sitting in the sun for one hour while your driver is pleasantly in the comfort of shade on their side of the car. You’ll want to be able to remove a hoodie or put on a hoodie in these times.
- Change up the radio by listening to something new. Try out a comedy channel or listen to a new podcast. Sometimes listening to the radio for 12 hours can start to feel mundane, freshen the drive up with something interesting.
Don’t forget that this is your spouse. This is someone you love dearly, and that you guys are on this trip for a bigger memory than a little fight about who needs to go to the bathroom 15 minutes after we just left the gas station or who slept for 4 hours straight. HAHA Remind your spouse that you are excited to be with them and they are doing a great job at (navigating or driving). A little love goes a long way.
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- Last but not least, make sure you have the GPS going (or the map handy), and the passenger is designated, navigator. We’ve often gotten into
“bickerments”
- because the navigator isn’t helping out with road signs… (I am almost always the navigator).
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I hope this helps you stay sane and married (LOL) during your next “drive to” trip.
Which makes me think to ask, where are you going next? Does anyone have any fun adventures planned for the rest of the year? Are you driving or flying?
Comment below; I’d love to hear from you!
