Buy special music – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on


If you use an MP3 player, purchase new music expressly for your road trip!

Ever listened to Bob Seger’s “Roll Me Away” while actually standing on the Great Divide? Have you ever danced on a mountain in Vermont while Frank Sinatra croons “Moonlight In Vermont?” I’ve experienced these moments, and more.

So pick some special music and bring it out at just the right moment to create magical roadtrip memories. Bonus: every time you hear these songs in the future, you’ll remember these amazing moments.

Check your car – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Taking a road trip is universally synonymous with adventure, relaxation, and new experience. While others might mention plotting out your trip, picking good stopping points, and making sure to have a rest and change drivers as often as you should, I won’t. Instead I’ll stress the one and only thing that you should never ever start a road trip without: a thorough mechanical check of your vehicle.

It you run out of sunscreen, you buy more. If you run out of money, you get some wired to you.

But if your car breaks while far from home… you’re stuck.

Take a convertible – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Thelma and Louise, Bonneville, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are all classic road trip movies. What do they all have in common? The car they traveled in was a convertible.

For maximum fun during a road trip, take a convertible! If you don’t own one, look into renting one for your next road trip. There’s no better way to see everything with the top down.

Experience all the sights, sounds and even smells that a great trip has to offer. Wear a hat and use plenty of sunscreen, but most importantly, keep that convertible top open!

Clean your car – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

You’ve packed your bags, prepared some snacks and even went so far as to tell your family you were heading out of town. (How thoughtful!) But did you remember to clean out your car?

A little dust and grime isn’t too bad for a short trip, but leftover fast food bags and a pile of stuff cascading over the back seat can turn a road trip into a nightmare-on-wheels pretty quickly.

Instead of dealing with foul smells, swirling dog hair, or dusty air, treat yourself to a clean car the next time you plan a road trip. Get rid of all the trash, clean the windows, and vacuum the seats. A little effort can make a big difference in the quality of your road trip.

And you may even arrive at your destination without the need to shower immediately.

Plan an offbeat stop – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Quirky roadside attractions can often be the part of the trip you remember most!

You might recall the movie Michael, where an angel wreaked havoc upon his fellow travelers until they relented and allowed him to visit The World’s Largest Ball of Twine. Talk about the spirit of the Great American Road Trip!

Research your route well, and plan to visit at least one — or maybe several! — unusual attractions along the way for an unforgettable road trip experience. Roadside America, a definitive guide to offbeat American attractions, lists thousands of offbeat destinations. Plan ahead, and you’ll never miss such wonders as the Museum of Stripping or Mystery Hill.

Bonus: when you reach your destination, you’ll actually have an interesting story to share with the people at that end.