If you have ever had to road trip alone, you know how difficult it is. If you have ever road tripped across the Midwest, you know an even more intense level of difficulty.
Driving alone is not easy. Whether you’re going home, coming back to campus or meeting friends for a vacation, it isn’t easy. It takes a special level of attentiveness, planning and skill to make it safe.
When you’re driving alone, be a good highway driver. Obviously, you should always aspire to being a good driver, but it’s especially important on road trips.
Don’t try to reenact a scene from the “Fast and Furious” franchise. It just isn’t worth it. There are actual people in the other cars, and your recklessly aggressive driving puts both you and them in a dangerous situation.
Likewise, don’t be the moron driving 10 mph under the speed limit in the left lane. The right lane is for driving; the left lane is for passing. When your aforementioned “Fast and Furious” wannabes come barrelling down the left lane and aren’t paying attention, they will either come dangerously close to hitting you or they will actually hit you. Either way, they will be very, very upset.
Find your comfortable driving speed. Stay in your corresponding lane. Be attentive.
The next most important thing about a road trip is planning.
Know what time you’re leaving. Know what time you want to (or need to) arrive by. Pack the night before, not the morning of. Know where you’re going to stop for gas and snacks. Don’t leave things to chance.
I, for one, am not a planner. I thrive on last-minute, whimsical decisions. And I’m proud of that.
However, when I know I’m going on a road trip, I make sure to plan. I pack things the night before, albeit, usually pretty late. When I’m going home to Minnesota, I stop at the NW 86th Street exit in Des Moines for gas. Then I’ll either get Cheetos and a Reese’s Fastbreak or a regular roast beef sandwich at Arby’s.
I know what works, and I stick with it.
On a solo trip, it’s important to keep moving and stay focused. A short stop will recharge you and help you gear up for the next portion of your drive. If you stop too long, though, you risk losing focus and making the next part of your drive much more difficult.
Keep it short. Keep it sweet.
Finally, when you’re in the car, you need to stay focused on the road. The best way to pass the time and keep your eyes up is simple: good music.
Rather than go song-by-song or album-by-album, mix it up. Try to make a playlist that will cover your entire trip. Pick some variety that suits you.
My road-trip mixes usually start with high energy hip-hop (think 2 Chainz or B.o.B.) and move through nostalgic (Backstreet Boys or Blink-182), sentimental (acoustic cover or Justin Timberlake) and participation (Journey or Bon Jovi). Then I finish my trip with a combination of the four (Kanye West/Eminem/Jay-Z).
Maybe your playlist will sound a little different, but that basic outline works for anybody. You can always switch things up as the ride goes along, but a playlist baseline is always helpful.
If you create your best playlist, plan ahead and drive intelligently, your solo road trip will go by faster, easier and safer.