A road trip fails slowly. First the tyre pressure is a little low, then the washer bottle runs dry, then the route depends on a road that closed for resurfacing, and by the time you notice, the mood has already changed. Planning is not the enemy of spontaneity. It is what buys you the freedom to take the detour.
This is a working checklist rather than a packing list. Work through it a week before you leave, and the driving days become about the driving.
One week before: the car
Check tyre pressures cold, including the spare, and look at tread depth and sidewalls for damage. Top up oil, coolant and washer fluid, and check the brake fluid level. Test every light, including indicators and hazards, and replace wiper blades if they smear.
If the service is due within the next couple of thousand kilometres, do it before you go. A known-good car is worth more on a long drive than a saved appointment.
The night before: the kit
- Documents. Licence, insurance, registration, breakdown cover and a printed booking confirmation.
- Recovery gear. Jack, wheel brace, a properly inflated spare or repair kit, jump leads and a tow strap.
- Fluids. A litre of oil, coolant, screen wash and a funnel. A roll of tape and cable ties fix more than they should.
- Light and power. A head torch, a cabin torch, a 12-volt USB adapter and a power bank.
- Comfort. Water, snacks, a warm layer, sunglasses, and a blanket for passengers who get cold at altitude.
Planning the route
Decide the driving hours before you decide the distance. Six hours of mountain road is not the same day as six hours of motorway, and a route that looks reasonable on a map can be exhausting in practice. Build in a stop every two hours and one proper meal away from the car.
Download offline maps for the whole corridor, not just the destination. Note fuel stations on the sparse sections, and check opening hours for anything you are relying on. The road trip reference is a reminder of how much the format has changed since the paper atlas era, but the fundamentals have not.
The best road trips have a destination and no schedule. Everything between the two is the point.
On the road
Check tyre pressures again after the first long day; heat and load change them. Keep the fuel tank above a quarter on remote sections. Take photographs when you stop rather than while moving, and let the passenger handle navigation so the driver can actually drive.
Watch for the small warning signs: a new vibration, a smell of coolant, a brake pedal that feels longer than it did yesterday. Stopping to investigate is always cheaper than continuing.
If the trip leaves you dreaming of a V8 and a long straight road, our feature on American muscle explains why that particular fantasy refuses to die. And if you come home with a list of jobs, our guide to a garage workshop that gets used is the next read.
Finally, leave one day unplanned. The best story from any trip is almost always the one that was not on the itinerary.
