How to Survive Long Road Trips Without Losing Your Mind

Posted on April 23, 2015 by resourcefulman

Long journeys can be both blast and exhausting. Here’s how, with a little preparation , you can make sure you get through the ride in a sane way .

Quora user John Mixon provides some tips for traveling alone, with your significant other, or with coworkers.

When you travel alone

Set a limit on the number of hours you drive that day and stick to it. I will only drive 10-12 hours a day maximum in winter and 12-14 in summer (since there is more daylight). I don’t like to drive alone at night. Even if I do better than expected, I will not go further in a single day.
Choose the music you want to listen to before you leave . If you don’t want to hear it, do not bring it in (and do not create your playlist in advance), as it will distract you while driving.
Stop at truck stops, not rest areas . Most truck stops have bathrooms, food, drinks, medicines, places to eat, gasoline, car parts, a restaurant (or at least fast food), etc. Rest stops have … bathrooms … Plus, rest stops are often isolated, which may seem less safe if you’re a lone traveler.
Purchase an optional cell phone car charger and store it in your glove box. Trust me, you will end up forgetting about your charger, and having a charger that is always available can (literally) be your lifesaver.
Stretch each time you stop. Riding in most cars for hours is uncomfortable, so stretch your legs, arms, and back every time you stop. They will be grateful to you for this.
Get AAA (if you are in the US or Canada) . For $ 50-125 a year, this would be the best investment you can make, especially when traveling alone. From the maps and guidebooks they offer, to the discounts you can get at hotels / motels, to three to four free tows per year (up to 100 miles – total depends on which package you choose) if you travel frequently it is of great value.
When riding in comfortable shoes with hard soles or boots . Seriously. Regardless of whether bare feet or flip flops are “more comfortable,” if you have an accident, your feet will be cut and possibly even amputated without proper protection. Plus, if your car breaks down and you have to walk, wearing your shoes will make walking much easier.
Take three different sized flashlights and batteries for all three. While I don’t recommend you to drive at night, if you don’t need to, it’s better to have multiple lighting options for a variety of reasons, not just your car.
Bring at least 2-3 days of food (dried or easy-to-open jars) and a box of water with you in addition to your regular travel food. It fits easily into the trunk or rear storage space and can be a lifesaver if you find yourself in an unexpected situation. High-calorie foods (protein and carbohydrates) are best. Don’t worry about your diet; this could potentially be a survival issue that is more important than any diet you are on.

When you travel as a couple

If you’re traveling with a significant other, the tips above, as well as the following, will still come in handy for you:

If you are angry before you travel, try to fix the issue before you travel . Anger will distract one or both, making the trip truly horrific (not to mention that distraction while driving can be fatal).
Bring music / audiobooks / podcasts, etc. something you both like or can at least tolerate . Nothing spoils your trip (or distracts) more than arguing about what you’re going to listen to on a long trip. The idea is to get to your destination in a fun and safe way.
No shortcuts . I know they are tempting, but shortcuts can easily turn into “long hauls” or can cause controversy that can distract you while driving. If your “shortcut” is not a well-lit interstate or four-lane highway, just stick to major roads.
Stop when one of you wants to. It’s foolish to be angry that one person wants or needs to stop more than you do. If they don’t want to see everything along the way (this is something you have to decide before the trip), if they ask or hint that the stop is good, stop.
Before leaving, decide who will go where. If your partner doesn’t know how to drive, it doesn’t make sense for one person to drive the entire long trip. Divide it equally in advance, and you both will have time to relax.
Keep your driving advice to yourself . Nagging or correcting someone who is driving is useless, and on a long trip it is only annoying. Of course, if you are intimidated by a person’s driving ability, perhaps traveling by bus, train, or plane would be the best option.
If there is a topic that is usually controversial, avoid it. Do you really want to be stuck in a car for a few hours with the person you are mad at or who is mad at you?
If the other person is sick or tired, stop. When you get there, you will arrive at your destination. Not earlier. Not later. There is no point in ruining a pleasant ride by pushing things too hard. Stop for a while or overnight and continue again later.
Make your reservation before leaving. You have a rough idea (excluding vehicle problems, illness and weather) of how long it will take to reach your destination. Call ahead and ask the motel / hotel to reserve a room for you so you can rest (and not argue) when you get to your destination. Never assume that there is “some place” that has rooms. This usually doesn’t work in your favor.
Stay in the most beautiful location you can afford. You don’t save money by staying in a place where people walk, where your car gets crashed, where you worry about going out to your car at night, or where the police might be found on the street interrogating someone. If that means you have to part with a few extra dollars, then so be it.

When traveling with colleagues

Finally, when traveling with coworkers, include all of the above tips, plus:

Before leaving, decide who will drive the car . It’s a damn stupid argument to argue about who will drive the car. Why is this needed?
Decide in advance on your route . As with other things, it’s always better to plan rather than wait to see what happens.
Keep the conversation relatively light. Working conversations are normal. Working conversations that cause controversy or resentment are not. If it’s debatable, leave it alone or change the subject.
If you are the boss and are in the car, mute the “boss role”. Giving orders and playing car driving games while traveling is a really bad idea. If you don’t think you can do it, travel alone or just take the trip to catch up. Also, if your subordinates want to turn on their music or listen to a specific radio station, do not pull along.
If you’re a joker, keep this to yourself . Your usual sense of humor may be underestimated, and if the trip is already stressful, it won’t help. If you think this is not something you can do, see if you can travel alone or take something with you to read / listen to / watch so as not to be tempted.
If anyone needs to stop … stop . All this “we need to find time” nonsense is simply you, the driver or the boss, trying to control the situation. Do you really want someone to get sick with a typewriter or have an accident in the bathroom while driving, just to “save” an hour or two?
Personal calls only at bus stops (except for emergencies) . Nobody wants to hear about your family drama or what kind of guy you are. Keep mobile phone calls short if they come while driving. And of course, no texting or driving.
If someone prefers reading, listening to music, sleeping, playing games, etc. rather than socializing … let them . While not social, they handle long trips exactly the way they do. You really can’t get them to do what you want them to do.
Personal grooming is very important . If you have hygiene issues, deal with them BEFORE you show concern to your coworkers.
Watch what you eat before you travel. You travel companions will appreciate it if your digestive system is not alarmed when you travel. If it’s a dietary issue, you may want to consider traveling alone.
Be calm . Even if being a whiner is your normal state, take it under control for a few hours. You have a long trip ahead of you, and you can calm it down for a while. If you can’t, consider going to your destination alone, if possible.