How to Stay Sane During Road Trips

Road trips are a large part of my Summer! I don’t like flying so we end up driving to most destinations.

Some road trips are quick and easy (when we head two hours South to visit my parents at the beach) but others are killer. I just got home from a 12-hour drive to Fort Lauderdale, Florida that almost took my sanity.

So, how did I make it? HOW did I not jump out of the car the 10th hour to get away from my crazy family? Well, these are some ways you can make your Summer road trips a bit more bearable.

Plan for pit-stops

Believe it or not… you don’t have to make it to your destination in one trip or even one day! Shocking, I know. Split your road trip up into intervals. For example: If you need to drive 8 hours, plan for a break every two. (During our trip to Nashville, we enjoyed staying the night at an Airbnb in Knoxville. Also, this way, we got to visit two towns!)

Take your time enjoying a sit-down lunch or go explore the state park you’re passing on the way. However, If you are in a rush, not all breaks need to be 30+ minutes. Instead, just plan to stop at an official rest area to stretch your legs.

If you’re feeling tired, state welcome centers and rest areas offer a safe and comfortable place to park and take a quick nap in the car.

Listen to audiobooks

I love reading, however, find it impossible to read during a road trip! Something about focusing on words on a page for too long makes me car sick. Audiobooks are the best solution to this problem! Instead of reading this month’s book club novel, listen to it on the way to your destination.

You can download audiobooks from Amazon, or check out some from your local library. My tried and true way to listen to audiobooks is through Audible. Audible has the world’s largest selection of audiobooks and original ad-free audio shows. Whatever your passion, your interests, or favorite authors, there’s a perfect listen for you.

Not into audiobooks? Or would rather opt for a free option? You can find some great podcasts on Spotify or iHeart Radio. Two of my absolute faves are My Favorite Murder and This Is Why We Drink. If you don’t love researching murders, ghosts, and other creepy shit in your free time than they probably aren’t for you!

Download Netflix shows

Thanks to technology, you can watch shows on the go! While this isn’t the smartest option if you are driving (don’t Netflix and drive), passengers can enjoy a movie or show from Netflix. Before your road trip, make sure to download what you want to watch on your iPad or iPhone for optimal road trip relaxation. No internet necessary.

This is a relatively new Netflix option that can really help the time pass during a long haul.

Call old friends

This one may just be me… but I love to catch up with friends on a road trip! My friends and I can talk for hours about nothing. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Plus, my car has a Bluetooth option that allows me to have a hands-free phone call. (Safety first, people).

Don’t have any friends? Call up your grandmother. I am sure she would love to hear from you.

Do you have some of your own tips? I would love to hear them below!

We may be driving to New Orleans this upcoming September and I want to be well equipped with things to do and other distractions.

The drive to Florida was the longest I have ever been on. I think twelve hours is my limit! Have you been in a car for longer than that?

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