Driving cross-country can be tediously boring, a nightmare of mishaps or an exhilarating adventure. Good planning will go a long way toward making your trip safe and memorable. Unless your purpose, timing and destination are predetermined, brainstorm with your traveling companions about the journey and what everyone would like to see included. Write down ideas, making sure everybody understands that not everything can be fit into one trip.
Plan your route and possible alternate routes using good-quality maps. Choose a different route for the return trip, and you'll have a whole new adventure on the way home. Consider joining a motor club such as AAA, which provides extensive trip planning help and resources to its members. You'll get advice, great maps and tour books, as well as roadside service in the event of a breakdown.
Investigate what there is to see along the way. The Internet is a great resource with which to ferret out lesser known historical sites, national parks, festivals, curiosities and attractions you might otherwise drive right by. Don't make a rigid plan, but a list of possibilities, perhaps with stars by the attractions you definitely don't want to miss. Be careful about how many miles you plan to cover each day. Better figure in lots of downtime for touring local sites, splashing around in the hotel pool and eating a decent meal at least once a day.
If you must make it to your destination by a certain date, lock in your hotel or camping reservations ahead of time. If you have the leisure of a flexible schedule, however, you might want to play it by ear and see what's around the next corner as you're winding down each day.
Have your car serviced before you leave. You want everything in top running condition. If your car is not reliable, and you're uneasy about taking it so far away from your mechanic, consider renting a car. This also might be a good idea if you'd like more room to spread out during the long days of driving or want air conditioning or some other luxury your own ride doesn't provide.
Pack emergency supplies in case of injury or sickness. Take your insurance card, a first aid kit, drinking water and nonperishable food. Be prepared for an accident or breakdown with flares, charged cell phones and numbers to call for help. Take extra batteries for electronics you rely on, and/or take your charger.
If children will accompany you, plan ahead for their comfort. Have each child pack a "keep busy" backpack. You might also put together a box of surprises to bring out when all else fails to charm and the backseat is getting a little whiny. Water to drink and non-messy snacks (not too sugary) will go a long way to keep little ones happy.
Audio books on tape or compact disk will make the flat miles of Wyoming or Kansas fly by. Favorite music is good, too. Don't forget your camera for capturing great pictures of family and friends, but look for postcards of the attractions you visit along the way. They're inexpensive and have better photographs than you're likely to be able to take.
Before you leave, check relevant websites for possible construction or weather delays you might encounter during your trip. If you have this information ahead of time, you can check your planned route and make modifications if necessary.
