Devise a budget. This will help you determine the length of your trip. Your budget should include such items as gas, motels, highway tolls, parking fees, food and admission prices for any sites you plan on visiting along the way.
Map your itinerary. Road trips are all about adventure and discovering the unknown. With helpful online tools such as Google Maps, you can avoid taking a path you've traveled down before and discover new routes towards your planned destinations.
Pack accordingly. Bring along enough clean clothes for the duration of your trip, in case a Laundromat is hard to come by. A credit card is a must. If you plan on crossing any borders, don't forget your passport. A good soundtrack of your favorite traveling music will also heighten the cool factor.
Prep your car. If you aren't auto savvy and don't feel comfortable doing this on your own, make a list of things you need checked and bring it to your local garage. The list should include a tire test, a measurement of oil and all necessary fluids and a check of the car's engine and battery.
Put together an emergency travel kit. You never know what might happen when you're on the road, and you don't want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Your emergency travel kit should include a spare tire, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, emergency flares, flashlight, jumper cables, tire iron, jack and radiator fluid.
Bring a friend or two along. Make sure at least one of them has a driver's license so that she can take turns with road duties. Having friends with you not only alleviates the inevitable boredom that comes with long stretches of driving, but also can be helpful if you get into a pinch along the way.
