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This summer I’m off on my road trip to Atlanta for the Haven Conference! Haven is a DIY & decorating professional blogging conference that takes place every year in July. This will be my first time attending the Haven Conference and I’m so excited for all the classes and the opportunity to meet and network with other DIY bloggers and home improvement brands.
When I told mum I was going to be headed to Atlanta this summer her immediate reply was “ROADTRIP!” and we got planning. We’re going to be doing a leisurely drive south and making a few stops along the way for sightseeing and shopping – hello Pennsylvania outlet malls! For our week-long road trip keeping ourselves (and the car) organized is a priority!
Our Road Trip Musts for a Stress Free Ride
Plan out your Route
While we don’t always plan out exactly where we’re going to stop each night, I like to have a general idea of which route we’re going to take and if there are any interesting stops to make along the way. While you can always use the GPS on your phone, I love a good paper road atlas where I can see the whole route easily – I use little sticky flags to make the pages so you’re not constantly flipping through trying to find the right map.
Clean out the Car
I like to do a big clean of the car before any long road trip – especially if we’re crossing the border. On long trips space is at a premium so things that normally live in the trunk can move into the garage – pretty sure we won’t be needing that ice scraper in Atlanta in July!
Do an Oil Change
If your car is due for it’s next oil change it’s a great idea to do it before you hit the road on a trip. Last weekend I headed to Canadian Tire to pick up some Quaker State® Ultimate Durability™ Full Synthetic Motor Oil to make sure our car is in great shape for the long drive to Atlanta.
Quaker State Motor Oil helps to extend your car’s engine life and has more durability with the help of a fuel-saving additive that keeps the oil fresh. Doing your own oil change is easy and is a great way to get more familiar with the inner workings of your car.
Just look for the motor oil aisle at Canadian Tire and make sure to buy the right oil weight for your car (check your manual or the cap of your oil tank).
When doing an oil change at home, make sure to have the right tools on hand and take proper safety precautions – always have the emergency brake engaged and block the back tires so the car can’t roll backwards while you’re underneath.
Pick your bags wisely
While a rolling suitcase is usually my bag of choice when travelling, for road trips I tend to prefer a soft-sided duffel bag as they are often easier to get in and out of the trunk and can squish if necessary. Duffels that pack down small are also great to have on hand to use as a laundry bag during your trip – for any shopping you might do!
Keep Necessities in Reach
For our trip we’ll have a small car organizer, cooler and tote bag on the back seat to keep everything we might need on the road at hand. This will include extra umbrellas, sunblock, tissues, trail mix, reusable water bottles, juice and extra sunglasses (I go through them like candy). In the front seat we’ll have a small jar of US coins for road tolls, our travel mugs and a small bag for whoever is in the passenger seat with charging cables, the map book, mum’s e-reader and whatever knitting project I take.
Make a First Aid Kit
Putting together a first aid kit to keep in the car is always a good idea – road trip or not. I like to include a include various sized bandages, antibiotic cream, antacids, acetaminophen, allergy medication and antiseptic wipe. A pair of small scissors, duct tape, clear nail polish and a nail file can also help with many non-medical “emergencies”.
Do you have a favourite road trip tip I didn’t mention? I’d love to hear it! Also, if you have any suggestions for places to stop on the way from Toronto to Atlanta I’m all ears – I especially love Antiques and BBQ 😉
Great tips! I really like the idea of putting the little sticky flags in the maps. And it’s such a great idea to do an oil change and get your car in shape before you head out on the road. #client
Great tips. I also tend to throw a couple of phone chargers in the dash. Nothing too expensive. Also if it’s a big trip we put a prepaid visa in the dash for emergencies. This will at least get us gas to get home if our Walets get lost or stolen. And when we get home we typically use it for “after the trip” groceries
That’s so smart Kelie! I will definitely need to do that next time 🙂 thanks for visiting!
Hello everyone ! Im not a driver, my husband is, however I do all the packing for our road trips ! I have a small over night bag I call my”Tea Bag/Tote” ….in there I have anything I think we may need to stop at the side of the road should my driver need a rest…lol ! A kettle (the inverter in the car) 1roll paper towel, 1roll of toilet paper, plastic table cloth with clips, 4 plates n 2 small drink cups, we always have our travel mugs for tea n coffee, plastic fork knives n spoons, bottle opener….as well as clothes line rope n clips, bungy cords, n most important….cards….lol…you just never know when a great game solitaire may come in handy eh !! Oh yes, I also pack some tea bags, instant coffee, n sugar in zip bags…. comfort while he naps abit…lol ! Enjoy your trips …Yeah !!
I always have few more things in my hood- garbage bags, torchlight, extra batteries, air pressure booster, lighter, matchsticks,rope, a good sharpe knife for cutting n safety, pepper spray, soap water, water bottle pack, extra gas, few firework use to attract rescue team, portable bbq with pan, glasses n plate!! Most imp blanket,towels, tools and indentity band on body!! Cheers mate for summer road trips!! Always check them after 2 months n replace them!