Surviving a Long Road Trip

Tee || Jeans || Heels || Tote Bag || Earrings || Bracelet

I may look somewhat put together here for last night’s date night in Tampa, but that was definitely not true over the weekend! David and I loaded up a rental car to make the 18 hour drive down to Florida. Our dog will be spending the next few weeks with my parents, for reasons that I’m not quite ready to share yet. Although it would have been so much quicker to fly, we knew that wasn’t going to be the best for Tripp. We drove straight through and now can enjoy a little escape from the NYC cold.

When I was a kid, we would make long, cross-country hauls multiple times a year. For almost every holiday and break, the car would be packed up to get to our distant destination. Sometimes making a longer drive is the easiest option. That is especially true when you think about the craziness that is holiday travel. Since I know so many will be getting ready to travel far for Thanksgiving, I thought about the best things to keep in mind for surviving a long road trip.

Rules for the Road

• One of the top things on my to-do list before a long road trip is to buy enough snacks. Even though it’s an extremely sedentary activity, driving or riding in a car for long hours can be very demanding. For our 18 hour trip, I packed a variety of snacks to keep us perked up and alert. Having a mix of sweet and salty gives you options for whatever you may be craving.
• Speaking of eating… Although it can be tempting, it’s important to keep your meals light on the road. After a heavy lunch, I can feel my energy level plummet and all I want to do is nap. For obvious reasons, this is not so good while driving. Even if I’m just the passenger, I try to stay awake to keep the driver, David, company.
• To fill the time, music is absolutely critical! You have a few different options here. You can either invest in Satellite Radio, make a fun playlist, or be at the mercy of FM radio. For this latest trip, we were in the last category and the music variety was not in our favor. Next time, we will be sure to pack all of the cables we need to get our own music playing.
• No matter where you’re starting or where you’re going, the earlier you begin the better. Since driving from New York means passing at least four major US cities, we left our apartment well before five am. By the time we hit any sort of traffic, we are already in South Carolina and more than half way done with the trip. Rest up!

What to Wear

• Since I knew we were going to be in the car for the long haul, I thought about what I would be wearing well in advance. Comfort is key and mobility is the key to comfort. This can look very different to different people depending on your personal preferences. Personally, I found myself very comfy in a pair of stretchy jeans and soft long-sleeve tee. The choice, though, is yours!
• Am I only the one who thinks the ACs in cars are really fickle? One minute I’m boiling and the next I’m frozen. To give myself the upper hand, I had an extra sweatshirt on hand. Giving yourself an extra layer, whether it’s a bulky sweater or jacket, also works wonders as an impromptu pillow.
• Even though a pair of sneakers seems like the most obvious choice in footwear, I’m here to say “reconsider”. Wearing anything for 18 hours straight, especially a pair of shoes, can be extremely uncomfortable. I wanted to kick mine off almost as soon as we hit the road. It would have been so much easier to wear a pair of slip on shoes or sandals Next time, I’ll know better.
• Even though I’m a Floridian, I’m still so forgetful when it comes to sunglasses. I would rather squint for hours then remind myself to pack a pair. Of course, this is not the best idea for eye health or the safest choice while driving. It’s a good idea to have your most protective sunglasses on hand even if you end up not needing them.

Caring for Your Pets

• In a way, your pet’s comfort is more important than your own. Since they won’t have a full understanding of what’s happening, making them as comfort as possible must be your number one priority. You do this by packing the car around the needs of your pet. Depending on the personality of your pet, this could be with or without a cage. I know Tripp would have be miserable if he had to spend 18 hours in his kennel. Instead, we made him a nice little alcove in the van that we rented. He had plenty of room to spread out and I could reach back to comfort him or give him treats.
• Along with my personal belongings, I kept a bag of Tripp’s things with me in the front of the car. That way, whenever he needed something, I already had it by my side and could pass it back to him. This included, treats, toys, a few bottles of water, and his water dish. I also kept a copy of his most recent vet statement in my tote bag, just in case. It gives you peace of mind as you drive along with such precious cargo.
• We found great success in keeping Tripp close to his regular schedule. This included his meals and bathroom breaks. In reality, we arranged our stops around his time frame. Although it took a little longer to get to our destination with more breaks, Tripp had less stress and was much more comfortable.
• If you’re still worried about traveling long distances with your pet, I highly recommend talking with your vet about prescribing an anti-anxiety medication. We did this weeks before hand and were so thankful we did. We had a little test run prior to understand how the medication would affect Tripp and know the perfect dose we would need to give him. About halfway through our journey, I could tell Tripp was getting a little upset and wanted to sit with me. We gave him a pill and was able to rest much easier until we got to Florida.

Long, long car rides are never ideal, but can actually be enjoyable! The company was obviously a huge part of that (love you David), but it was doubly true because we were prepared for the voyage ahead. The next time you have big trip on your hands, and want to save some money, you may want to consider making it a road trip! Like the cliche goes, it’s more about the journey than the destination.

Love from Florida,
Katie

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