You have the desire of going outdoors to enjoy the wonders of nature and to see the country. The best way to do this is to have a camping road trip. Hitting the open road, having nothing to worry about and having new places to discover is the dream. So, you start to wonder about how to plan the perfect camping road trip. Well, you are in luck because we will help you plan your trip out.
Here is the best guide to a camping road trip.
Know When To Go
The best time to go on a camping road trip is when it’s not too busy at the campgrounds. Traveling to the campground when there’s not a lot of traffic is a plus too. With that said some of the worst time to go would be during the holidays and summer months. The best time to go on a camping road trip would be during spring or fall. Most likely be fewer people because of kids being in school.
Have an Idea Of The Place You Want To Go
One of the best parts of a camping road trip is deciding where to go and what to do. Some of the best places to go on a camping road trip would be the national parks. Most of the national parks are surrounded by forest. You will find some of the best sceneries in these national parks. You should buy a map of that region so that you know where you could go explore, plus it will tell you where the safe and dangerous areas in that region are.
Research The Place You Want To Go
Once you have an idea of where you want to go, you should do some research on that area to see if any events are going on that you might be interested in. Sometimes there is a fair going on or big farmers market. If you are into fishing you should look for a spot close to your campsite to go fishing, just get your fishing license and you are set. Sometimes if you have friends or family that have been to the place that you are trying to go, you can ask for some tips and travel advice. Also, a big part of traveling is to experience what the locals do so don’t be afraid to talk to the locals to get some ideas on what to do.
Plan Your Route
When you have the place that you want to go, its time to think about how to get there. Most places have multiple routes to get there, it’s up to you to decide which one to take. Some times one route is more scenic than the other. You should avoid dangerous routes because being stuck out of nowhere without any communication for help will be hard and might ruin the trip for you.
Notify Your Bank
When you are going on a road trip, you’ll have to fill up on gas and buy food and when you do that in each town you visit it will be a red flag for the bank. Once the bank flag your account that means it will be frozen and you can’t use the card anymore which will be a hassle to deal with when you are paying for your items. You don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere with no cash and your account frozen and with no cell signal to call the bank. It avoids all of this you should call your bank before heading out on the road so that they won’t freeze your account for use in different cities.
Have Your Car Serviced
To avoid your car from breaking down in the middle of nowhere or on the road, you should get your car checked out by a professional. For long road trips, it’s a good idea to have the basic tune-up first like oil and filter change before hitting the long road trip. Also, remember to take breaks on your road trip because you do not want your car to overheat.
Reserve Campsites
Some places have designated campsites that you could book. When you book these sites there might be restrooms available for you. You will have to book beforehand so that you can make sure there is a spot for you. These campsites fill up quickly during the summer. Most of these campsites are great for a family getaway.
Bring A Map And Check Road And Weather Conditions
When you reach your destination, you should look for a map of the area so you can be familiar with your surroundings. The map may give you some things to do around the area too or what to watch out for. You should also look up the weather conditions before heading out on the camping road trip because it might be a storm that you don’t know about which will make the trip harder and dangerous to drive in. Plus, you can bring your waterproof clothing if there is a storm.
Buy Local Supplies
Do not bring a lot of supplies only pack the essentials for the camping trip. Packing for two weeks of food is not a good idea because they may go bad plus it won’t be fresh anymore. You can stock up by buying from the local shops around the camping area. By shopping at the local shops, you can experience what the locals do and see new food that they offer. By not packing a lot of food you can eat out at local restaurants which will give you a whole new experience.
Don’t Spend A lot Of Time In The Car
What we mean by not spending a lot of time in the car is to not drive for a long period of time and just refill on gas and continue driving. Try taking a break on the road and explore the surrounding. Don’t be to focus on reaching the destination as fast as possible because you’ll miss some adventure along the way.
Bring Your Bike
You should bring your bike on a camping road trip because if you stop in a town it would be easier to get around on a bike than with a car or another bigger vehicle. You don’t need to find parking constantly. If you are really stuck out of the middle of nowhere you can at least have a bike to go get help or go in range for phone service. Also, when you reach your campsite you could bike around and enjoy going places that you can’t get there in a car.