Stay Sane On Long Trips With These 70+ Tips

Road trips in the car can be very fun ways to spend long amounts of time, but they can often be boring or uncomfortable. Knowing what to do to stay entertained, comfortable, and healthy is key to having a good trip. Here is a large list of tips that you’ll find helpful, along with some ways to avoid common problems.

Entertainment

Entertainment is an important factor in a road trip. Without entertainment, you’ll find yourself looking at the clock and being bored until you get to your destination. Enjoy the trip by having some entertainment to keep you interested on your trip.

Electronics

1. Bring a charger for any electronics you bring. Keep all cords and chargers in a cable organizer.
2. Bring your phone.
3. Buy a hotspot for wi-fi
4. Download games on your phone that don’t require wi-fi
5. Bring portable game consoles:
   1. Nintendo DS
   2. Nintendo Switch Lite
   3. PSP or PS Vita
   4. Tablets and iPads
   5. Have a small bag for your games
6. Keep your portable devices in one spot
7. Bring a portable DVD player and some movies
8. Bring headphones and/or earbuds. These can help you zone out and listen to audio.
9. Listen to music
10. Play songs on the radio
11. Listen to audiobooks
12. Bring your laptop
13. To save phone battery, use an mp3 player or iPod for music
14. Use your portable devices to draw and doodle

Games

1. Bring a notepad and a pen to draw and write
2. Play Tic-Tac-Toe on paper with someone else
3. Play the one-line drawing game where you take turns drawing one line to create something unique
4. Play the “Guess What I’m Drawing” game, where one person draws, and he who gets the right answer fastest or with the fewest guesses wins
5. Play the One Word game, where you and other people take turns saying one word at a time, often creating funny sentences and statements
6. Play the Plate game, where you look for license plates from different states
7. Bring cardgames
   1. Uno
   2. Dos
   3. Phase 10
   4. Monopoly Deal
8. Play “Would You Rather?”
9. Play Eye Spy
10. Play 20 Questions
11. Play word games
    1. Name all the countries together
    2. Have a spelling bee
    3. Come up with long words
12. Have a family quiz show

Others

1. Read a book
2. Look out at the scenery or try to find unusual things out the window
3. Dance to some music
4. Tell stories
5. Debate topics with others
6. Daydream
7. Take photos
8. Count stuff that you see

There are so many opportunities for entertainment. If you plan ahead, you don’t have to dread hours of boredom.

Comfort and Napping

Sometimes, like on long trips, you will get tired and just want to take a good nap. But, you may not feel comfortable, so here’s how to fix that before you leave on your trip.

1. Take off your shoes. This keeps your feet free from sweat and heat, and it feels so much better
2. Wear a hoodie. These keep you comfortable, and they act as a barrier, a partial blanket, and a decent pillow
3. Bring a plush pillow. These are soft, and they can be laid against the window. They’re small and compressible, so they won’t take up much space, and they’ll keep you comfortable
4. If you have a neck pillow, bring it. You may find it comfortable for your neck
5. Use earbuds or even headphones to block out noise
6. Have a mask to keep out bright lights or moving objects
7. Bring a blanket or two
8. Use a backseat organizer to keep things organized and off of your lap
9. Keep objects from where your feet are. This maximizes leg room
10. Avoid center seats, as they are cramped and have less leg room. If you can’t avoid it, try switching positions with another person after a while
11. If you’re carsick, try to move to the front seat or move to a middle seat so you can have a straight view ahead
12. Bring snacks
    1. Pretzels, nuts, and carbohydrates
    2. Some sugar and candy is fine
    3. Fresh fruits
    4. Packaged snacks
    5. Packaged drinks (don’t drink too much)
13. If your ears need to pop, do mouth exercises, or plug your nose and blow

Keeping yourself comfortable doesn’t have to be hard, and nor does napping have to be. Try to analyze the situation before getting in the car, so you can maximize your comfort.

Dealing with Annoyances and Taking Breaks

Sometimes on trips, you may find yourself in the car with annoying people or siblings, or you just may need a break. Here are some great tips:

1. If you catch anyone in the middle of an argument, stop them, and help them be respectful of the driver. Consider temporarily switching seating
2. Don’t be afraid to temporarily take away entertainment for children if they are misbehaving. Being strict and calm is the best way to deal with misbehavior when everyone is close up on each other for extended periods of time
3. Stop and take a short break every 2 or 3 hours
4. Get snacks and drinks when you stop at gas stations and stores
5. Make everyone go even if they don’t feel they have to
6. Try something new, as long as it isn’t unhealthy
7. Have fun!

As you can see, with a little planning and thought, you can make the best out of long travels.

Did you like this article? Check out more articles on planandorganize.com. Other travel articles are below.

Sources:

https://www.wikihow.com/Entertain-Yourself-During-a-Long-Car-Ride

https://www.wikihow.com/Not-Get-Bored-on-a-Long-Car-Ride

https://www.wikihow.com/Entertain-Yourself-During-a-Long-Car-Ride

https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Long-Car-Ride-(for-Only-Child-Teens)

https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Long-Road-Trip