Tips for Making Holiday Road Trips Easy

The holiday planning just got interesting: it’s your turn to do the traveling! It’s the best time of year to see family, but it’s the worst time of year for driving. It doesn’t have to be all bad — you just need to bend a little to make it safe and simple. Here are 5 tips for making holiday road trips easy.

Auto Adjustments Have your car serviced before you set out on your road trip. Even if you just had your 3,000 mile oil change, taking your car in for a tune up is one measure of insurance to take to get you to your destination safely and with as few headaches as possible. On your end, make sure your car is equipped with a first aid kit and emergency supplies in case you get stranded in a snowstorm.

Ready & Rested Conventional wisdom suggests we hit the road early to beat traffic to get to our far off holiday destinations on time. When your car is packed, you think you’re ready to go, but are you rested? That’s a more important question to ask yourself than “Are all the presents packed?” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy drivers caused about 72,000 accidents in 2013, resulting in 800 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries. When you’re planning your trip, don’t try to convince your body to get up when you’re normally asleep; get up at your regular time to reduce the risk of drowsy driving. When you’re on the road, make sure to take advantage of rest stops to recharge for 15 minutes before you start driving again. Beating traffic is great, but arriving at your destination without injury is better.

Smartphone System Your smartphone is very smart. There are myriad apps to make driving from one destination to another easy, aside from GPS. GasBuddy leads you to the cheapest gas on your route, iExit lets you know what services are available as you approach exits and AAA has a mobile app to connect members to roadside assistance as well as trip planning. Just remember that, although smartphones make driving cross country easier, you should keep paper maps and emergency phone numbers written down in case something happens and you can’t access your phone.

Forget Forgetting A great way to relax about traveling during the holidays is not to get worked up about forgetting things. Just remember that it’s not the end of the world if you forget your toothpaste or pajamas — you can borrow them or buy them when you get to your destination.

Relax There are a lot of bad drivers out there and they’re even worse during the holidays. Encountering a bad driver or an angry driver is almost inevitable. Do your best to focus on where you’re going and not other drivers’ bad behavior. Reacting can only make stressful situations more stressful.

The Lakeside Collection wants you to have a happy and safe holiday season! Whether you need road trip supplies or you’re looking for perfect gifts for the whole family, shop Lakeside for dazzling deals and perfect presents.