Cross country road trips are back in vogue and everybody is wanting to do them. As the environmental impact of air travel becomes increasingly well documented and as the price of plane tickets soars, so the return to old school road travel is once again gaining appeal. The idea of taking your time driving across a country and visiting the smaller off-the-beaten-track towns and villages is very appealing, especially to people who have a bit of time on their hands. Here are a few tips to consider when planning your trip, we want to ensure you have as much fun as possible.

Plot the route carefully

As much as the idea of being carefree and going where the wind takes you appeals, it is important to have a destination in mind. Quite how you get there is not important, but it is important to know where you are going and by when you want to get there. Your trip doesn’t have to be an out and return or a circular route. These days it is easy to find car transport Brisbane to Sydney, or between any other major cities, so if you want to do a one-way trip you can. Getting your vehicle home is easy and you can finish off the trip on a plane or a train.

It is not a race

Stop often along the way. A road trip is not a race, it is about experiencing the quirks and nuances of the smaller town and villages along the way. If you are too focused on the destination then you will miss so much stuff along the way that you might as well have flown. And by taking time we also mean that it is okay to stop a day or two in one place. Just because they are small doesn’t mean that little towns don’t have a lot to offer. Take time to appreciate these things, savour their food and their history.

The company is important

You need to travel with the right people and with people who have the same expectations from the trip as you do. A road trip is not something that will work with all of your mates, some, quite simply, lack the patience to sit in a car for too long or they are not able to appreciate the smaller things in life. So pick your travel mates wisely because you will get to know each other intimately over the course of the trip.

The soundtrack is important

No road trip is complete without a really good soundtrack. Take some time before you go to compile something that caters to the tastes of all those in the car. So often when you are on the road and in the middle of nowhere radio reception is poor, so preparing something in advance is a good idea. And mix it up, what works early in the morning is not necessarily something that works in the middle of the day, you need to cater to different tastes and moods to ensure that the trip is as fun as it can be.