Going on long car trips almost always seems to be stressful. The potential problems that one can encounter is often enough to make someone consider alternate means of travel such as flying, trains, or buses. Still, the long car trip can actually be rather laid back when you plan ahead of time. If you take the time to remove potential stressors, a car trip can even be fun.

The first way to take the stress out of your long car trip is to consider renting a car. Renting a car is great because it takes potential car trouble out of the picture. You still could break down, but the difference is that the rental company will shoulder the costs and the hassle of replacing your ride. Make sure you pick a reputable car company to rent from, however, or you could have a whole different type of nightmare.

If you do not want to take a rental car, you can still travel stress free. The first key is to get your car checked out completely by a good mechanic. Check the tires, engine, and oil. Make sure the entire car is in great travel shape and make any repairs that could be troublesome on your trip. This will give you peace of mind for your long car trip.

Another important thing to do before taking a long car trip is to ensure that you have a life line. Carry a fully charged cell phone along with a charger to keep the battery fresh along the way. Also, have someone on standby in case of an emergency on the trip. Give them your approximate arrival time as well as a “reaction time” for them to contact help. This reaction time should be the latest date of your arrival and when they should contact someone for help.

Bring along plenty of food and water for your long car trip. In a pinch, you would then have the things you need to stay hydrated and safe. If it is winter time, then make sure you bring plenty of safety materials such as blankets and things of that nature. Also, having a fully completed car safety kit is important in case of flat tires and other roadside problems.

If you are going a very long distance, then you should seriously consider getting a GPS. These incredible devices can save you a ton of time and make the trip much safer. The GPS will not always pick the shortest route as advertised, but you will never get lost as long as you follow the GPS.

Another great way to cut stress on a long car trip is to break the trip up. Plan to stop at regular intervals to stretch and recover. If needed, get yourself a hotel room and grab some sleep. Do not attempt to drive long distances with no sleep. This will amp up the stress level all by itself, and it is highly dangerous. Long car trips should be broken down to where you do not drive any longer than eight hours per day. If you have someone else with you, then share the driving duties to get in more driving time.

Long car trips do not have to be stressful. The key is to make sure that you prepare ahead of time, and that you minimize the natural stressors of driving a long distance. If you do these things, then that long car trip just might end up being the best part of your vacation.