It’s that time of year. You miss all your high school friends who go to different schools, you’re out of Husky Gold to do laundry, you just can’t look at another slice of buffalo chicken pizza from the IK and you’re in desperate need of a cuddle session with your pets. It’s time to head home for the weekend or take a road trip to visit friends at another college.
If you’re lucky enough to have a car, these trips can be made at a moment’s notice but that spontaneous energy may run out an hour into your drive when you’re hungry or your radio stations are full of static.
HC Bloom has taken plenty of road trips and we’re willing to pass along all of our advice to you about how to make sure you make the most of your time in the car.
Choose a good co-pilot.This may be the most important decision you make. If you’re on your way to visit a friend at another school, you’re definitely going to want someone to talk to and sing along with in the car to help keep you sane when driving through farmland after farmland in Pennsylvania. Unless you and your roommate are incredibly tight, take this opportunity to get some space between you and choose someone else to make the trip.
Pick a good friend who will keep the conversation going and make sure the music situation in the car doesn’t turn to “60s on 6.” They should also be able to help you navigate and chip in for gas if you’d like them to. Also, if they’re going to be staying with your friends as well, ensure that they’ll be respectful to your hosts.
Know where you’re going.In an age of GPSes and iPhones, we hardly have to have any sense of direction to get anywhere. But while your navigational system will get you to “Happy Valley,” finding your friend’s dorm room, apartment or house could be a nightmare if you have no idea what you’re looking for and it’s sure fire way of getting into an accident or getting a parking ticket.
Have your friend give you step-by-step directions for once you get into their college town or campus and make sure they tell you where you can park. If there’s metered parking, make sure you have a ton of change or tell your friends to grab you a parking pass ahead of time.
Make a killer playlist.Long drives can either be dreadful or energetic and the deal-breaker, or maker, is always the road trip playlist. Relying on the radio can be tricky since stations can go in and out depending on where you are and if they change, who knows if you’ll find a good one! Borrow a friend’s cassette adapter if your car doesn’t have a USB hookup and make a playlist to keep you awake during your drive and help you arrive in good spirits.
Time out the length of your travel and make sure your playlist lasts that long. And don’t just go for one genre of music. Mix in some Sam Smith with throwback ‘90s jams and Disney classics along with some Swedish House Mafia. Keep it interesting and diverse to make sure you never get bored and your passengers don’t hate you for playing the Les Mis soundtrack all day.
Bring snacks.If your drive is longer than an hour, you’re definitely going to need snacks. Stopping at a highway exit for McDonald’s or Starbucks may seem great but it adds more time to your travel and you may need a bathroom afterwards. You don’t have to pack a lunch bag elementary school-style but having a bag or two of chips may serve you well.
Easy to eat snacks are always key since you’ll typically only have one hand to grab them with. Goldfish, granola bars and trail mix are good suggestions, as well as popcorn and all types of fruit. Just try not to pick anything too salty or you’ll have to use the bathroom from all the liquids you’ll be drinking. The same goes for coffee.
Be a good guest.Everyone loves when their friend’s come to visit them at school. They get a chance to show off their college town and campus and introduce you to all their school friends. Just make sure you leave on Sunday on good terms with your host.
If you’re 21+, bringing a bottle of wine or a six pack is never a bad idea. If you’re under 21, bake something yummy to snack on over the weekend or treat to breakfast one day. Don’t mooch off all the food in the fridge or get so drunk that you’re embarrassing. Try your best to get along with their other groups of friends and don’t step on any toes when it comes to the hookup situation.
Once the weekend is over, extend the invitation to your host for them to visit you and then you get the chance to show them around Bloomsburg! Then, refer to our guide on how to make the most of their visit!