While going to school out-of-state has its advantages, there are a few glaring drawbacks. The worst of these is the distance. While many of my peers are able to take weekend trips home, I’m always on campus. The worst was probably Easter weekend when everyone else went home to their families while my sorority sister and I were trapped on a dead campus eating ice cream and watching One Tree Hill. Moving on, traveling home is a definitely more of ordeal for us out-of-staters. Personally, I’ll be driving 13 hours to go home for the holidays. To top it all off, I’ll be making this journey completely on my own. I’m not the only one in this situation, so here are some tips for making a long road trip with no travel buddy a little more tolerable.
1. Power up!
So it’s 6 a.m. and time for you to hit the road! You’ll of course want to get your car ready with a full tank of gas, but don’t forget to get some fuel for yourself! Caffeine is great for trips shorter than 6 hours, but anything longer and you’ll start to crash later on in your trip. For the longer journeys eat a good breakfast with natural energy boosters like bananas, almonds and oatmeal. Popcorn and raw veggies make for great on-the-road snacks when you start to feel tired.
2. Give your trip a soundtrack
Traveling solo can get really lonely after a while, especially on longer trips when you’re stuck in a car with little to entertain you. Combat this by making your perfect travel playlist! Go ahead and sing embarrassingly loudly and badly too. Who’s there to judge you? If you’re in a more intellectual mood, pop in an audio book and catch up on the latest bestseller. Just be sure not to pick slow music or a boring book you have to read for class, as it will make fighting fatigue more difficult.
3. Take pit stops
Giving yourself a break every few hours does wonders for combatting fatigue. If you see some cool landmark or unusual store take some time to stop and explore. When you have to pull over for gas take a few minutes to stretch, walk around, buy a snack or even take a quick power nap if you’re really exhausted. Even a few minutes of shut-eye will help.
4. Opt for comfort over style
Now is not the time for those leather pants or stilettos. Pick something you’ll be ok wearing for several hours, like yoga pants and a t-shirt. Don’t hit the road in your pajamas though, as dressing too comfortably can be problematic too. Don’t worry about hair or make-up; there aren’t any cute boys in the car with you (unfortunately).
5. Cool it down
You’ve been driving for 10 hours now and it’s getting harder and harder to keep your eyes open. If it’s dark it’s even more difficult to resist snoozing at the wheel. As a last resort, blast your most chaotic music and crank up the A/C. It’s harder to fall asleep when you’re freezing, and the cold temperatures will make your mind more alert and focused on the road.
Traveling on your own is hard, but with a few simple tips you’ll be jetsetting like a pro! And for the record, road trips totally count as jetsetting.
Photo Credits
http://www.travelblogs.com/articles/13-tips-on-planning-your-solo-road-trip
http://abravelife.com/why-you-should-go-on-a-solo-road-trip/