Social Share
Every year around Thanksgiving, millions of Americans pack up and head out the door to visit their families. A Thanksgiving road trip is an annual tradition for many people, but it can also be filled with stress. Trying to beat the traffic when everyone else is doing the same thing can seem impossible.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make Thanksgiving travel easier on yourself. Use the following tips to enjoy stress-free, worry-free Thanksgiving travel. With this advice, a Thanksgiving road trip can be memorable for all of the right reasons.
The two busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving period are the Wednesday immediately before the holiday, and the Sunday following it. If you want to avoid the rush, do not plan your travel for those two days. Try heading out on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, and delay your return until Monday. Alternatively, you can leave the day after Thanksgiving, when most people are still recuperating from dinner.
If you are driving, make sure that your car is in good shape before you head out onto the road. Take it to a mechanic to find out if any maintenance is needed. Check the tires, have the brakes and coolant checked, and be sure that you have a full tank of gas. Whether you are traveling a thousand miles or to the next town, you want to make sure that your car is in tip-top shape.
Healthy snacks and plenty of water will make any road trip more pleasant, especially if you have kids along for the ride. Nothing makes kids grouchier than being hungry or thirsty, and this can make for a very unpleasant time. You do not want to have to stop every few hours just to buy snacks. Bring your own healthy snacks that will keep everyone happy.
Take some time to plan ahead, especially if you are driving somewhere new. Even if you have driven to your destination a dozen times before, it is always a good idea to check the route to make sure that there have not been any changes that could slow you down. For example, find out about any construction projects or detours that might take you miles out of your way or reduce your speed to a crawl.
If you are planning to stay in a hotel once you reach your destination, try to make a reservation as soon as possible. Since Thanksgiving is such a busy travel time, hotels tend to fill up very quickly. If you put off making your reservation until the last minute, you might not be able to find a room at an affordable price, or you might have to stay at a hotel far away from your family and friends.
Traveling at Thanksgiving can be a pain if you do not take the time to plan ahead. If you do prepare properly, on the other hand, your trip can go very smoothly. Use these tips to make sure that your next Thanksgiving road trip is a great one.
About Author: Michael has been working in safety supplies and emergency kits industry for more than five years. As a product manager for EDisasterSystems, he knows his merchandise and all the requirements from OSHA. He likes to write and share his ideas about the importance of safety and emergency prevention.
