How To Prepare For A Road Trip This Summer
Happy Friday ladies. With things starting to open up, more and more of us are looking forward to traveling. You may not feel like hopping on a plane or boarding a cruise ship, but many feel comfortable with a road trip. We hopped in the car earlier this week for a 3-day road trip to Canada to visit our daughter, Vanessa. Road trips aren’t as easy as they used to be so today I’m sharing a few tips to help when you prepare for a road trip this summer.
I am fortunate to be a dual citizen. I’m a returning Canadian citizen traveling with my Canadian passport to visit our daughter who lives in Canada. We’re both double vaccinated. We had one negative COVID test before the drive. One 48 hours before crossing the border and one at the border. Everyone is being very cautious which I’m happy to see
Many restaurants and fast-food restaurants no longer let non-customers use the restrooms. If you drive long hours, be aware that many rest areas are also closed. The upshot is if you’re trying to keep your water consumption up, (like me), you need to plan to stop early and find a restroom.
Carry lots of hand sanitizer ( my favorite ) and keep some hand sanitizing wipes ( my favorites) in the car so you can wipe things down at your stops.
Our first night was at a bed and breakfast in Roseburg, Oregan called Hokanson’s Guest House. The owner is charming and the town adorable. I bring a lot of scarves when I travel so I can cover my neck and chest in the car if the sun gets low plus they’re an easy way to change up an outfit.
Jeans aren’t comfy to sit in for long hours in the car so I opt to travel wearing a skirt or pants with slim legs that won’t land on the restroom floor. This may seem like too much information, but wide-leg or even straight pants hit the floor when you sit. Knit skirts are most comfortable for long hours sitting in the car and easily kept off the floor.
Driving outfit on the left and a quick clean-up for dinner at the hotel on the right. I’m looking a little worse for wear here because we drove longer than expected to arrive at the hotel I was anxious to stay at. Another day, another scarf:)
Pack some healthy snacks because:
- fast food is gross and bad for you
- many restaurants have limited hours and seating
- bring gallon water bottles to refill your personal one
Have sunscreen within easy reach so you can reapply as the day wears on.
Have a change of shoes to switch into if your feet swell…mine always do.
This was a non-travel day so I did break out the jeans because it was breezy along the water.
There are fewer people on the road these days, and fewer facilities so road trips have pluses and minuses. On the plus side, you can go at your own pace and pack as much as you want. On the downside, it’s a hassle to wipe everything down everywhere you go but well worth it.
The Over 50 Style Team is back tomorrow and we’re chatting about travel wardrobes and sharing our tips. Please join us here on Instagram at 11 am PT/2 pm ET.
Do you have any road trips planned?
Do you have travel tips to add?
I learned the hard way about wide pants and public restrooms. During a trip to NYC, I wore cropped wide leg linen pants, which were great for the hot humid weather. But, I had to do major gymnastics to keep them off the floor while using the restroom..so I need a pair of cropped linen pants but not wide leg!!
That was the way I learned too:)
We travel a lot. Tips:
Take a garbage bag for laundry & wet things
Take extra zip-loc bags for shells, etc.
Take peanuts for squirrels
Take a small magnifying mirror for makeup
Take your own laundry soap pods & fabric softener
Take yours & hubby’s sleep meds
Tylenol, bandaids, tweezers, Neosporin
Ear plugs
Load podcasts ahead of time
Take your favorite pillows in a garbage bag
Etc.!!!!
That was glad you got to she your daughter. I am sure you had a fabulous time.
Sorry for the crazy message 🤪
Have not been on a road trip as yet.
Really looking forward to going somewhere on a boat -Cruise 🚢 Ship- but that does not look good until 2022 or later.
Glad to got to see your daughter. Sure you had a fabulous time.
I love road trips! We were gone for 3 weeks this past May on a rv camping trip. I always bring phone chargers, an atlas, a small cooler with water and snack foods like string cheese, apples, granola bars or trail mix, and also gotta have mints and m&m candies, lol! Oh, and we keep binoculars in the car, in case of bird or wildlife sightings, We traveled out west (Wyoming, Montana, Colorado) We drove from northern Michigan.
That sounds so fun!! I miss our RV trips.
We just returned from a road trip and it was so great to “get out there” again! Your travel tips are great! I’m with you about not wearing pants or anything that falls on the rest room floor…yuck! I chose to wear a dress which was great! No zippers, buttons or falling on the floor. I like your idea to take snacks. Wish I had done that. What I do take is a small tupperwear container of lifesavers for good breath on the road. I keep them in my glove compartment.
One other thing I would suggest, is a car charger for your phone. Our phones always seem to drain quickly on the road.
Beautiful scenery on your trip and love the scarves. That’s a good idea to take several on a trip. I took a summer hat like you have on in addition to a baseball cap that I can put on and not feel as dressed up. Those are great for pulling your hair into a ponytail and out the back of the hat, and they don’t blow off.
Great post!
Welcome back to Canada Jennifer! These are great travelling tips especially the long pants at rest stops which I found out the hard way. Yuk!
I now travel with a (pink) Sunany I ordered on Amazon. I haven’t used it yet but I’m sure there will come a day!
Enjoy your time with your daughter!
You’ll have to let us know how that works. Thanks
Enjoy your trip and visit with your daughter. We have our annual beach week with the kids and grandkids coming up soon, so a timely post. Travel here is NC is booming! Our highways are packed, our beaches are filled to capacity, no vacancies everywhere you look! The service industry is still suffering with little to no help – we heard of restaurants on the outer banks rotating help in order to stay open.
Wow, that’s busy
today It’s about perfect at the coast in southern BC. No smoke, lovely temperatures, nice breeze. Of course it can change with a shift in the wind. Enjoy it while we can.
I live in Michigan and the Detroit/Windsor bridge and tunnel are opening for non-essential travel in early August. They will not require a quarantine but a negative covid test within 72 (or was it 74) hours of travel.
Your travels are so interesting and your clothes fit to occasion. The use of public restrooms is something I prepare for and a skirt (not long) works well. I use a shoulder bag and keep sanitizer and wipes at the ready.
Also a pack of tissues to prevent touching the dispensers for tp. I keep my bag on my shoulder the whole time and just reach in as needed. Always wear a mask and keep an extra in your purse too.
Have great time with your daughter. Thank you for all the tips and examples.
Very wise, Cathy! I think the same way.
We are not germaphobes at all, but as a matter of routine, I was taught—and I taught my children—who taught their children—to avoid opening public doors with bare hands, wipe down cart handles, not walk barefoot on hotel floors, wash hands frequently, cover mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing, use hand sanitizer before eating, etc. When all these precautions were being explained last year, my husband and I looked at each other and said, “So, life as normal.” We are not overly afraid of getting sick, as illness has always been part of the human condition. We just didn’t like tempting fate and we really don’t like yucky stuff. Enjoy your visit. We hope to take a trip this fall or next spring.
My late daughter-in-law and I would take my grandchildren to Disney World every few years. She would follow many of your precautions and would always bring wipes for doorknobs, light switches, remotes etc. besides everyday use in parks. It seemed extreme but we usually went the beginning of November for cooler weather and never got sick with anything while there or traveling.
It’s funny you say that, Nancy, because I taught my children the very same thing.
I enjoyed your tips. As a single woman traveling alone, I always wear pants to maintain my personal safety. My last trip to Dallas I wore cotton/linen pants and those amazing stripe pants you featured on your blog from Nordstrom. When you travel in the heat of summer, don’t wear black pants. I learned the hard way with that one.
Everything has been open in the center of the U. S. With bathrooms and places to eat since December. I’ve made two trips to Dallas and back. I’m quick to use restrooms. I have a midday coffee stop that I’ve been able to enter as well. I do travel with my own snacks/food for the road and water. There are two reasons. I usually have my dog along so I worry about car temperatures. She’s also an anxious traveler. I do intermittent fasting so it’s just easier to grab a good choice from my cooler. I travel with cheese/crackers, fruit/veggies, and nuts. There are also some good, healthy adult “lunchables” I buy. I also buy some good bagged popcorn. As I get weary from hours of travel, a little munching keeps me alert. I avoid eating much because it also makes me tired.
I try to mix and match as much as possible with clothing. Sometimes I try to see how little I can pack!
Glad you’re able to make it to Canada. I love British Columbia and hope to see the eastern part of Canada some time.
You sound perfectly organized Tina. I love how you’ve got everything planned. I mix and match a lot when I travel too.
Thanks for the travel clothes tips. I hadn’t considered pant legs on bathroom floors… yuck. My husband and I are planning a road trip to Canada (Vancouver Island, so we will be taking the ferry either from Post Angeles or Vancouver) with the hope to cross the border on August 9th or 10th). Our plan was to get tested in Bellingham, WA, so we’d have our results 48 – 72 prior. I’m curious about the test you had at the border. Does that suffice, or do you also have to show the results of a prior test?
We did the test in Bellingham and then got tested at the border. The one in Bellingham is mandatory, I think. We’ve taken that Port Angeles ferry many times.
Enjoy your visit with your daughter and wonderful tips for those who are planning motoring trips. Myself; haven’t done a long one in years namely due to age but always enjoyed the scenery when we did and meeting people along the way. Cannot wait though until Christmas as have booked the entire family at Disney Orlando (on site/as their gift) where we will also celebrate it. (Thought best to do it now as youngest grandchild is now a preteen so may be the last hurrah visiting The Magic Kingdom with all of us together plus should be a nice change from our Canadian winter. ) Wishing you a safe trip! Do take care -Brenda-
That will be so fun Brenda!!
Glad you got to see Vanessa! We took a road trip last month…TX to SC to see our youngest daughter. No McDonald’s were open for restrooming. Drive-thru only. When we left TX, CFA was open for inside dining but not in GA or SC. Very few wearing masks…we did not. As for attire, I wear old shoes for restroom stops and then leave them in the car. I roll up my pants legs so they don’t touch the floor. I know how you got into Canada…I read the entire post!!! 🤣
You’re my kind of gal. I roll my pants up too:) xx
Very timely post for me! We are heading to Minnesota from New Orleans to visit for few weeks then from there we travel down to Puerto Penasco Mexico to stay for 6 mos. I’m struggling with what to being to MX as it is a long stay. Good info for road tripping here. We’ve done long distance road trips this past year and still picked up couple new thoughts from you. Looking forward to the packing post! Thanks!
Have a great trip