Road trips are among the most fun adventures you can take either with yourself, your friends, or your family. However, as fun as it can be, it can be equally dangerous. In the guide below, we will take you through our top recommended road trip tips and tricks to keep you safer on the road ahead.

Car Checkup

Whether you have a professional do it at a garage or you do it yourself, it’s important that you do a car check up before heading out on the road. This includes checking your fluid levels, hose connections, wiper blades, lights, horn, etc. However, if you don’t find yourself comfortable enough doing this yourself, sometimes it’s best just having a mechanic prepare your car for a road trip.

Get a Gas Card

A number of companies offer gas cards which offer lower prices at the pump. Since your car will be guzzling a lot of fuel, you’ll be able to collect a lot of points, which you can spend on free hotel bookings or special sales when food shopping.

Bring Cold Cash for Tolls

The worst thing you can forget to do is prepare some toll money. Since tolls pop up in the strangest places and can cost more than expected, it’s smart to bring cold cash, such as cash and coins, in your car at all times. After all, you don’t want to drive home to a number of toll fines when you get back from your fun road trip.

Cellular Essentials

Even from the road, you’ll want to stay in touch with your home and work. Plus, you never know what can happen on your road trip, having cellular reception can stop emergencies in their tracks. Before departing on your road trip, make sure that your cellular provider allows roaming and has nationwide coverage without heavy fines.

Tell People Where You’re Going

You should tell your friends and family where you are driving and staying prior and throughout your road trip. The last thing you want is to get lost or be in a sketchy situation with no one to make sure you are safe during your trip.

Pack a Bag with Essentials

You should keep a sturdy “road trip bag” on your passenger seat that is full to the brim with essential such as a first aid kit, sunglasses, pocket knife, wipes, snacks, and a full water bottle.

Pack a Real Map

As great as Google or Apple Maps may be, a physical map is even more fun to plan out your trip with. Throughout your trip, you can use a sharpie to track your progress and frame it when you get home to display your accomplishment.

Be Smart About Meals

Eating at new and exciting places can be one of the best parts of traveling for some. However, on a long road trip, this can seriously diminish your budget. To protect your budget and your stomach from a week’s worth of McDonald’s follow these few tips:

– Buy the basics at a grocery store

– Avoid restaurants that are popular with tourists

– If you do eat out, get lunch instead of dinner as they often charge less earlier in the day

This article, Colorado’s top vacation destinations this summer, was written by Ryan Thomas for Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting. Rocky Mountain Whitewater Rafting has guided thousands of whitewater rafting trips on Clear Creek and throughout Colorado.