Road tripping your way to your destination is an affordable way to get from one place to another, but the journey isn’t always that exciting. After the first few hours on the road, some of the shine can begin to wear off of your trip. Use these tips to keep things interesting all the way to your vacation destination.

Plan Your Pit Stops

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Image via Flickr by Andre-Pierre du Plessis

Turn the necessary pit stop into an opportunity for adventure with a little thoughtful planning. Find the quirkiest museums, most interesting pieces of community art, and tastiest diner dishes along your route and plan out a special pit stop every few hours. There’s a big difference between stopping at a fast food joint for a sandwich and bathroom break and pulling over to explore a funhouse or admire the world’s biggest ball of twine.

Pack for a Picnic

Take a large cooler along for your trip and pack picnic goodies that you can enjoy along the way. These are easy to munch on in the car, but they offer a fun diversion at rest stops as well. Most rest stops offer picnic tables and pavilions that are perfect for stretching your legs and having something to eat. Look for national or state parks along the route that offer picturesque picnic areas as well. This tactic is perfect for parties with children who need to get out and just run.

Give your Trip a Special Soundtrack

Put together the perfect soundtrack for your road trip so you have something to rock along to in the car. Add as many songs as possible to the list so it will keep you entertained for hours before songs begin to repeat themselves. Accept song suggestions for everyone in the group and allow vetos so passengers aren’t tortured by something they hate. Include classic road songs like “Life is a Highway” as well as songs inspired by cities you’re driving through, like “Miami” or “Tulsa Time.”

Take Along Something New

Don’t rely on old favorites to keep you entertained once the leg cramps and exhaustion start to set in from hours on the road. Liven up your road trip with some brand new items for entertainment. Get a few albums or podcasts by comedians you’ve never heard before to see what they’re like. Purchase a new book if reading in the car doesn’t bother you. If your old vehicle isn’t cut out for the trip, include your new car as one of the new splurges for the trip as well with a vehicle from Hoffman Nissan.

Pick some Road Games

The nature of your road games will depend on the ages and interests of everyone in your party. Some options you can try include:

  • Mad Libs
  • Piddidle
  • Would You Rather?
  • Scavenger Hunt

You can also pack special miniature versions of board games designed for use on the road. Though the driver can’t participate, these will keep passengers busy. Consider offering a reward for the winner such as the opportunity to pick the next restaurant you stop at.

When you plan for your road trip you’ll find that the journey is just as fun as the destination, and your time on the road will give you lots of unforgettable memories and exciting experiences.

Guest Contributor Amanda Brown is a freelance writer whom enjoys playing and coaching volleyball. She loves her friends and family including her dog, Charlie; as well as traveling all around the world.