10 Essential Summer Road Trip Tips For Your Next Bc Adventure
We made it through the winter, and by now I’m sure most of you, like me, are looking forward to planning our summer. But with restrictions likely to be in place for the next few months at minimum, this might be another great opportunity to plan to explore somewhere a little more local this summer. And what’s a more fun (and safe) way to do that than dreaming of planning a summer vacation?
Luckily for us, BC has some incredible places we can drive to, whether you’re looking for an overnight stay, a long weekend or a week-long adventure. Take the kids somewhere new, plan a getaway with your partner or have a girls trip with your bestie. Either way road trips are fun, flexible and much cheaper than a lot of vacation alternatives.
But before you just jump in the car and go, there are some things to think about when planning your road trip this summer. These top ten tips for your summer road trip will make sure you’re more prepared.
First-aid kit in the car
Pack a basic first aid kit to leave in the car – Band-Aids, tensor bandage, gauze, medical tape etc. You can buy them ready made up with the essentials for a relatively low price (TIP: Check out St. John’s Ambulance for well-priced kits that support a good cause). Having a first aid kit gives a bit more peace of mind when traveling distances, sometimes not near any shops or services.
Know how to change a tire
Road trips mean some long days of driving stretches of road without any towns nearby. So, it’s always good to know how to change a tire, or at least have one person in the car who knows. Don’t rely on YouTube or calls to friends, especially if you run into issues out of cell service range. Keep some of the basic necessary tools in your car just in case like a lug wrench and carjack. Chances are you won’t need them, but if you do, you’ll be back on the road much quicker. Also, make sure you have a spare tire!
Leave some water in the car
On hot summer days you can easily get dehydrated. I like to leave a few bottles of water in the car, even if they’re warm it’s better than not having any. Whether you get stuck in traffic, caught with a flat (see above) or you get carried away hiking and need a drink quickly when getting back to your car.
Tell someone where you’re going
Whether traveling solo or with other people, it’s still a good idea to let someone else know where you’re going, the routes you plan to take and how long you plan to be gone. Check in with them every now and again during your trip and always let someone know if you’ll be later than you expected.
Make sure your insurance covers another driver
Insurance doesn’t always cover another driver. If you’re renting a car, make sure to add an additional driver. While this might be an added daily expense, it’s a worthwhile one. If it’s your own car, make sure to add someone else to the policy, even if just temporarily. That way you can share the driving either for the whole trip or if you need to take over the driving in an emergency.
Bonus: adding someone with a better driving record could bring your premium down!
Allow time for stops – and make plenty of them
It’s best to allow extra time for unscheduled stops. That could be traffic, car trouble, or even just that you saw somewhere you really wanted to stop. BC does have a lot of fun, unique roadside stops. Just because a drive can be done in 10 hours doesn’t mean it’s going to (or should be). Plan for some rest breaks and enjoy the journey.
Look for hotels with parking included – and a place to safely park your car
It’s all good booking a hotel that saves you a little bit of money, but if they charge double what everyone else charges for parking how much do you save? Check out accommodation in advance for their parking options and don’t be misled by a low nightly rate. Look for those with free parking, and make sure their parking is in a more secure location. More hotels are also offering local resident packages right now with parking included for your convenience.
Plan alternate routes
Not everything always goes to plan. You might run into traffic or road closures, so always be prepared to adjust your journey. Plan an alternate route just in case, or even for some variety on the way back.
Pack a cooler/cooler bag
Road trips mean stops along the way, and during the summer in BC you’ll find small farm stands and local markets everywhere you go. Keep a small cooler or even a cooler bag in your car to keep anything you buy fresh and chilled until you get to your accommodation. It’s also handy for making sure your road trip snacks don’t melt.
Bring plenty of entertainment
It may seem trivial, but a little entertainment goes a long way. If you’re traveling with kids, then plan some car games or bring a book or two. And for everyone, having some playlists or a couple of podcasts downloaded in advance can pass the time when you start to run out of conversation. Our last road trip to do some hiking we had a hiking playlist full of upbeat songs, and podcasts about some of the areas we would visit.
Road trips can be a lot of fun, and in western Canada we’re almost spoiled for choice on places to drive to. But whether you go up the coast, into the Interior or head for the mountains, make sure you’re prepared: plan your route, check current travel conditions and don’t forget the essentials.
In light of recent restrictions, we urge our readers to follow PHO guidelines & travel responsibly. Click here to learn more about province-wide restrictions in BC.
About Emma Gilbert
Emma Gilbert is a travel blogger and tourism industry professional, working as a sales manager for Rocky Mountaineer. A British expat, Emma settled in Vancouver over 10 years ago and now loves exploring Canada as much as she can. She is big into the outdoors and always looking for the next incredible view to hike to, and promoting British Columbia as the amazing tourism destination it is.