Your guide on how to fully prepare for a road trip

Local travel via car within 500 km will be wildly popular this year given the state of the world, vaccines and all.
Ontario Day trips, weekend trips, week-long trips will be heavily utilized as we rediscover what Ontario has to offer.
In addition to preparing the exterior of your car for Spring and Summer (as you’ll read on pages 40 and 41) the inside of your car is just as important.
Here’s how you can make the most of road trip season, whether you’re travelling solo like I will be, or if it’s a family and or friends based adventure.

Navigation Apps
Between Google Maps and Waze, (sorry Apple maps, you’re lost) you’ll be able to find your destination easily.
Make sure your navigation apps are up to date and that you have your settings customized for each trip. From avoiding the wretched 407, to perhaps taking the scenic route (sans highways) to whatever else you prefer, always make sure the app is set up the way you want it for each trip.

Charging Cables
The panic that sets in when a charging cable doesn’t work, paired with a phone that’s got a few percent of battery life is a pain almost all of us have been through at least once.
Even if you keep on in the car at all times, take a look at each end to make sure there aren’t any kinks or exposed wires. If you think you need a new one, spend the few dollars to pick up a new one.
What’s that you say? You have wireless charging? That’s cool.
But your phone heats up incredibly fast if you leave it on the charging pad for too long.

Snacks
Bring non-messy snacks that don’t crumble upon opening. So ixnay the flakey granola bars and chips.
Bring items that are easy to eat, don’t make a mess and can easily be resealed/put away.

Pillows and blankets
If you’re travelling mid morning or mid afternoon, the sun will power through your windows and likely make your passengers nap-ready. If you’re doing an overnight trip, the Z’s are a given.
Pillows to the rescue! I have a specific car pillow I use as my bed pillow is far too cumbersome to work in a car.
Blankets are always a good idea both for comfort or in the unfortunate event of your car breaking down.

Sunglasses
Eye fatigue can bring unscheduled interruptions to your road trip so always bring your sunnies.
Yes, the built-in visors can help but they reduce how much of the windshield is visible to you.

Reusable water bottle
Stop wasting money on single-use water bottles and pick up a well-made reusable one that fits in your cupholders.

Jumper cables
Because you never know if you’ll need to give or receive help on the road.
Side note: check your battery before you embark on adventure.

Cash and change
Doing dozens of USA road trips has this engrained in my mind. Even though there aren’t cash toll roads in Ontario (407 is electronic payment only) it’s a good call to keep some change and a few fivers on you. Mostly because you may stop at a fruit/vegetable stand where it’s run on the honour system where you drop your cash in the box and enjoy fresh farmed goods.

Dashcam
They’re affordable and can save you time, money, aggravation and hassle if you find yourself in a collision situation.
It’ll help with insurance and police reports and if you’re not at fault, there’ll be evidence.
Double down and put on on both ends of your vehicle, especially since being rear-ended is a direct cause of distracted driving, which happens far more than it should.

Tablets & Electronics
I’m not a fan of being heavily reliant upon the electronic babysitter; everything in moderation, including a tablet/game console/electronic entertainment.
Sometimes kids and adults get bored on road trips, which is understandable.
Better to keep them entertained than risk having bordem turn into a bad mood. 

Roadside Assistance
Because you simply never know. CAA works for me and has since 1997.