Going on a road trip with your family can be a great way to bond and spend quality time together. You’ll create memories that will last a lifetime. Providing it all goes well, you’ll come home feeling more carefree and happy than ever.

You can’t just hop in your car and hope for the best. You’ll find what you need to know about family road trip success so you can have the best time and avoid any issues along the way via the following tips:

Check over your car in advance

Make sure you check over your car in advance – or take it to a garage and have them look at it for you. If you neglect this step, you might end up having to contact a car accident attorney upon your return home.

Your tires should be well inflated, have plenty of fuel, your coolant and oil topped up and any other issues dealt with. Your car must be safe the moment you get on the road. Make sure you leave plenty of time to make repairs to your car, just in case.

Plan your route

Although it seems like a nice idea to just hop in the car and drive, it rarely works. You should have a rough idea of your route at least, so you can be aware of any road works and issues you may encounter.

Leave early

Leave early to account for any issues and make a day of your road trip. Assume that certain things will take longer than expected, such as stopping for food or even to stretch your legs.

The last thing you all want to be doing is rushing around when you’re supposed to be enjoying yourselves.

Pack supplies in the back

You won’t always find a place to get snacks, or you might have a snack related emergency along the way. Make sure you pack supplies in the back so you can account for this.

Have plenty of bottled water, and try to pack snacks that won’t go bad in different temperatures. Make sure you have enough for everybody.

It can also be a good idea to have things like a torch, high visual vests, a phone charger/charging pack and other essentials in case of an emergency.

Plan extra stops for the kids

Although you’ve left early, you may also want to plan extra stops for the kids. They may want to stretch their legs more than you, and they will almost definitely need more toilet breaks.

Make a playlist together

Making a playlist together can be a lot of fun, and you will ensure there are no complaints on your road trip! Make sure there’s something for everybody.

Have games, books and other entertainment handy

You may also want more entertainment handy for your kids – there’s no guarantee that the scenery will keep them busy for long. Have games, books, and other equipment so that you don’t have to listen to them complain!