Road Trip Tips

Road Trip Tips

Road Trip Tips

Brought to you by Century Ford

With so many people flying these days, you would think that the old-fashioned road trip might be a thing of the past. The good news is this is not the case! While the days of getting in a car and driving as far as you can seem to be a thing of the past, the statistics have proven that more and more Americans are hitting the road for vacations and family visits. Even if you set statistics aside, there is no denying that the call of the open road when it comes to taking a long and much-needed vacation. People are always trying to get the most out of their road trips, and we are here to help! Here are some tips you can use as you plan your next road trip. 

Have your vehicle cleaned before the trip

While you may feel compelled to leave the napkins and gum wrappers under your seat or ignore the dog hair in the back bed, but trust us when we say it's a bad idea! After a few days, the old gum wrappers will start to mix with the food wrappers, and your glove box will begin to start overflowing with receipts and local maps from the long road trip. You should also clean up all the dog hair, as well as it will begin to stick to your luggage and your gear. There is always truth to the adage, "a clean car is a happy car."  As your road trip continues, take time out of your day to clean your vehicle every couple of days. 

Get your vehicle road trip ready

Before you set out on your long vacation, head down to Century Ford and have our experts go over every inch of your vehicle to make sure it's ready for the open road. We will make sure that you're up to date on your oil changes, make sure your fluids are topped off, and get your tires balanced and even replaced if necessary. You also want to make sure that you pack a spare tire and a set of jumper cables just in case. It's also a good idea to have some extra windshield washer fluid on hand. 

Make a plan

One thing you can count on when you're out on a road trip is delays. While signs like "Bridge Out" are a rarity, you still might encounter the "Road Work Ahead, Merge to One Lane" sign. You can do all the planning you like, but things are not always going to go your way. You might want to think about not overscheduling your road trip as you might find yourself slogging the last few miles when you're supposed to be asleep. On the other hand, if you don't plan for your trip, you might not get any hotel rooms and might find yourself scrambling to find a place to stay. Make sure to plan, but not over plan as you can't be prepared for everything! 

Try to stay off highways

Unless you have to stick to a strict schedule, there is little point in taking a road trip if you're not going to see the country! We suggest staying off the interstate and do some exploring on the back roads. Most maps of the United States usually indicate which back road is an interesting one. Most of these recommendations seem to be fairly reliable as most will have miles of local scenery so that you can see the good ol' US of A. There are also several applications that you can pull up on your smartphone that can also help you find scenic routes. 

Prepare for trouble spots

If you find yourself logging a lot of miles during your road trip, it can be easy to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's never a good idea to try and cross the Hudson River during rush hour or drive across those long bridges to Key West on a Friday afternoon. You're going to want to plan so you can cross these areas at 9:30 am rather than 5 or 6 pm. 

Get your vehicle ready for a road trip at Century Ford

Before you head out on that much-needed vacation, you're going to want to make sure that your vehicle is ready for the road trip by heading down to Century Ford and letting our experts rotate your tires, change your oil, and top off your fluids. If you need more extensive repair done, we are more than happy to do that for you as well. We can't wait to work on your vehicle, and you can make an appointment by either heading to our dealership or doing so right here on our website. 

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