Road Trip Planning: The Ultimate Checklist

Planning a road trip is exciting and is a great way to explore new places and make memories. Proper planning is important to ensure that you have a smooth journey while out on the road. That’s why we created the ultimate checklist to road trip planning to help you gather all the essentials for your trip. Jeff Belzer’s is excited to help you prepare for a fun adventure!

Checklist Before You Go

When planning a road trip you should try to stay as organized and prepared as possible. Taking proper steps to prepare will ensure you don’t forget anything and that you won’t have hiccups along the way. Staring with a detailed checklist of everything you might need, from packing essentials like clothes and toiletries, to phone chargers and important documents.

Decide Your Destination

You should decide the destination of your road trip and how long it will be. By having a clear destination and timeline in mind you can begin to plan what attractions and landmarks you want to see on your trip. Researching scenic routes and points of interest like national parks and roadside attractions can make your trip more memorable.

Make an Itinerary

Creating an itinerary of the things you want to see during your trip can be helpful. Make a list of your must-see places, pit stops for food and sleep, and any activities you don’t want to miss. An itinerary helps keep you organized and ensures that you make the most of your time. It is important to be realistic about time constraints when making your itinerary. Be aware of potential traffic, and take bathroom breaks and food runs into consideration.

Book Accommodations

After making your itinerary, it is a great time to start looking for where you are going to stay during your road trip. Research your different options to decide if you want to stay in a hotel, Airbnb, bed and breakfast, or motel. Each of these provides you with unique experiences, so consider what is best for your travel preferences and style. If you are looking for amenities like breakfast, fitness centers, and pools, a hotel often provides those things, while an Airbnb can offer you a more home-like atmosphere.

Consider the location of where you are staying and how close it is to the different attractions you plan to see. Finding a place to stay ahead of time can help save you the stress of having to find somewhere when you’re out on the road. Additionally, it can be beneficial to look for places that offer flexible cancellation policies just in case your travel plans change.

Vehicle Preparation

Another important question to ask yourself is what vehicle you plan to take. After deciding on the vehicle, be sure to do a maintenance check. Here are a few essential checks and services:

• Topping of vehicle fluids – make sure all essential fluids like engine oil, coolant, brake and transmission fluid are topped off
• Getting an oil change if you are due for one
• Ensuring proper tire pressure

 

Checking your tire pressure to ensure it is at the recommended level is important. Modern vehicles with digital information screens often have a tire pressure display that shows the level of each tire, making it easy to check the pressure. If your vehicle lacks this feature, locate the tire valve stem, unscrew the cap, and use a tire pressure gauge to get a reading. Proper tire pressure can improve fuel efficiency and provide a smoother ride.

Along with doing this maintenance check, you should also bring some car maintenance tools along with you like a spare tire, jack, and jumper cables. Roadside safety kits are very helpful to bring along during your road trip because you never know what can happen when you are out on the road. Inside of this roadside emergency kit, you can put things like a first aid kit, tire pressure gauge, seat belt cutter, multitool, flashlight and batteries, duct tape, rags, and other safety items you feel necessary to have with you while on the road.

Load Up, Fill Up, and Hit the Road!

Once you have all your prep work and planning done, it’s time to hit the road! The last thing you want to do before you head out for your road trip adventures is ensure you have gas in your vehicle. Fill up your tank before you leave and make your scheduled gas stops as needed. So, load up your materials, fill up that gas tank, and hit the road!

 

Minnesota Road Trip Ideas

Minnesota offers a wide variety of road trip destinations that are perfect for exploring the beauty of the state. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, someone who loves discovering new towns, or a history buff, there is something for everyone. If you’re looking to do a day trip, here are some local suggestions!

Duluth

• Glensheen Mansion – Historic house museum built in 1908 that sits on 12 acres of waterfront property with 39 rooms. This estate offers a variety of tours for people to come and see this 20,000 sq ft mansion.
• Great Lakes Aquarium – Features exhibits like freshwater forest, otter cove, raptor ridge, amazing amazon and more.
• Lake Superior Railroad Museum – Opened in 1973, this museum has become one of the largest railway museums in the country.

Stillwater

• Stillwater River Boats – Experience the St. Croix River and beautiful views on one of the many cruises Stillwater River Boats offers. Lunch and dinner cruises, summer music series, “Jazz Me” on the water cruises, and more.
• Stillwater Trolley Co. – From historic tours that will show you old Victorian mansions to story time trolley that offers a story, snack, and trolley ride around Stillwater.
• Kari’s Create & Paint Studio – Unleash your creative side with pottery, clay, and canvas painting. They offer walk ins, events, and classes.

Red Wing

• Pottery Museum of Red Wing – With over 6,000 vintage pieces of pottery and multiple exhibits that show items produced by the Red Wing pottery industry.
• Sheldon’s Theatre – With the mission to entertain, educate, and enlighten the community, stop by the Sheldon Theatre for a show. Featuring a water street dance show, songs and stories show, and even a classic cartoon show with live jazz and classical music.
• Fair Trade Books – This independent bookshop is in a beautiful historic building with over 14,000 used books and 4,000 new books.

Mankato

• Carnegie Art Center – Celebrating art and community, you can expect to see many different exhibits and events.
• Minneopa State Park – Stop by Minnesota’s third oldest state park and see the waterfall, historic grist mill, bison herds and more. The fun doesn’t stop there because they also offer riverside hiking, camping, and fishing.
• Hubbard House Historic Museum – Take a tour of the 1871 historic house museum with 16 rooms that combine innovation and rich beauty.

 

As you are preparing for your road trip, we hope this checklist assists you and can help you ensure you have everything you need for a smooth journey. From making an itinerary to safety essentials, planning can make a big difference in creating an amazing adventure. For more tips and great vehicle options, visit Jeff Belzer’s today! We had a wide range of new and used vehicles as well as service centers at all three of our locations: Lakeville, Roseville, and New Prague. Safe travels!