6 Tips for Holiday Road Warriors

By Jenni Hammitt

November 28, 2008

The Holiday Road Trip

As I packed up my birds’ food and treats last night, I began to dread the three (at least) hour drive are making today. I know choosing to move away makes holiday travel a necessary evil, but I’m still not a fan. Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas there seems to be a lot of attention on focused on how to survive air travel. Yes I agree that the idea of being in an airport near the holiday season is a mess. Yes I would want tips on how to survive the madness that holiday air travel has become. I actually purposely planned my vacation so it happens in the usual lull between Thanksgiving and when the kids are let out of school for Christmas to avoid the crowds and the high airfares. However, I think the road warriors get a bit shafted. Yes we look at the gas prices and the increased number of accidents, but no one really gives us the time of day.

Yes many people do fly, but others take busses, trains and even drive to our holiday destination. I get that being stranded in the airport for the holidays…losing your luggage and what not creates more drama for the reporter, writers, and bloggers.

That being said being a person who has been delayed on a train for three hours because of freight traffic can be just as frustrating. I’ve been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic at the for almost 45 minutes at the Ohio/Indiana state line waiting my turn to pay my toll…with a screaming 18 year old cockatiel in tow. These things cannot be avoided. However there are some things you can do to make the road trip less of a nightmare. This list is too late for Thanksgiving, but Christmas is right around the corner!

Plan ahead.
This may seem like a no brainer, but some people seem to think that road trips do not need as much planning. If you have to work until 5, make sure that you are packed and ready to go as soon as you hit the door. Yes, there may be some last minute things that have to be attended to, but be as prepared as possible.

Use the internet.
Use a site like traffic.com. I’m sure there are others out there, but I know this site lets you put in the address of where you are coming from and going to and it gives you your route, how long the drive would be if you were driving the speed limit, any delays, and then the actual drive time. Yes of course this is subject to change, but it at least gives you an idea of what to expect.

Use GPS.
Yes I know you most likely know where you are going, but GPS does more than tell you directions. Most units will also tell you about traffic backups and give you alternate routes. I just set my GPS on my phone before I leave the house and it tells me the rest. This is also helpful in helping you plan your stops. If I know there is a ten mile back up at the state line toll booths, I know that is at least 20 minute if not a 30-40 minute wait. I can plan where I want to stop accordingly.

Hold off on the liquids.
This is especially true if you aren’t used to drink 64 oz of liquid non-stop. In most cases (unless you are traveling with a person or a pet that requires frequent stops) you will want to stop as little as possible. If you hold off on the liquids until a little ways into your trip you may save yourself some stopping time.

Bring pet supplies.
If you are traveling with pets, make sure you have all the needed supplies. If you have a pet in a cage or kennel, make sure it is seat belted in and that the cage doors are secure. Bring food and water to replenish their dishes if needed.

Most importantly: Do not panic and to not rush. If you forget something…it isn’t the end of the world. If you get in late, your family will be happy that you made it in one piece. Keep yourself and everyone else on the road with you safe and do not push yourself beyond your capacities.