How to Stay Safe on a Road Trip

I am currently in the very middle of my fifth cross country road trip in four years (Virginia to Colorado!), and I truly believe there is nothing better than riding along the open road, seeing the landscape change, and eating all the yummy gas station food. There is something really special about seeing such an up close view of the country, particularly the plains states. I have found the praire to be an incredibly beautiful and wildy underrated destination.  However, I have found that safety is often a concern when it comes to road trips, especially for female travelers. In this post, I will be discussing some safety measures I take to ensure that I am staying as safe as possible on the road.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to be 100% safe on the road. But, it is also impossible to be 100% safe in your living room! These tips are designed to eliminate unnecessary risks, but accidents do happen. However, the small risk of danger is worth more than a life lived indoors.

I also have a list of unique items for your next road trip to help you prepare!

This post will be divided into things to do and things to have.

Things to Do to Stay Safe on the Road:

1. Travel with someone else. I always recommend having a buddy for the super long road trips, as you can break up the driving and there is always safety in numbers. 
2. Always lie. If you are traveling, especially by yourself, lie about your travel plans. Lie to everyone, even those who seem harmless. I would recommend always saying that you are traveling with someone, even if you are not. So, for example, I will always say I am traveling with my dad or my boyfriend, even if they are nowhere to be found. 
3. Do not linger anywhere. This is a good practice, even if you perceive a situation to be ok. When I am road tripping, I am very intentional about not staying in a place for too long. I try to keep moving, and avoid making eye contact with anyone, especially at rest stops. If I need a rest during the middle of the day, I will only stop at a rest stop if there is some other family around. If there is, I will station myself near them. If there is not, I will keep driving.
4. Try to travel where it is warm. While you cannot really control the weather, you can control when/where you travel on your road trip. I would recommend avoiding any area where there is a chance of snow or inclement weather. This can look like traveling a little bit further south during the winter or a little bit further north during the summer. 
5. Book your reservations in advance. This one might be a bit controversial, but let me explain. You do not have to book your rooms super far in advance, but even booking the night before or the morning of can save you a lot of stress later on in the day. First, you will have a set destination, and when you arrive at your lodging you can quickly check in (see point 2). Second, having a set place you will stay is important because it will discourage you from driving too late and will discourage driving at night. Driving super late, while sometimes necessary, is not safe if you are alone. 
6. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. This is one part of your safety that you can easily control. Ensuring that you are eating well and getting enough sleep is super, super important. I would recommend not staying up too late, and making sure you have enough to eat and taking care of yourself.
7. Ensure your car is ready to go. This is a super important safety tip, and one I am guilty of fumbling on occasionally. Make sure your car is up to date/ready to go-this looks like changing your oil, ensuring your tires have air, and any other odds and ends. Having your car break down at a random rest stop is the exact opposite of staying safe. 
8. Trust your gut. Even if a situation is objectively safe, if you feel nervous or anxious, leave. The human gut is a remarkable protector, and if your body is giving you clues that a situation is unsafe, leave. 
9. Have someone that knows your plan or has your location. Make sure that at least one person not on the trip with you knows your route/sleeping locations each night. I personally have several friends that have my location and are aware of my plans.

Things to Have to Stay Safe on the Road:

1. Snacks/a full meal. This is important not only for your health, but having food is super important if you do not want to stop/do not want to get out of your car. If nothing else, snacks on a road trip are a sacred, critical element of a good road trip. 
2. A portable charger. A portable charger is handy for a couple reasons. First, ensuring that you always have a charge is critical if you need to make calls or use GPS. However, a portable charger is helpful if you experience car issues-you will always have some way to charge your device. I have this one, and it can hold about two full charges.
3. First aid kit. This is pretty self explanatory-having even a small first aid kit can be very helpful for small cuts and scrapes. 
4. A jacket/blanket. This is a tip that my father always shares with me, and now I will share it with you all: always have a blanket or a jacket in case the car breaks down and it is cold. Take this information and do with it what you will!

There is something so distinctly American about traveling the country by car, and I have such fond memories road tripping across the country. However, you simply must make safety a clear priority while exploring the inner corners of the country. Have additional tips? Let me know in the comments!