One of the most important aspects of planning a successful road trip is making sure that you are adequately prepared for the trip. This means having all the essentials that you need for your trip. The amount of stuff that you need to take with you will depend on the length of the trip, the location, and who is coming with you. For any length of road trip with either your family or friends, you will need to make sure that you have stocked your car with plenty of snacks and refreshments. While there will be places to stop on the way for meals and unusual snacks, you always want to have sustenance in your vehicle. This can help avoid people getting hangry in a confined space. Keeping a mixture of water and soda can also be a good idea. You should also plan to take some paper maps with you on your road trip. Whether you purchase an official map or print out your route from Google Maps, this can save you in an emergency. While road trips are all about adventure and exploring, getting properly lost can be stressful and even dangerous. For some road trip routes, you might encounter extended periods where you don’t get any phone or internet signal. This is when a paper copy of your route can come in handy. You should also have some sort of plan for where you are going to stay during your trip. If you want to camp on your trip, all you have to do is find suitable places to set up camp that are going to be safe from wildlife. However, if you want to travel in a little bit more luxury and want to stay in hotels during your trip, you may have to make reservations in advance. This can create more of a plan and structure for your trip, however, it can also reduce the opportunities that you have for organic exploration and adventure.