Can Your Car Handle a Road Trip?
Check your fluids and filters.
Get your oil and oil filter
changed if you haven’t done so
in a while. Double-check your
fluid levels and top off anything
that is low.
Check your tire pressure.
Check the pressure when your
tires are cold. Make sure you have
a spare tire in the car. Check its
condition and be sure to have
the proper tire-changing tools.
Inspect your vehicle.
Pop the hood and listen to
your engine to make sure it’s
running smoothly. Check brake
lights and turn signals. Don’t
forget to bring jumper cables.
RENTAL CAR HACKS
Whether you just want to rent something fun like a convertible or are concerned your car can’t handle a long drive, use these clever hacks to save money when renting a car.
You might already have
rental car insurance.
Check to see if your
personal car insurance
or credit card company
covers the rental.
Check for discounts.
Do a Google search for
“[car rental company
name] coupon code”
or check sites like
RetailMeNot.
Take pictures of the car
during the inspection.
This can prevent the
rental company from
charging you for
damages you didn’t
cause.
Don’t prepay for your
fuel. Instead, seek out
the cheapest nearby
station and fill it up
before you return the
car to save money
Bonus Tip: Use a mobile app like Turo to save even more money. This car-sharing marketplace allows you to book a car from a broad community of local hosts.
UNIQUE ROAD TRIP DESTINATIONS
The Fremont Troll – Seattle, WA: This giant and unique concrete troll can be found lurking under a bridge, holding a VW Beetle.
Bonneville Salt Flats – Tooele County, UT: A surreal natural wonder, this huge flat expanse of salt spans about 46 square miles.
Garden of the Gods Colorado
Springs, CO: This National Natural Landmark offers stunning views and 300-foot sandstone rock formations.
Venice Canals – Venice, CA: This European-Esque locale is made up of six waterways – perfect for a self-guided walk or bike ride.
Titanic Museum Attraction –
Pigeon Forge, TN: This two-story museum shaped like the Titanic holds 400 artifacts in 20 galleries.
Golden Driller – Tulsa,
OK: This 76-foot statue of an oilman is the fifth-tallest statue in the US.
La Jolla Cove Seals and
Sea Lions, La Jolla, CA: An incredible opportunity to see seals and sea lions congregate
Hot Springs National Park –HotSprings, AK: Offers nine historic bathhouses, ancient thermal springs, forest hikes and mountain views.
World’s Smallest Post Office – Ochopee,FL: This tiny farm shed became an emergency post office when the official one burned down in 1953.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden –Minneapolis, MN:This 11-acre park features more than 40 works of art, including a giant spoon with a cherry on top.
Assateague Island –Assateague Island, MD: Known for its untamed horses that roam the beach. Local folklore describes them as survivors of a 17th-century shipwreck off the Virginia coast.
