Like any loyal badger fan, you probably visited the University of Michigan this weekend for the football game. Being that Michigan is relatively close to Wisconsin, you also most likely drove there. For anyone who did, or anyone who ever plans on going on a road trip, here are some of the essentials you need to have time and an easy ride:

1. Waze

This is probably one of the most efficient and helpful GPS apps. Like most GPS apps, Waze is voice-guided giving you directions to wherever you need to go. However, in addition, Waze also has a social side. Once downloading Waze you can create an account and join the community. By doing so, you are in touch with other drivers on the road and nearby. As a result, fellow drivers on the road can notify each other on the map of anything that may help someone. For example, you can mark on the map where a police officer is located, or if there is a hazardous area nearby, or a traffic jam or accident up ahead. In addition, the app also gives you the most efficient route, calculating all of the traffic and anything that can slow down your drive. The app can also help you find gas stations and rest stops nearby, and add it to your journey. Without Waze my friends and I would not have made it to Michigan, especially in such good timing.

2. A blanket and a pillow

When road tripping with others it can sometimes be crowded in the car. In addition, you are also traveling for a long amount of time and want to make the trip as comfortable for yourself as you can. Bringing a pillow and a blanket are extreme essentials. Breaking up the time in the car with a nap is a given, so when you have a pillow to lean your head on and a blanket to cozy up with it can help make the car ride so much more comfortable.

3. Fun, easy to snack on, food

The car ride can get long, dragged out and sometimes boring. Sitting for hours in a car with multiple people is not always comfortable and sometimes annoying. And when you're trying to get to a destination in a good amount of time, you do not always want to stop for food that often and waste time. Therefore, it is important that you pack fun foods that are easy to snack on, such as Chex mix, pretzels, goldfish and honestly any food you like that is easy to pack wiht you. You can definitely get hungry and bored during the ride but have good snacks to munch on can help make the drive more enjoyable.

4. Road trip tunes

Personally, I take my aux cord privileges pretty seriously. Having good music to listen to when driving is one of the most important things for me. Often my taste in music ranges throughout the whole ride, parts of the ride you might want chill music that is easy to sleep to, sometimes you want some good throwbacks, and others times you want songs that you can all sing along to and enjoy during the ride. No matter what you are in the mood for, good music is an essential on a road trip.

5. Great friends

Of course, amazing friends are the most important for a road trip. Who else would you want to sit in a car and drive with for hours on end?! Having good company makes the drive more enjoyable and therefore go by faster.