Planning a vacation is NOT easy. This summer, a few friends from college and I decided to take a road trip. Right off the bat, planning this trip was hard. We had to pick a location, choose how long we actually wanted to drive for, see which one of us would drive, book an AirBNB, and THEN actually PLAN what we would do on our vacation! This list seems daunting, but here are five helpful tips you need to think about when planning your fun road trip vacay!

Don't pick a destination that's too far away

Although driving 12 hours in the car with your best friends, windows down, with the music blasting seems like a fun idea, remember that the reality is going to be much different. If a road trip shows 12 hours on a map, it'll probably take closer to 15 hours when you include bathroom breaks, food stops, etc. Additionally, after the first few hours in the car, you will start to feel cooped up and bored (ESPECIALLY if you are driving in the Midwest, where there is literally no pretty landscapes to look at). The ideal road trip time would be between three to six hours — this way you get the whole "long drive" experience with your friends without just being stuck in a car for a full day.

Do make sure your car is stocked up

When I say stocked up, I don't just mean food. I mean make sure that you have your car's registration in the glove box and a spare tire kit in the trunk. Emergencies happen, and cell service isn't always guaranteed on road trips. Make sure you've familiarized yourself with how to replace a tire and are noting the nearest gas stations to you as you drive. Also, make sure your car's fluids are checked and the gas tank is full!

Don't spend too much on the hotel/AirBNB

While it seems really dope to have a hotel or house rental that's stocked with cool amenities or that has nice upgraded features, keep in mind that the whole point of the trip is to experience new things and explore a new city! Now, I'm not saying to completely disregard the amenities aspect of the place you're staying in! But, be aware that you will end up spending more money on excursions and food as well, so try to stay within a budget for the place you're staying at.

Do create a poppin' playlist for your journey

What fun is a road trip without jams? A week or so before the trip, create a collaborative playlist on your preferred music app (Spotify makes this super simple to do) and have all your friends add their favorite songs to it! You'll be playing that playlist for the whole trip, so make sure it is loaded with tons of songs to keep you jamming along.

Don't be afraid to be spontaneous

The whole point of a road trip is experiencing things you haven't before. So, if while driving, you see something cool, stop by and check it out! After all, even if the attraction is super dorky, you can still say that you went out of your comfort zone and lived your road trip to its fullest

All that being said, be sure to be present during the whole trip. Don't spend the whole time texting people or surfing social media. This is your time away from your routine, so make the most of it! Bon voyage!