Summer is in full swing, and with it comes the coveted vacation season. Warm weather mixed with an overload of free-time usually means college students, like myself, are feeling very antsy. Embedded with the incredible need to broaden our horizons without the actual means to do so, we're left with one option: road trips.
Road trips are awesome in that they can be as long and adventure-packed as you want, depending on your budget. This flexibility and cost-effectiveness is what makes it ideal for not only college students, but for anyone looking for a vacation without the resort prices.
More important than where the road takes you, though, is who you take on the road with you. No trip is complete without a few of your closest friends in your back seat. However, more people usually means more questions about how this trip is going to flow. "Where are we going?" "How are we getting there?" "What food are we eating?" "Who's got the tunes?"
Well, never fear, traveler, because I've broken down the essential duties to make a road trip a success into six different people. Read on to discover how to make your road trip run as smooth as fresh pavement.
1. Driver
GiphyArguably the most important job of any road trip, The Driver is in charge of, you guessed it, driving. The Driver must be someone willing to put in long hours, usually six or seven a day on average, behind the wheel.
Many believe that The Driver must follow any and all highway and vehicle laws that exist. However, I'm suggesting that a better contender for The Driver would be someone who's willing to bend these rules a bit for the good of the trip.
Before this person is chosen, think to yourself, "Who would I trust most to get us through a high-speed pursuit?" The answer could, and should, affect your decision.
2. Music and Snack Provider (MSP)
GiphyDefinitely, the second most important individual of any car-centered adventure, The MSP sits shotgun, no exceptions, as this allows the greatest access to the radio/ AUX cord. Driving to the grocery store might be okay with no music and no Doritos, but is completely unacceptable for trips longer than 30 minutes. Thus enters the MSP.
This individual is cognizant of the car's musical tastes and food preferences. Is someone gluten free and not a fan of country music? It's up to the MSP to cater to that and have a cooler full of goodies and a phone full of bumping playlists come road trip time.
3. Navigator
GiphyThe Navigator is in charge of planning the best route to get from the start to the desired destination with the least amount of hiccups. An unexpected detour because of an accident, slow traffic due to road construction, and pit stops for car members are all possible road trip occurrences The Navigator should be prepared for.
The Navigator should sit directly behind The Driver. This allows for easy communication if an exit is coming up or there is a change in the planned route. I strongly recommend having a paper map detailing the road trip as well as any GPS device. You know technology is going to break as soon as you need a gas station, so it's better to be prepared than stranded on the side of a highway.
4. Budgeter
GiphyEvery road trip has a budget, and it's The Budgeter's job to keep meticulous records of it. Do you want continental breakfast at the hotel or do you want to put an extra few gallons of gas in the car so you can see the world's largest ball of twine? The Budgeter can tell give you the green light for purchase questions like these.
I want to make it clear that The Budgeter isn't the only one paying for the road trip in question. Each member should provide funds equally, it's simply The Budgeter's job to take those funds and work out what you can and cannot afford on your trip.
5. Event Manager (EM)
GiphyThe EM is in charge of making this road trip the road trip you tell your grandkids about (except about that one night in Panama City. . .). Every city has something interesting in it, but The EM chooses which of these your caravan has the time and the money to see.
The EM needs to work closely with The Navigator and The Budgeter in order to choose sites and activities that are both on the way and in the budget. Remember, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.
6. Optimist
GiphyThink about it. You're in a car for many hours a day with your favorite people. It'll be great for a bit, but let's face it: fur will eventually fly. The Driver won't listen to The Navigator and will miss a turn or The Budgeter will say, "No can do," to something The EM says, "Guys, we HAVE to see this."
Cue The Optimist. This person is chiefly in charge of keeping the peace in the car. Whether it's helping find a new route quickly or asking if that site is really worth $100 admission, The Optimist is there to make sure everyone is still friends by the end of the trip.
Each of this duties is essential to making a road trip the experience of a lifetime. Who will you take?
