Tips for road trips

I’ve done drive after drive after drive up and down the I-5.  I’ve been doing it for my entire life.  At least ten times every year.  That’s a LOT of time in the car.

Packing for hours on the road is actually fairly similar to packing for work (another one of my areas of expertise).

So I figured I’d pass on my tips for travel.

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1. Pack more than you think you’ll need.

I don’t care if my trip is only supposed to take 3 hours, I will still pack enough food for double the commute time.  LA has notoriously horrible traffic, so it never ceases to amaze me when I’m in the middle of a bumper to bumper mess.  It’s almost a given that it will happen.  I’ve also been detoured due to snow (in Los Angeles!!) so if you’re in any area that has unreliable weather, be sure to account for possible added time.

2. Look up areas that have healthy food options along your route.

I never buy rest stop food, but that’s because I’m a pack-rat (and there are often very few veg friendly places on the I-5).  However, it’s always a good idea to know what’s around you, just in case you’re in dire straights.  By now I’ve memorized the food at every exit along the I-5, but I also use an app called “road ninja”.  It tells you upcoming rest stops and lists the food/beverage options at each place.  The Starbucks app is another good tool, for the coffee addicts.  But in the event that service is poor and you can’t rely on your smart phone, it’s definitely a good idea to look things up in advance.

There are a few fast food chains that cater to vegetarians and vegans.  Chipotle offers a few options for lunch and dinner (and they’re on the more sustainable end of the spectrum, too).  Starbucks has a few food items, including wraps, snack platters, and oatmeal.  For smoothies, you can hit up Jamba Juice.  And if you’re lucky, there may be a Pita Pit somewhere nearby.

And don’t forget to look up traditional grocery stores.  I’ve relied on plenty of Safeway stores in the past (baguette, baby carrots, tub of Sabra hummus, done and done).

3. Stay hydrated.

We have to stop for gas anyway, so there’s no reason to dehydrate myself in order to minimize bathroom breaks.  Drinking water prevents me from mindlessly munching on other stuff so I feel much better (not bloated and blah).

4. Take advantage of breaks.

Even if I don’t have to pee, if the car is stopped, I get out and walk around.  I stretch my legs, arms, and back.  I actually do lunges and jog around a bit (high knees, butt kicks) just to get blood flowing.  I don’t care how ridiculous I look doing a full on stretching routine – quads, hamstrings, etc. – it’s so nice to get back in the car feeling loosey goosey.

5. Bring your own.

I’ve posted several times on this subject, so rather than repeat the same old spiel, I’ll direct you to the links that will help you out.

This post gives a break down of what I stock in my work locker.  A ton of the same principles will apply to road trips because there’s no fridge, so most of the stuff will be pantry stuff.  Remember that hot water at the gas station is free (for instant oats, tea, coffee, etc.).  Health bars are always a good option because they take up no room and last forever.  Trail mixes can satisfy your sweet and savory cravings.

This post discusses how I packed for two international flights.  Breakfast bakes and breakfast quiches are awesome portable options.  So are individual hummus tubs, especially when paired with fresh veggies.

This post has a ton of vegetarian snack ideas.  It’s a list I refer back to often.  So if apples and bananas are getting old, check this list out for more ideas.

Have any of your own tips to share???

And with that, we’re off to Nor Cal for the holidays 🙂

Here’s what we have for our trek…

• cuties
• string cheese
• carrots
• granola packet
• Clif bar
• KIND bar
• 4 sandwiches (for both of us for breakfast & lunch)
• hummus
• tortilla chips
• Tazo ginger tea packets (rest stops offer free hot water)

I didn’t take photos of the breakfast sandwiches because they were simply PB&Js.  Well, actually they were soynut butter & jam (both home-made) but whatever.

For lunch I made the (above) BLTs with tempeh bacon, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and spinach (mine on WF light GF bread, his on sourdough).

I’m sure we will only eat a fraction of these snacks, but at least we won’t be stuck without anything healthy in the middle of nowhere.

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Feel free to tweet me while I’m on the road with your own tips so I can give them a shot! If you include the #kiaholiday hashtag you’ll get a bunch of other road trip tips too.