Planning A Southern California Road Trip

California is a beautiful state, so it’s no surprise if you want to hit the road and take a little road trip through the southern part of it. It’s a great way to see the sights, have wonderful experiences, meet new people, and find some new favorite places. Whether you’re going by yourself or with others, it makes sense to come up with some type of plan so you can increase your chances of being able to stay safe and have the type of trip you desire. Before you head out on your road trip through Southern California, the following are some tips to keep in mind.

Be Aware Of The Traffic
It’s no secret that Southern California, especially in and around Los Angeles, can have some pretty significant traffic. For some, it’s not too big of a deal especially if they don’t have to be somewhere at a specific time, but if you’d rather avoid it, then you’re going to want to be careful when you’re out on the road. For example, avoid traveling during rush hours—such as between 6:00am and 9am as well as 4:00pm to 7pm (give or take)—and opt for traveling during different times. Keep in mind it might not just be bad during the week but on the weekends as well.

Check Traffic Maps
Speaking of traffic, it’s a good idea to check traffic maps when you’re heading out on the road in Southern California. Traffic can obviously happen even if it’s not during rush hour, so at least if you get an idea of what’s happening on the roads, you can do your best to avoid the congestion as much as possible.

Plan Your Stops
There are so many places in Southern California to go for your road trip, so one of the easiest ways to stay organized and ensure you can see and do as much as you want is to make a list of places you want to go and use a map to plan out the shortest routes in between the stops. For example, maybe you want to go to the Santa Monica Pier, visit Hollywood, go through Joshua Tree National Park, spend time at the San Diego Zoo, relax at one of the many beaches, or play in Disneyland. Determine the amount of time it’s going to take you to get from one stop to the next, figure out about how long you want to stay at each place, then go from there.

Let People Know Where You’re Going
It’s always a good idea to let people know where you’re going to be for safety purposes. Check in with family or friends and let them know where you are and where you’re headed, when you get to your accommodations for the night, and overall that you’re safe and okay throughout your trip.

When you’re heading out for your Southern California road trip, make sure you have safety essentials with you. Have all-weather clothing (such as rain gear and sweatshirts), have a first aid kit and emergency car supplies (i.e. bandages and jumper cables), keep an extra phone charger with you, and don’t forget to get your car a tune-up before you leave.