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While taking a one- or two-week vacation can be a wonderful relaxing experience, for most people it only happens once a year. A weekend getaway is the perfect way to supplement that relaxation.
Whether it’s a day trip or a one- or two-night stay, road trips are generally within a three or four-hour drive of your home. For most areas, that relatively short journey can bring you a change of weather, activity options, and overall vibe.
From where I live in the Southern California desert, I can drive to San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Santa Barbara. I can go to the ocean, the mountains, or to another desert. I can watch the Padres, Dodgers or Angels play baseball, and soon, in addition to catching a Chargers football game, I’ll be able to watch the Rams.
I can hike, swim, run, ride, or just chill on the beach. If you think about it, you probably have just as many options to choose from for your weekend getaway. Whatever your plan for your road trip, here are some tips to make it perfect.
5 Tips to Make Your Weekend Getaway Perfect!
1. Try new things
Don’t get into the habit of always going to the same place. Try something new! Do you usually head to the beach? Try the mountains for a change. Plan a museum adventure or a historical home tour. There are so many exciting things to do on your weekend getaway, no matter where you end up!
2. Make it romantic
Close your eyes and think about it. A cozy couch, dim lighting, and soft music, or maybe strolling along the beach at sunset. Just you and your partner, relaxing, getting reacquainted, focusing on each other. Leave the kids at home and make it a romantic weekend getaway.
3. Or make it a kid’s adventure
Take a weekend to focus on the kids. Head to an amusement park, go camping, take in a ballgame, have an ‘all girls’ or ‘all boys’ adventure. Two of my favorite memories with my mom and dad were skiing at Big Bear with my dad and heading to Vegas with my mom (I was 12). My sisters had their own adventures with our parents too.
4. Don’t overpack
Oops! Guilty! I have an overpacking problem, but I’m working to fix it. I generally pack twice as much as I need, so my new plan is to pack, then remove half of what I’ve put in my suitcase. Even better, I’ll choose a smaller bag. Lists help too. Planning what you actually need and will use in advance is a smart move.
5. Make sure your car is in good shape
If you’re taking a road trip for your weekend getaway, it’s important to make sure that your car is in good shape, especially if it is a higher mileage vehicle. Before we headed out for our recent trip to Big Bear, we made sure that we had the oil changed in Alan’s car.
Because Alan’s Element has more than 100,000 miles on it, we chose Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil, which is designed for cars with more than 75,000 miles. It is specifically designed for older cars and it helps to clean out the sludge that builds up over time. It also helps reduce leaks and oil consumption in higher mileage vehicles.
We headed to Walmart, where the Pennzoil High Mileage vehicle oil change is on rollback for $35.99 (through September 28). It was a perfect place to have it done. While our car was being cared for, Alan and I picked up a few things we needed for our weekend getaway! Check here to find your closest Walmart Automotive Care Center.
Not only do they replace the old sludgy oil with quality Pennzoil High Mileage oil, they check and top off all the fluids, visually check the tires, and let you know if your air filter needs replacing. All in just about half an hour.
Use these tips to make sure that your weekend getaway is fun and memorable. Don’t forget tip #5 because most of all, you want your car to be in good shape for your road trip!
Where is your favorite place for a weekend getaway? If you were to pick somewhere or do something you’ve never done on a road trip, where/what would it be?
I am totally guilty of over packing. I need to be better about it, but I always figure it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Good point. I think that’s my husband’s reasoning for packing 3x what he needs. He’s way worse than I am. 🙂
Great tips! I used to overpack and stress about packing. I’ve come to realize that typically where we go, I’ll have access to some kind of a store to get any of the basics I’ve forgotten. It has definitely lowered my stress level. Now, off to plan a weekend getaway!
Exactly! I always take note of what I haven’t used and it’s typically at least half!
I love taking weekend getaways. There are a lot of cool things within easy driving distance of our house, so we take several getaways each year. A lot of the roads near us are mountainous so it’s definitely important to make sure you have had a check up on your car.
Yes, with so much mileage on the car I’d be worried if we didn’t take care of it before our trip.
I sure could use a good getaway right now even just for a weekend! These are some great tips! Would love to plan a good weekend get away for our family!
I could use one too. It’s just so hot in the desert!
I love to try new things on vacation! As far as over packing goes well lets not go there 🙂
I know, right?
What an easy way to hop up and just go have a road trip. I love this so much, looks like you all had a blast too!
Thank you, we do! I love weekend getaways.
I love these tips!! We love to get away any chance we can, it’s so much fun to have a road trip and explore.
It is so much fun! There’s almost always something interesting within driving distance.
This is great advice! I do want to go on a couple more road trips this year. I’d definitely have to make sure my car is ready!
I’m ready to go on one right now! And my car is ready! 😉
I am looking forward to taking more, smaller weekend trips in the near future. Fall is so beautiful in Wisconsin and there are many festivals and apple orchards to explore.
Ooh, I’d love to see Wisconsin in the fall!
Great tips, I do overpack for everything but we never need to buy things then! LOL
It is hard not to overpack. You need to be ready for anything!
I love going on road trips especially this time of year. We have been across the country a few times but always take different routes to switch it up.
Driving across the country is a super road trip! I haven’t done that since I was a kid!
Love these tips and information. You just reminded me that I need to take my car to Walmart this weekend for an oil change. Your photos are so pretty. Makes me want to travel more.
Thank you Terri. They are good memories.
We just had our road trip a couple of weeks ago and it was a blast. We plan on doing another one before the kids go back to school. Thanks for the tips.
Taking road trips with the kids can be a challenge but it’s something they remember for the rest of their lives.
Great advice! We just returned from 1.5 week adventure from Kansas to Grand Canyon. I made sure to get my oil changed and new battery at walmart so we didn’t have to worry about getting stranded in the desert.
Hurray for smart car care! It sounds like a great vacation.
Great tips! I think my favorite roadtrip is to rent a cabin up in the mountains, pack up a bunch of delicious food and books and movies…and then just hole up inside for a long weekend of r & r. In fact, with the fall approaching quickly, I might just need to start planning something like that! Thanks for sharing the rollback info on Pennzoil, too! #client
That sounds lovely. I’d like to do that now, since it’s been around 115 here in the desert and in the 70s up in the mountains.
Auto care is always important but especially when you are headed out of town!! Great tips!!
Kids adventures really can be so much fun! I love weekend getaways, they’re some of the best trips there are!
Not overpacking is something I REALLY struggle with haha! I can’t help it, but the less the better – there’s less to worry about!
Awesome tips! I need morethan a weekend trip to BORACAY..it’s been a long time!
Hi Debbie,
Great tips for a road trip! Great photos too. You seem very happy in them.
Thanks for bringing your post to the Blogger’s Pit Stop last week.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
I love weekend getaways! They are so much fun and don’t take as much planning as a week long one!