Long Hauls & Open Roads
There’s nothing quite like a long drive - watching the scenery shift mile by mile, rolling into new towns, chasing sunsets until you lose track of time. But anyone who’s done a serious road trip knows it’s not all cinematic moments and freedom.
After a few hundred miles, even the best playlists get old. Your back hurts. You’re eating gas station snacks for dinner. The car smells like trail mix and damp socks.
Here’s the truth: long drives take planning, discipline, and a little creativity if you want them to feel like adventure instead of endurance.
Here are the tricks I’ve learned from crossing states, coasts, and everything in between.
1. Don’t Race the Road
The biggest mistake most people make is trying to cover too much ground too fast. You’ll end up exhausted, missing half the places you drive through.
Plan for shorter drive days - 4 to 6 hours max - and actually enjoy the stops in between. A long trip should feel lived in, not rushed through. Stop for coffee, hang a hammock in a park, or just eat lunch on a patio - it’s supposed to be fun!
Basecamp Tip: If you’re doing multiple days, plan one “no-drive” day every 3-4 days. It’s a reset button for your body, brain, and vehicle.
2. Keep the Front Seat Clean
It sounds minor, but a cluttered cab kills your focus and mood. Every stop, take two minutes to throw out trash, wipe the dash, and reset your space.
You’ll be amazed how much lighter it feels driving in a clean setup - especially when you’re living out of it.
3. Prep Food You Actually Want to Eat
You can only eat so many granola bars before you start dreaming about real food.
Bring meals that travel well - wraps, fruit, protein snacks, overnight oats, or cold pasta salads.
If you’re camping out of your car, pre-make a few hearty meals in reusable containers and pack them in a cooler. Eating well keeps your mood (and your body) from crashing halfway through the trip.
4. Build Your Comfort System
Driving for hours is tough on your body. Set up your seat, lumbar support, and armrests like it’s your office chair, because for the next few days, it is.
And don’t underestimate the power of simple comfort gear:
A neck pillow that doesn’t suck
Noise-canceling earbuds for long stretches
A small blanket for breaks or naps
5. Plan Your Sleep Before It’s Dark
Don’t wait until 10 p.m. to figure out where you’re sleeping. Whether it’s a campground, rest stop, or quiet pull-off, decide before sunset.
When you’re tired, you’ll take risks or settle for sketchy spots. That’s when mistakes - and bad encounters - happen.
Use apps like iOverlander or Campendium to find safe overnight spots early in the day.
6. Protect Your Power
Phones, cameras, lights - everything runs on batteries, and dead power kills momentum fast.
Bring at least one reliable portable charger, a 12V splitter for your car, and charge everything while you drive.
If you’re working remotely or camping long-term, consider a small power station (Goal Zero, Jackery, etc.).
7. Know When to Stop
Driving tired is just as dangerous as driving drunk - and it’s easier to justify. You think, I’m fine, it’s only another hour. But exhaustion catches up quick.
If you start zoning out, missing turns, or blinking too long - pull over. Sleep, nap, stretch, or call it a night. Getting there safely is always the point.
8. Keep a Maintenance Ritual
Every morning or two, do a quick check:
Tire pressure
Oil level
Coolant
Headlights and signals
You don’t need to be a mechanic - just consistent. Little problems on day one can become major disasters by day five.
Basecamp Tip: Keep a small “road kit” in your trunk - fluids, jumper cables, paper towels, flashlight, and a multi-tool.
9. Make It Yours
The best long trips have rhythm - not routines, but rituals. Maybe it’s a morning coffee stop, a specific playlist for each state, or pulling over to take one photo every hundred miles.
The more you personalize your trip, the more it feels like your own story - not just miles on a map.
Final Thoughts
Long-distance road trips are where you really learn what kind of traveler you are - patient or impulsive, messy or meticulous, observer or explorer.
You’ll hit moments where you’re tired, frustrated, or questioning why you thought 2,000 miles in a car sounded fun. But then you’ll see something — a sunrise, a view, a tiny diner in the middle of nowhere - and remember exactly why you started.
That’s the balance. The road gives you both.
