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Childhood family vacations, college outings, girl’s weekends, and a trip down the west coast as newlyweds. So many great memories of mine have been associated with road trips that they’ve become one of my favorite ways to travel. Which is good because between my in-laws living in Montana and favorite destinations all over the state, we’ve put a lot of miles on our cars. I’m pretty much a road trippin’ maven :).
While I love the experience of a long road trip, I don’t always love how I feel at the end of one. Sluggish, disheveled, sore and spent before I’ve even started my real vacation!
Over the years I’ve come up with some tips and tricks to avoid the dreaded road trip ick. Find out how Pennzoil Platinum®: Full Synthetic Motor Oil with PurePlus™ Technology and I make a great team when it comes to road trip success!
5 Ways to Feel Your Best at the End of a Long Road Trip
Take Care of Your Body
This may seem like a simple tip, but it’s also a very important one. Whether you are sitting for two hours or twelve, your body can get restless and sore from sitting in one spot for too long. My family is a vertically enhanced one, so our legs can get pretty cramped. Here are some things you can do to prevent your body from getting overly achy.
Make frequent pit stops
Common sense, right? Yet it’s tempting to forego these when you just want to reach your destination in a hurry.
Drink lots of water
Between the air conditioning (or heat) and too many carbonated beverages, my skin can feel very parched at the end of a road trip. Getting lots of water may lead to a couple of more rest stops along the way, but those stops are oh so worth it. Besides, it gives you a chance to walk it out when you stop.
Try to get rest the night before
This one has been the biggest challenge for my family. No matter how hard we try, we are up late with last-minute packing the night before. Driving long distances on little sleep is not a good idea. Rest up!
Have an in-car stretching routine
Even though breaks are best, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of taking your time. Sometimes, you really need to get there as fast as the speed limit will allow. That’s where an in-car stretching routines come in. This 3 minute Seated Yoga Routine is perfect for whoever is in the passenger seat. You may not have enough room to stretch your hands all the way up, but you can start the movement:).
We also like to bring some sort of massager or roller in the car with us to roll out knots or tension from driving. My favorite is a tool called the Backnobber, but we also just picked up a new roller while I was waiting for the oil to be changed!
Make it Fun
Road trips can be energizing if you spend your time well.
Great conversation
If you need a little inspiration, there are plenty of online conversation starters, like this 40 Questions to Ask Your Spouse to deepen your discussions.
Road trip games
Trivia (I like to bring boxes from board games or find things online)
Many more road trip game ideas.
Music Games (play “Name that Tune” or say the first memory that comes into your head when you hear a song)
Organization is Key
If I have learned one thing to keep my sanity during and after road trips, it’s organization!
Pack early
This goes with getting enough sleep, but you’re far less likely to leave something behind if you’ve packed ahead of time, and re-checked your list a couple of times.
Organize the inside of the car
We bought several things at Walmart to help us organize the inside of the car to prevent excess mess for our ride. My favorites are the plastic catchers that fit between your seat and the center console. You know, that mysterious area where things disappear? 
Some of our other must-haves are extra cup holders, a collapsible cooler, and a trash bag. When your car isn’t filled with trash at the end of the trip it makes it much easier to clean up when you get home. I even bought special car wipes that I could use to wipe up messes as they occurred. It felt so good to see a clean dashboard at the end of our trip!
Time management
The key to getting packed ahead of time and getting a head start on organizing is limiting errands. From grocery shopping to stopping at the pharmacy, there are so many things that need to get done. That’s why when I realized I could get my oil changed at Walmart’s Auto Care Center I was stoked! Groceries, games, car organizers, basically anything I could think of for a road trip was right there! It saved me so much time (and money in gas) it was unreal.
Less errands = more time = setting up your road trip for success!
Fuel Yourself Properly
The biggest reason I’ve felt awful by the end of road trips in the past is what I’d been eating. With fast food restaurants on every corner, it’s so easy to swing through the drive-thru and load up on salt and sugar. However, if you want to actually feel good, then I’d suggest packing healthy snacks and even meals for along the way.
If you’re really feeling ambitious, try finding semi-healthy places to stop and eat along the way ahead of time. Trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Care for Your Car
Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve munched on healthy snacks and played games inside of a clean and organized car. All that won’t matter if your vehicle has problems along the way. The last thing I want on any road trip is an unplanned adventure when it comes to our car :).
That’s why I always get my oil changed before any big trip, and I always make sure to use the best. We named our car Roxy because she’s sleek and fun, and she deserves the best.:) Pennzoil Platinum®: Full Synthetic Motor Oil is perfect for Roxy because I know that it won’t leave behind any sludge like lesser oils do.
And because we plan on having our car (Roxy) for a long time, when she’s older and wiser (75,000 miles) we can switch her to Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil and rest assured that she will continue to run as smooth as ever. Without those embarrassing leaks ;-).
The best thing about getting your oil changed with Pennzoil at Walmart (besides the awesome multi-tasking opportunity) is the prices. Currently, they’re rolling back prices on oil changes from $39.98 to $35.88, June 15-September 28th. That should just about cover all of your summer plans!
You can find an Auto Care Center near you here and learn more about Pennzoil here to keep your own cars running their best.
There you have it. My five ways to feel your best at the end of a long road trip! For us, after using these road trip hacks and making sure our car is running at its best, we’re ready to enjoy the journey of getting to our destination to spend time with family. So wherever your journey takes you this summer, I hope the path is a good one!
What are your methods for success on road trips? Please share them in the comments below!
Happy Road Tripping!
The post 5 Ways to Feel Your Best at the End of a Long Road Trip appeared first on Chasing My Halo.