Guide to Road Trips for Travel Nurses

Some consider the road trip to be an American rite of passage. A long drive on our nation’s highways and back roads reveals an amazing variety of beautiful landscapes, charming towns, and iconic roadside attractions. A road trip could be the perfect beginning for your next travel nursing assignment! Read on for our list of tips for travel nurses looking to take the road trip of their dreams.

Do a Vehicle Checkup

It’d be a shame for your road trip to be interrupted by preventable problems with your vehicle’s basic functionality.

Before you head out onto the open road, bring your vehicle to a mechanic for a basic checkup. Make sure your breaks, tires, windshield wipers, and fluid levels are in good shape. Inflate your spare tire and pack tools and accessories like jumper cables, a tire jack, and lug wrench to make sure you’re prepared.

In the meantime, make a checklist and pack the essentials for your trip.

Create a Budget

There are countless opportunities to spend money on a road trip. Creating a budget for your trip will help you make decisions and plan your days. Plus, it’ll make the occasional splurge more rewarding.

Decide how much to spend on lodging and food, and do some research on gas prices along the way. Don’t forget to account for unexpected costs, like flat tires or tolls.

Prepare Entertainment Options

Relying solely on the radio for your drive might leave you disappointed, as local radio programming isn’t as vibrant or diverse as it used to be.

Thankfully, there are countless hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks at your fingertips if you have a smartphone.

Download the soundtrack to your trip from music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. If you prefer the spoken word, you can learn about every subject under the sun on your favorite podcasts or experience the novel you never read on audiobook from apps like Audible.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Find an adorable little town worth exploring? Want to take a detour to see a jaw-dropping natural wonder? Feel like an afternoon in the nearest park rather than finishing the day’s drive?

If you keep a loose schedule, you can do all of these things without. Play more and stress less by giving yourself extra time to arrive at your destination.

Plan Your Daily Endpoints

If your road trip will take more than one day, there are two reasons why it’s a good idea to plan where you’ll be ending your drive each day.

First of all, it’s a safe thing to do. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll risk getting stranded in an uninhabited area in the middle of the night.

Planning your daily endpoints also allows you to pace yourself, providing you with more freedom to explore when inspiration strikes.

Bring a Real Map & Vehicle GPS

Modern technology has simplified navigation and communication, and bringing a Vehicle GPS is a safer alternative to using your phone. Check out Vehicle GPS options at Amazon.

However, GPS technology is not perfect. Mobile phone service can be spotty on the open road, restricting your access to phone calls and GPS devices.

Invest in a real map! You may never have to use it, but better safe than sorry.

Pack Plenty of Healthy Snacks

The temptations of the drive-thru seem to be around every corner. Unfortunately, the empty calories in fast food won’t provide you with the energy and focus you’ll need for long days of driving.

Pack a cooler full of water and snacks like:

Hard-boiled eggs
Apples, bananas, or grapes
Beef jerky
Almonds or pistachios
Hummus and celery
Dark chocolate
Sliced bell peppers and guacamole
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Your snacks will pack the punch you need to seize the day, and your body will thank you later.

Consider Camping

There are many state and national parks that offer campgrounds with breathtaking views of nature. Embracing the great outdoors will save you money on motels and make for great memories later on.

In fact, you can check out the location of every national park at the National Park Service’s Index, and the location of state parks near you at the National Association of State Parks’ website.

Take Photos

Make memories and document your road trip by taking photos along the way. Once you arrive at your destination, you can settle into your new home by putting together an album to share with your friends and family.

Taking photos will help you remember the thrills of the open road forever.

Taking a road trip to a travel assignment can be an incredible way to kick off your nursing adventure. We hope these tips help you turn your next road trip into the excursion of a lifetime!