Home is where I park it. Fuel math and a packing list so the only surprise is the view.
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Plug your miles, your mpg and the price per gallon into the Only Vans fuel calculator to see gallons and total cost. A 300-mile drive at 25 mpg and $3.50 a gallon is 12 gallons, or $42. Snacks are a separate, much bigger budget.
Start with gas from the Only Vans calculator, then add lodging, food, parking and park fees. Add 10 to 15 percent for surprises. Now you have a budget you'll ignore at the first cute bakery.
Check tire pressure when the tires are cold and use the number on the sticker inside the driver's door, not the one on the tire. Under-inflated tires waste gas and wear out faster. Check the spare too.
Why did the van go to therapy? It had way too much baggage. It also had a lot of unresolved road rage.
Easy starts, steady speeds and less hard braking can stretch every tank. Highway mileage usually drops at higher speeds. Cruise like you have nowhere to be, because technically you're on vacation.
Use bins by category: kitchen, clothes, tools and snacks. Keep daily-use stuff closest to the door and rarely used gear in the back. Label everything, because you will forget.
Add how many people are splitting gas and Only Vans shows each person's share. That same 300-mile drive as a round trip is $84, or $21 each for four people. Whoever controls the music pays the same, sorry.
We've been driving for 11 minutes and someone has already asked if we're there yet. It was me. I asked.
Switch the trip type to round trip and Only Vans doubles the miles for you. A 450-mile drive at 18 mpg and $3.89 a gallon is 25 gallons, about $97.25 one way or $194.50 there and back. Your van's thirst is real.
A common road-safety tip is to stop about every 2 hours or 100 miles to stretch and reset. Drowsy driving is dangerous, so swap drivers or pull over somewhere safe if you're fading. Nobody wins a prize for driving tired.
Fill the tank, reset the trip meter, drive, then fill it again. Divide the miles driven by the gallons you put in the second time. That's your real-world mpg, and it's probably less than the sticker said.
My gas gauge says 40 miles left, then 12, then 'good luck.' It's the most dramatic thing in the van, and I'm in the van. Fill up early, friends.
The Only Vans packing checklist covers the stuff people forget, like a headlamp, a first aid kit and a spare phone charger. Check items off as they go in the van and it saves on your phone. Leave room for souvenirs and questionable gas station snacks.
Keep jumper cables, a flashlight, a first aid kit, water, a blanket and reflective triangles in the vehicle. Toss in phone chargers and some snacks too. Hope you never need it, brag that you have it.
Mix crunchy, sweet and protein: nuts, crackers, fruit, cheese sticks in the cooler, and something chocolate for emergencies. Pack wipes and a trash bag. Crumbs in the seat are forever.
Expectation: sunrise coffee by a lake. Reality: wrestling a sleeping bag in a parking lot at 6 AM. Still worth it.
Before you book anything, run the route through the Only Vans calculator so gas doesn't blow the budget. Try a lower mpg if you'll be climbing mountains or towing. Then add a cushion, because gas prices love surprises.
Extra weight and rooftop cargo boxes can cut your mileage. Pack what you'll actually use and leave the 'just in case' bowling ball at home. Your van is not a storage unit, Linda.
Plan a stop every couple of hours, pack a bag of small new-to-them toys, and take turns picking the music. Audio stories make the miles fly by. Snacks are currency; spend them wisely.
Rule one: the driver gets first pick. Rule two: nobody eats the last chip without asking. Rule three: crumbs are the passenger's problem.
Text a friend your route, where you're sleeping and when you expect to check in. Cell service gets spotty in remote areas, so download offline maps before you go. Safety first, scenic selfies second.
Stick to campgrounds, rest areas that allow overnight stays, or places that clearly permit it. Rules vary by city and state, so check signs and local rules before you park. Trust your gut and move if a spot feels off.
I talk to my van every morning. I say, 'Please start,' and it says, 'Click.' We're working on our communication.
Pre-chill the cooler, pack it full and keep drinks in a separate cooler so the food one stays shut. Keep perishable food at 40°F or below. Open it like a bank vault, not a fridge at midnight.
Empty the cooler and let it dry with the lid open, toss the trash, and shake out the floor mats. Restock the emergency kit while you remember what you used. Then nap, because road trips are exhausting.
Every road trip has one person who skips every song after 9 seconds. That person is not allowed near the radio. That person is also me.
Crack a window or vent when you sleep in a van, and never run a stove, heater or generator inside without proper ventilation. A carbon monoxide alarm is cheap and could save your life. Fresh air is free.
Pull forward after you pump if you're running inside for snacks. Someone behind you also wants to get to the beach. Be the road tripper you wish to see in the world.
On remote stretches, fill up when you hit half a tank instead of waiting for the light. Gas stations can be far apart and some close early. Running on fumes is not an adventure, it's a walk.
A parked car heats up fast, even with the windows cracked. Never leave kids or pets inside, not even for a quick stop. Take them with you, every time.