5 tips to plan your epic snowboard road trip!

Submitted by Hannah on June 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

So I like to think of myself as a master road trip planner. I get routes, destinations and even gas prices all figured out. Then I leave the rest up for spontaneity. Although I go on about 1/10th of the road trips I actually plan, I feel like I am pretty good at figuring them out. So here are a few tricks to planning the best snowboard road trip extravaganza.

Fill up your car

Not with gas, but with people. If you have a five-seater, fill it. Yeah, it may seem uncomfortable but that will be the time to bond. Nothing bonds two people faster than a puddle of drool on your shoulder. Plus it doesn’t hurt to get a lot of people pitching in for gas. Make sure you have enough room for all your gear too. Which leads me to my next point:

Packing to perfection

Because your car is full of people, packing is no easy task. Pack only what is necessary. Here are some necessary items to bring on your trip:

  • Extra shirts and sweaters: Nothing will be more miserable than running out of clean, dry clothes after spending all day in the snow.
  • Snowshoes: If you want to pass on the lift tickets grab your snowshoes and just hike it.
  • Shovel: For obvious reasons.
  • Snacks: There is no such thing as a road trip without snacks, and especially not a snowboarding one. Keep snacks handy.

Do your research

Check road conditions and gas prices along the route you are planning. It would probably be a good idea to check the weather and snow conditions for the days you will be shredding. It would suck to get up there and it be too foggy to see or there be no snow on the mountain.

Round up on your budget

Don’t go into any sort of road trip thinking, “$350 is all I need.” You are kidding yourself. Even if you have all the hotels, gas, food and lift tickets figured out, there will always be hidden expenses. It’s just a part of life. Plan for the unexpected and you won’t find yourself stranded without the cash to get home.

Find the perfect balance

People are either too spontaneous or too rigid. Don’t be either. When it comes to the perfect road trip let your whims take over, but don’t end up spending hundreds more than you need to because you have no idea where you are going or what you are doing. Plan your route. Have an idea where you will stay each day or where you want to end up. If you are really digging a certain mountain, bag the itinerary and stay another day.