Spring is on its way in North America, and the entire nation is getting stir-crazy as it waits for COVID-19 to cease its terrible effects on society.  In the midst of stay-at-home orders, people are keeping busy with a variety of mind-numbing activities, but there are some ways to keep hope and optimism alive for the future.  Not all isolation activity need to be boring.  In fact, this time can be very constructive and invigorating—including planning the summer road trip you intend to make in your Jeep.  Here are five ways you can begin building the framework for one of the most memorable road trips of your life.

• Begin with the Destination in Mind

A road trip should begin with the TURNAROUND destination in mind.  Decide where your turnaround point will be midway in the trip, and then work from there.  For example.  If you live in Spokane, WA, perhaps you want to make a 7-day road trip to the Redwood National Park in Northern California.  The driving distance between Spokane and Redwood National Park is 719 miles which is about 12 hours of driving.  If you depart Spokane on Monday morning, plan on driving a comfortable six hours each day which allows multiple sight-seeing stops along the way.  Remember, build “joy in the journey.”  At six hours a day, you’ll arrive to Redwoods National Park Tuesday night.  If you spend two full days in the Redwoods, this allows a two-day return trip.  On the return, consider changing things up a bit by taking a different route back from the one you took for your outbound drive.

• Take Proper Snacks

Snacks should do more than fill your tummy.  They should provide good energy and focus to enjoy your long-sought-after adventure.  Resist the temptation to load up on garbage food from convenience stores.  Instead, plan ahead by packing energy-packed nutrition bars like the Melaleuca Access Bars, the Clif Builder Protein Bar, or any of the energy bars from Nature Valley.

• Plan Restaurants for their Experience

Part of building “joy in the journey” is to choose excellent eating experiences along the way.  Avoid chain restaurants and instead opt for local cuisine.  This will take a little research ahead of time, but by carefully choosing amazing dining establishments you will be building some of the most memorable highlights of the journey.  Assume breakfasts will be taken care of at the hotel.  Lunch and dinner, however, can be high points in the day to look forward to with great anticipation. 

• Build a Music Playlist

Do this ahead of time!  Don’t fumble with your phone the day of departure.  Build a soundtrack for the journey according to different circumstances and moods you’ll encounter.  For example, perhaps you want a playlist with upbeat, motivating music for mornings; a playlist with thought-provoking music for afternoons; and a playlist with audio books during the monotonous stretches of road.  Building a music playlist not only helps build enjoyment during the trip, but it will with memory recall later in life because that song will be forever-tied to one of your road trip memories.

Don’t rely on subscription streaming services to serve up your playlist during the drive, especially if you’re travelling through swaths of the country where service signals are spotty.

• Markup a Paper Map

It’s crazy to think that paper maps are relics of the past, but they essentially are.  However, a good “old-fashioned” paper map can build a tangible sense of reality to your impending trip . . . especially if you’re planning the trip while in isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Take a map and begin marking it up.  Highlight your intended routes.  Circle places you’d like to visit.  Make notes.  Keep this map in a very visible location where you’ll see it every day: the fridge, a bulletin board, on the wall, etc.  Have it as a constant reminder that you will get through the COVID-19 pandemic and that good times in your jeep are around the corner.