Get your motor running.
You’re not going anywhere if your car isn’t in working condition. Here are a few things you need to do before you begin your road trip:

Maintain the oil. Having your radiator coolant leak out along Route 66 is no way to enjoy a day of travel. Have all of your fluids checked before you head out. Make sure that the mechanic checks for leaks as well.

Go under the hood. Check for corrosion and cracks on battery cables and hoses. A freshly changed air filter will keep harmful particles like the dust of the Southwest and the ragweed of the Midwest away from your engine. Battery tip: If you’ve had your car battery for a few years, consider getting it changed—hot weather drains it faster, and getting stuck on a highway like the Massachusetts Turnpike with a dead battery is no picnic.

Test your car’s features. Other things to have checked in your car include air conditioning, wiper blades, lights (inside—including your check engine light—and out) and the electrical system.

Corrina Phillips, a road tripper from Logan, Utah, also recommends a AAA membership: “It’s nice to know that you have someone you can call, no matter where you are, to get you out of trouble.” Besides, she adds, “All it takes is one major tow bill to realize what a blessing AAA can be.”

And whatever comes (your) way.
Being prepared with the right gear for your road trip is important. Always have water on hand, especially if you are traveling in the Southwest, where service stations are few and far between and the heat is dry and intense. Know the region you are headed to and pack accordingly. Here are some other important must-haves on any road trip:

First-aid kit.

Emergency food. Make sure it is high in protein and keeps well—granola and jerky are good choices.

Flashlight. Change the batteries before hitting the road.

Updated map or road atlas.

Extra blanket or two.

Looking for adventure (and lodgings).

Marriott International’s Laurie Goldstein offers this advice: “It’s always best to make reservations in advance. You never know what’s going on in town, and if the hotel is full.”

If spontaneity is more your thing on your road trip, it’s a good idea to print out contact information for several hotels and campgrounds located along your route.

Born to be wild.
A road trip is all about the journey. Stopping to see amazing—or weird—things is part of the fun. Here are a few sights along common routes:

Baker, California: Site of the world’s tallest thermometer. When you see how high the mercury climbs, you will truly understand why Baker is the “Gateway to Death Valley.” Rockport, Massachusetts: Newspaper house. A visit to the Atlantic coast is no good without stopping to see a house within which the furniture is composed entirely of rolled-up newspapers.

Central Illinois: World’s largest model solar system. Visiting the planets in all the little towns along Route 66 (including Peoria) is an entire day’s journey by itself.