9 Winter Road Trip Preparation Tips

What To Know About Winter Road Trip Preparation 

Road trips come in many forms, from solo journeys to a bonding experience with the family to a fun adventure with friends. No matter the reason for your trip, you often need to complete a list of preparations to undertake the journey, and that’s no different for a winter road trip. Preparation details, however, can differ depending on the time of year, and when travelling in colder weather conditions, your winter road trip preparation needs to be more robust to account for the increased risks of winter driving. 

That’s why we’re sharing these tips on how to prepare for a winter road trip! The car insurance experts at Morison Insurance know the inherent risks of long-distance travel and want you to be safe while on your winter road trip. Preparation for any long journey can feel overwhelming, but if you follow these winter road trip preparation tips, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have the supplies you need should you get stuck somewhere. 

9 Winter Road Trip Preparation Tips

1. Prepare Your Car 

The first step in preparing for any winter road trip is to prepare your car for travel. Whether it’s a day trip or across Canada, if your car isn’t properly prepared for cold weather long-distance travelling, you could end up stranded in a strange place with no phone signal or supplies, which is a very serious situation in winter. So, as part of your winter road trip preparation, fill up the gas tank and ensure you get your vehicle travel-ready for winter. 

2. Get Winter Tires 

Having winter tires is essential when you are travelling long distances in the winter. Snow tires have deeper treads than summer tires or all-season tires, allowing them to better grip slippery road surfaces in icy conditions and maintain optimal traction control in colder temperatures. This ensures you can properly handle your vehicle and break when needed, so as part of your winter road trip preparations, get winter tires installed on your car. 

Additionally, depending on where you are travelling, consider having tire chains installed. Tire chains, or snow chains, help increase tire traction by biting through the surface of snow and ice for better vehicle performance. However, if you are considering them as part of your winter road trip preparation, keep in mind that while most modern varieties are easy to install and remove, if you don’t install them properly, they can damage your tires. Speak to your mechanic or your Morison Insurance agent to see if tire chains can benefit your winter road trip preparations. 

3. Get Your Car Serviced 

In addition to changing out tires, another part of winter road trip preparation is to get your car professionally checked out and serviced. This includes changing the oil, having the engine looked at, replacing windshield wipers, checking the fluid levels, ensuring your signal and brake lights work, checking tire pressure, and having winter washer fluid put in. Having your car examined before embarking on your road trip will ensure it’s in good condition for travelling, and allows you to get any issues taken care of. 

4. Clean the Car 

You and your road trip companions are going to be spending a lot of time in your vehicle, so as part of your winter road trip preparations, thoroughly clean your vehicle. This includes the windshield, car windows, floor mats, car seats, dashboard, and any crook and cranny. Having a clean car for your long winter travels will help ensure that everyone is comfortable during the long drive—and no one can complain about your messy car. 

5. Create An Emergency Kit 

When driving in winter, road conditions are not always ideal, and even the best drivers can encounter problems and get stranded somewhere. Those chances can increase if you are driving somewhere you are not familiar with, so on your winter road trip preparation list, make sure to include packing and carrying an emergency kit for your vehicle. 

Having an emergency kit on hand can prove vital in the event of an emergency, such as getting stranded on a road during snowy conditions. Make sure your kit includes winter road trip essentials such as a snow brush and ice scraper, jumper cables, windshield washer fluid, extra wiper blades, first aid kit, blankets, bottled water and some non-perishable food like granola bars. For a full list, check out our winter emergency car kit checklist. Remember, even if you never end up using it, it is always best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario when doing winter road trip preparations. 

6. Dress Appropriately 

You’ve probably packed winter clothes for your travels, but make sure to include travel-ready outfits as part of your winter road trip preparations. While you should have a warm winter coat and snow boots on hand, bulky winter clothes aren’t always the best things to wear while driving. While these clothing items should be within reach if you need to exit the vehicle, consider dressing in multiple warm layers that are flexible enough to move around in and wear comfortable shoes for driving. Make sure your driving outfits include gloves and sunglasses to keep your hands warm and prevent the bright sun from blinding you. 

7. Pack Everything Securely 

Winter road trips usually require a fair amount of supplies, and the more people in the vehicle and the longer you are travelling, the more you need to pack. But the last thing you need while navigating an icy, unfamiliar road is a loose suitcase sliding around in the back and distracting you. So this tip for winter road trip preparation is to make sure you back everything securely without obscuring your vision and causing additional blind spots. 

If you have time before your trip, figure out the dimensions of any bags or boxes you’re bringing with you and what they’ll contain. Make sure the more heavily used items are easily accessible, and you don’t need to take everything out to locate supplies such as food or snow-clearing equipment. If you have overhead storage capabilities, consider using that for items you won’t need until the end of the trip. If you are worried about space, prioritize the essentials for your winter road trip preparation and packing. 

Additionally, pack the vehicle well in advance before you leave, as you don’t want to scramble at the last minute trying to organize suitcases and bags. 

9. Watch For Winter Weather 

Ideal driving conditions rarely happen with winter weather, and you may find yourself travelling in -20°C weather through snow or on icy roads during the winter months. So as part of your winter road trip preparations, keep an eye out for the weather forecast and be prepared to make adjustments if a winter storm or inclement weather event is on the horizon. 

While you should try to avoid driving in blizzard conditions or other bad weather, sometimes it is unavoidable. But by tracking the weather during your winter road trip preparations, you can be better prepared for whatever winter conditions nature might throw at you, allowing you to arrive at your destination safely. 

9. Plan Your Travel Route Before Hitting the Road 

While you should know what route you are taking to get to your destination as part of your summer or winter road trip preparations, this message bears repeating for your winter trip. Planning your route can help you avoid the worst of winter weather, and communicating this travel plan can give your friends and family an idea of where you’re supposed to be and when. 

However, during this part of your winter road trip preparation, make sure to account for extra time, driving at slower speeds, and the possibility of more frequent breaks than you would for a summer road trip. Rushing while driving in the winter is a recipe for disaster. Additionally, be prepared for the possibility that you may need to stay somewhere longer in case of dangerous road conditions or road closures. You want to get to your final destination safely, after all, and some highways may close depending on how bad the weather gets. 

Drive Safe

Now that you have all the items prepared for your winter road trip, it is important that you get to your destination safely.  Be sure to follow all winter driving safety tips, and when in doubt, if you do not feel comfortable, pull over and wait until the weather subsides.