Road Trippin’: Winter Travel Tips to Keep You Safe This Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas creeping up, it’s time to start getting your holiday travel plans in order. And while mapping out routes and checking the weather are definitely at the top of any road trip list, driving in the winter presents some of its own unique challenges. Be ready—and safe—with some of these helpful winter travel tips and handy car accessories from brands you can trust.

Know Before You Go

No one likes unwelcome surprises in the middle of a long trip. Not bringing an extra coat, forgetting to pack the snacks—even a flat tire—these generally qualify as “inconveniences” on a good day. But during the winter? When you’re potentially hundreds of miles from home? These events can be downright dangerous.

Take some time the week before your trip and make a physical checklist. This is a busy time of year — don’t assume you’ll remember every little thing necessary for the ride.

Let the tips below serve as a guide. And remember, the cheapest travel insurance is preparation.

Give Your Vehicle a Check-Up

Winter can be tough on your vehicle. And if you’re living in a place that’s already seen some snowfall and low temperatures, your car may be past due for a little TLC.

AAA offers this comprehensive Winter Car Care Checklist—a great resource for owners trying to keep up with cold-weather maintenance. Regardless of what kind of holiday travel you have planned, before you hit the road you should at least:

Check tire pressure and tread depth.

Tire pressure drops as the temperature does, so you should check it frequently this time of year. As for tire tread, anything less than 3/32-inches should be replaced—especially if you plan to drive on snow. (In fact, anything less than 5/32-inches will show a substantial decline in performance.)

Here’s an easy way to check your tire’s treads:

Insert a penny into your tire’s tread groove with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see all of Abe’s head—you’re past due for new tires.

Check fluid levels.

Make sure all fluids are at or above the minimum safety levels. Additionally, ensure your vehicle’s fluids are suitable for freezing temperatures, making swaps where necessary.

And while you’re filling that washer fluid, make sure your wiper blades are in good shape. A streaky windshield makes snowy roads harder to see. Brands like ANCO and PIAA are always a go-to this time of year.

Test the battery.

While we never leave home without a portable jump start (more on that later), why not get ahead of the problem? Make sure your battery is fully-charged and in good working condition.

Fill the tank.

Starting with a full tank saves time, ensuring you can just get in the car and go. Plus, if you get stranded, more gas in the tank will allow you to keep the car running for warmth. Believe it or not, this simple task gets forgotten all the time in the hustle and bustle of holiday travel.

Plan for the Worst

While breaking down is unlikely, it’s better to be safe than sorry. No list of winter travel tips is complete without an emergency car kit recommendation and here’s ours: CUSTOMIZE.

There are dozens of great kits on the market, but even the most comprehensive one won’t have everything you need. Your best bet is to build your own from scratch or buy a starter kit and add in extra necessities.

The basics should include: a decent first aid kit for both minor injuries and complex emergencies, any essential prescription meds, good-quality work gloves, a flashlight with extra batteries, a tire gauge, basic hand tools, duct tape, a paper map in case GPS signals are spotty, jumper cables, and safety flares.

Consider swapping those jumper cables for a portable starter. Small enough to tuck into a glovebox or car kit, these little chargers pack a big punch. For less than $100, the Weego 44s can jump start your car, truck, or SUV, recognize a lead acid battery as low as 0.5 volts and deliver voltage support, hold a charge for 1 year, and provide up to 1,000 charging cycles. Also, for around $118, the CTEK MSX 5.0 actually tests your car battery condition and then charges it according to a built-in automatic temperature sensor.

For winter, you should add: an ice scraper/snow brush, a warm blanket, hand warmers, extra washer fluid, a tow strap, a folding shovel, and plastic bags for wet clothing or gear. Consider investing in a spare tire traction system if the roads could be rough. Maxtrax, Tred, and Escaper Buddy all make off-road traction boards that can offer some peace of mind.

Keep some convenience items in the cabin with you, like easy-to-eat snacks, extra water, charging cables, and perhaps a game or two if you’re traveling with kids.

Don’t forget about your furry friends! They’ll need water, food, and a sturdy leash. Kurgo, Dexas, WeatherTech, and DOOG have dozens of clever accessories crafted with pet travel in mind.

Pack Smartly

It’s not always WHAT you pack—sometimes it’s HOW.

… Hard-sided suitcases might not squish into the trunk as nicely, but they sure do a better job of resisting water, slush, and snow when they inevitably fall out the hatch.

… Avoid overloading the cargo area if you’re driving an SUV. Rear visibility is important in any driving situation, but especially when traveling on wet roads.

… Place a bag of kitty litter in the cargo bay or trunk. Not only does it add a little extra ballast, but it also doubles as a traction aid if you get stuck.

… Consider investing in some quality cargo management.

Yakima offers an enormous variety of bags, baskets, boxes, and racks built to handle everything from delicate gifts to rugged snow sport gear. Plus, a rooftop carrier can provide some much-needed elbow room in the car, making travel time more comfortable.

Rightline Gear is another trusted name to turn to when it comes to car carriers. All of the company’s car top and car back carriers attach to vehicles with or without a roof rack, and they ensure 100% waterproof protection.

Drive Safely

It’s easier said than done, but winter driving requires you to take it slow. The point is to get there in one piece—even if that means you miss the appetizers.

Here are a few other useful winter travel tips:

… See and be seen. Keep the windshield clear, the defrosters on, and the headlights/taillights clean and in good working order. Brush off any snow that accumulates on your car over night or at stop-offs along the way.

… Be on the defense. There is perhaps no other season when you need to be more aware of what your fellow drivers are doing than winter. Turn off the cruise control, apply the gas and brakes slowly, and give a wide berth to the reckless idiots zipping down slushy roads. Avoiding rush hour travel can help cut down on some aggravation, too.

… Take a break! Split up the driving responsibilities if you can. Additionally, factor some time into the travel plan for bathroom breaks and snack runs. Sometimes just getting out of the car to stretch for a few minutes is enough to re-energize your focus.

These winter travel tips show that with a little prep and patience, you can put the “ease” back into your seasonal travel.