How to make a long road trip more comfortable

Long road trips can be taxing on your body and mind. That’s why, as well as making sure you have the correct car insurance in place and have conducted all essential pre-trip maintenance checks, it’s worth taking the time to make your car as comfortable as possible before a big journey.

​There are many things you can do to help make a car more comfortable when travelling long distances. While some of these suggestions may sound simple, it’s amazing how much of a difference they can make.

1.   Correctly position your seats

While you may not notice that your car seat is not in the correct position when using your vehicle for short journeys, if you are sitting incorrectly for a number of hours, pains in your back, shoulder, neck and even legs are far more likely.

Before heading out on any long drive, ensure you and your passengers have personalised the following:

• Alter the slant of the backrest
• Change the height of the seat itself
• Adjust the height of your seatbelt, if needed

Getting your seat in the best position to suit your body is not just important for comfort, it is essential for safety too.

If you’re driving, it’s also important to ensure you can:

• See clearly out of all mirrors
• Fully reach the foot pedals
• Reach the steering wheel without stretching

If, after you have correctly positioned your seat, you are still feeling uncomfortable, try adding a specialist padded seat cover to provide extra support for your back.

2. Clean and declutter

Sitting in a decluttered and tidy car can help passengers relax during long trips. With this in mind, you could consider:

• Keeping your car’s logbook and insurance details in the glove compartment
• Invest in car organiser for phone chargers, ice-scrapers and other travel essentials
• Non-essential items can be stored in a plastic box in the boot

Similarly, you’ll also be amazed at how much of an impact a dirty car can have on your road trip experience. Try to empty all the litter from your vehicle before a long journey and be sure to vacuum seats and footwells for a clean car interior.

3. Think about the sun

The sun can cause discomfort for motorists and their passengers at all times of the year, never more so than during autumn and winter. Its low angle in the sky during these times of the year can push rays below your car’s sun visor and into the eyes of drivers and passengers alike. This is why keeping a pair of sunglasses with tinted lenses in your car is a sensible idea.

Additionally, consider having your windows tinted to keep the sun’s glares at bay. This will not only keep you cool but also protect your skin from potentially dangerous UV rays.

Alternatively, you could buy reflective sunshades that can be placed on passenger windows as you drive, and a windscreen cover that will stop your car from becoming too hot when parked out in the sun.

4. Keep on top of car maintenance

While you may not associate the exterior mechanics of your car with comfort, they do actually play a huge role.

From ensuring your car’s up to date with its recent service to making sure the suspension, alloys and tyres are all in good shape, it's worth taking your car for a quick check-up at your local garage before a long drive.

After all, you don’t want to experience a bumpy ride or suspicious sounds coming from your engine when you’re out on the road!

5. Keep everyone entertained

Long drives can be dull, especially for passengers. Consider these tips for keeping people entertained, without distracting the driver.

• Listen to an audiobook on the sound system
• Attach portable media players to the headrests
• Invest in a magnetic version of your favourite board game
• Keep books of puzzles or crosswords in the car

How to sleep comfortably in a moving car

For some passengers, having a snooze is the best way to pass the time during a long car journey. However, positioning yourself comfortably enough to drop off, as well as ensuring you are not going to wake up aching all over, is not always easy. If this is the case for yourself, try the following tips:

• Make sure your head is supported, either by the in-built neck rest or by using a comfy travel neck pillow
• Ensure the interior of the car is set at a nice temperature and that you do not have blowers pointed directly into your face
• Wear comfortable clothing – if it is cold, wear warm, layered items, and if it is warm, wear cool, loose clothing
• Bring a travel blanket or small duvet if it is cold
• Wear sunglasses or a sleep mask if it is bright and you tend to sleep better in darkness
• Keep water and light snacks close at hand to keep everyone hydrated and hunger pangs at bay between rest stops
• Open the windows once in a while to allow fresh air into the car. This will perk everyone up and help to keep the cabin of the car smelling fresh

If you have a long road trip coming up, you may find it helpful to visit our Useful Article section. There you’ll find further driving tips, as well as information on staying safe on the road in later life.