Disappointing photos show what taking a road trip is like in real life

Gabbi ShawJun 13, 2020, 21:30 IST

A family road trip.Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

With the coronavirus pandemic putting all types of travel at risk, more people are expected to take road trips this year.
While road-tripping can be a fun way to see the country, there are things you should be prepared for.
Always keep an eye on your gas tank — some stretches of highway are completely empty of everything, including gas stations.

Road trips are definitely better than they once were — no more dealing with maps, making cassettes or CDs in advance, or having to pack food strategically.

But, they're still not all they're cracked up to be.

From boredom to questionable rest stops, there are a lot of things that can turn your next open road adventure into a nightmare.

Taking a road trip always sounds like a great idea at first, especially the thought of hitting the open road and seeing some beautiful scenery.

The open road. haveseen/Shutterstock

But depending on where you're going, your highway might look a little more like this.

LA traffic is notorious. Kevork Djansezian/Getty

While you might expect some stunning roadside scenery ...

Castle Rock in Kansas. marekuliasz/Shutterstock

... in reality, there probably won't be a whole lot to see.

Not much to see here. Google Maps

Gas stations are a nice way to break up long drives.

Helios House, Los Angeles, California. Carlos Chavez/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

... but you shouldn't take them for granted.

The gas light: every driver's worst nightmare. Daniel Grill/Getty Images

And while you may expect some cool roadside attractions to help pass the time ...

Salvation Mountain in California. Christopher Morris/Corbis/Getty Images

... they don't always live up to the hype.

Too many tourists. ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Your car might start out looking like this ...

So fresh and so clean. Pichai Pipatkuldilok/EyeEm/Getty Images

... but after days of driving and eating at drive-thrus, it will probably start looking a lot more like this.

Slowly everything you've packed gets pulled out. Jess Milton/Getty Images

Choosing the right music is a big part of any road trip ...

A good soundtrack is half the fun. Soloviova Liudmyla/Shutterstock

... but if you're traveling with kids, it might be more like listening to the "Frozen" soundtrack on repeat for hours.

It might seem fun at first. Sam and Nia/YouTube

Everyone loves a good road trip game, like "I Spy" or "License Plate Bingo."

Kids in a car. Shutterstock

But there are only so many rounds of "20 Questions" you can play.

Unless you shove screens in their face. Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

At a minimum, road trips are a good time to time catch up with friends and family.

A family road trip. Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Unless you discover that you suffer from car sickness, which is definitely never fun.

Best case scenario: puking out the window — not all over the car. metamorworks/Shutterstock

Long hours of driving require staying awake. Energy drinks are a great way to keep your eyes open ...

Red Bull. Arnd Wiegmann/REUTERS

But you'll eventually have to pee. And rest stops aren't the cleanest places on the planet.

Why is there a cone on the toilet? Pete S./Yelp

And good luck to you if your pet is coming along for the ride.

This pup does not look pleased. Posh_portraits/Getty Images

Walking along a highway isn't fun for either of you.

Walking a dog along a highway. Shutterstock

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