This post is in partnership with Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book; all opinions are my own
My favorite time of year to road trip is during the winter. There’s just something about being in a warm, cozy car when it’s cold outside that gets me extra excited about my end destination. Sure, we all know that I love road tripping during the summertime too (see my recent trips to Santa Barbara and Solvang here), but I love heading to the mountains as soon as the weather starts to drop!
Living in So-Cal, we are very fortunate to be driving distance to the beach and to the mountains. We’re a quick 15 minute drive to the beach and just a little 2 hours of a drive up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, which are popular winter destinations in So-Cal.
Some popular destinations for the winter near So-Cal are:
- Solvang
- Big Bear
- Lake Arrowhead
- Lake Tahoe
- Palm Springs
- Mammoth
- Joshua Tree
- Yosemite
We just got back from Lake Arrowhead a few weeks ago and we can’t wait to plan our next trip back up the mountain soon. We got our first sight of snow for the season and the views at the lake were breathtaking. If you haven’t been there before, you have to add it to your list!
Before you plan any winter trip, it’s important to winter-proof your car before you hit the road.
Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book recommend these simple car care tips to ensure you hit the road safely
Check your lights
With the sun setting early, you’ll want to be sure you have full visibility at night time, and that other cars can see you.
Maintain your battery
It’s more difficult to operate a battery in cold weather, than in warm weather. Plus, a car that has been sitting idle for a while can lead to a battery that may fail. Be sure to check your battery before heading to any far destinations
Flush and fill the coolant
This is super important as it keeps the engine from freezing in cold temperatures
Top off gasoline and washer fluid
Keeping your gas tank full at all times prevents water from freezing inside your fuel pump *yikes*. You’ll also want to keep your washer fluid full so you know you’ll be able to clean off your windows for any debris that lands on your car blocking your vision.
Invest in winter tires & stay on top of tire pressure
We just replaced the tires on both of our cars before the winter and it makes such a difference in the drive. Tire pressures drop with the temperature so we thought now would make sense to get this taken care of!
Test your defroster and heater
Need I say more? Imagine being stuck in the middle of a winter storm with NO HEATER. Do not let this be you, be sure to check the climate control and defroster so there’s no issues with the temperature
Pack a survival kit
Always have a kit of must-have items with you. We carry a first aid kit, basic tools, a flashlight, snacks, water, etc. in case of any emergency.
There’s nothing like being prepared when you are on the road. This season I was really hoping we’d be traveling in our Sprinter van but we weren’t able to get it ready on time. We purchased it back in August and have been working to convert it into a camper-home and we can’t wait to take it on all of our road-tripping adventures next year when it’s ready.
We discussed the idea of purchasing our Sprinter Van when the pandemic hit since it’s a safe way for us to travel while socially distancing. Please also be sure to follow your state’s orders when it comes to traveling to follow all rules and regulations!
Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book have been trusted resources for decades when it comes to buying or selling a vehicle. We did a ton of research before buying our sprinter van on KBB.com and Autotrader and we are so happy that we did. It ultimately led us to taking the plunge on our sprinter van and we purchased ours all the way from San Francisco – without even seeing it in person, crazy right? We had it shipped to us and it’s been the best decision we’ve made this year!
Use Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book’s variety of helpful tools, articles and resources to make the most informed decision when buying or selling!
Happy (safe) traveling!
