Aren't road trips the best?

There's nothing quite like hitting the open road and... hey who spilled chips all over the floor?

Why did you veer off onto that backroad and where is the highway?

Road trips can be an absolute blast, but they can also turn into a disaster really fast.

Fortunately, you can avoid plenty of mishaps simply by taking some proper precautions to ensure your car travel stays smooth and fun.

Here's how to travel in the car and stay sane at the same time.

1. Clean your car (and keep it clean)

Sure, you could let all the crumpled receipts and fast food wrappers pile up in the backseat, but you'll really regret not cleaning your car once you have three layers of chips, coffee cups, and other garbage to content with.

There's nothing more stressful than hopping into a car filled with junk. Keep your anxiety levels low when you travel by car simply by keeping your car clean.

2. Keep important documents handy

Is that a cop behind you? Yep. Were you speeding? No idea because you don't know the speed limit.

It's easy to lose things when you're traveling with everything you need for a trip. Make sure your insurance, registration, and license all stay in one place.

Did you remember to pay that speeding ticket last month? You don't want any warrants turning up when you get pulled over in a strange location.

3. Always have a trash bag ready

Stop throwing trash on the floor! Keep car travel simple, laid back, and easy by always having a trash bag handy. Bring a couple bags so you can dump trash every time you stop for gas (they fill up quick when you're living on coffee and fast food).

4. Plan your playlist

You might have a bunch of podcast ideas and a great playlist ready to go, but what happens when you're driving in the middle of nowhere and your service drops? Sure, tuning into the local AM radio stations can be fun for a while, but it’s a good idea to keep a CD or playlist handy on your device.

5. Stock up on extra fluids

Wiper fluid, brakes, transmission, coolant: keep some in your trunk. You never know what problems you could run into on the road. Avoid simple problems turning into emergencies simply by keeping extra fluids and tools handy.

6. Always know where the gas stations are

Your phone isn't going to work when you need it most. Every horror movie ever made tells us everything we need to know about that. It's just how the world works. Before any car travel, try to mark on a map where some key gas stations are located.

7. Have a plan for getting off the backroads

When you opt to travel by car as opposed to a bus, train, or plane, going at your own pace and taking the scenic route is a must. However, make sure you have a plan to get off the backroads.

Some roads go on for miles and only have 35 mph speed limits. Are you ready to tack an extra four hours onto your 10-hour drive? Do you have enough gas?

8. Delegate tasks

So much responsibility seems to fall on the driver: navigation, playlists, driving, gas, conversation. One person simply can't handle it all.

Driving for hours on end gets tiring enough as it is – make sure you're prepared to delegate tasks as needed.

Take turns driving and navigating. Have someone else pump the gas this time. Your car travel will be a lot less stress inducing if you don't try to manage everything on your own.

9. Stay flexible when you travel by car

Don't bother making a plan. The cute restaurant you checked out online won't be open when you get there and that scenic route you want to take will be closed for construction. Just go with the flow.

10. Carry cash

Not every store takes credit or debit cards – especially if you're driving through small towns in the middle of nowhere. Always keep some cash on hand – both bills and coins – for items and tolls.