Road-Tripping to Games and Festivals: A Safer Drive Plan

Driving to an away game or a music festival can be half the fun: your own schedule, room for a cooler and a flag, and no bag fees. It also puts you in charge of the parts an airline would otherwise handle, like the vehicle's condition, the route and staying alert for the drive home after a late finish.

This guide pulls together official safety advice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and consumer advice from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into a plan for a fan road trip. Venue parking and tailgating rules, toll systems and state traffic laws all vary, so check the official pages for the venue and the states you'll drive through.

Check the vehicle before you go

NHTSA notes that "a little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown." Do these a few days before the trip, so there's time to fix anything you find.

• Recalls: NHTSA's recall lookup lets you enter your license plate or 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN) to see whether your vehicle needs a recall repair. NHTSA says the tool helps you find steps for free repairs. Your VIN is on the lower left of the windshield and on your registration card.
• Tire pressure: Fill each tire to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which is listed in your owner's manual and on a placard on the driver's door pillar or frame. NHTSA warns not to use the number on the tire itself, which is the maximum the tire can hold. Check pressure when the tires are cold, at least three hours after driving, and don't forget the spare.
• Tread and damage: NHTSA recommends tread of at least 2/32 of an inch. In its penny test, you place a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head upside down; if you can see the top of his head, it's time for new tires. Look for cuts, bulges and cracks before long trips.
• Under the hood: Check oil, coolant, and brake, transmission, power steering and washer fluids. Inspect belts and hoses for bulges, blisters, cracks or cuts, and have a mechanic check the battery and charging system.
• Lights and wipers: Test headlights, brake lights, turn signals and flashers, and replace worn wiper blades.

Pack a roadside kit

Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so NHTSA recommends carrying an emergency roadside kit. Its list includes a cell phone and charger, a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares and a white flag, jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge, a jack and ground mat, work gloves and a change of clothes, basic tools and duct tape, water and paper towels, nonperishable food, drinking water and medicines, extra washer fluid, maps, and emergency blankets, towels and coats.

For a festival or tailgate trip, it's easy to fill the trunk with gear and forget these basics. Pack the kit first, then load everything else around it.

Plan the route, the stops and the timing

NHTSA's advice is to check the weather, road conditions and traffic before you leave, and to allow plenty of time rather than rushing. Review directions and maps even if you use GPS, and let someone know your route and expected arrival time.

On the road, NHTSA suggests keeping your gas tank close to full whenever possible and planning enough time on longer trips to stop, stretch, eat, return calls or messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy. Handle phone calls and texts at those stops. NHTSA's guidance is simple: do not text while driving or drive distracted, obey posted speed limits, and always drive sober.

Think about arrival time too. Event-day traffic near a stadium or festival site can be heavy. Check the venue's official website for parking and traffic information, such as lot locations, opening times and any rules on prepaid parking.

Don't make the drive home a drowsy one

The riskiest part of a fan road trip may be the drive home after a night game or a late headliner. NHTSA reports 644 deaths from drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2024. It says these crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, often involve a single driver running off the road at high speed with no sign of braking, and frequently happen on rural roads and highways. A drive home that starts after midnight and runs on rural highways fits that pattern closely.

NHTSA's main advice is sleep. It says getting adequate sleep daily is the only true way to protect yourself, and that experts urge seven to eight hours a night. Before a long car trip, get a good night's sleep.

NHTSA also warns that coffee or energy drinks alone aren't always enough. A seriously sleep-deprived driver may still have "micro sleeps" lasting four or five seconds, and at 55 miles per hour that's more than 100 yards traveled while asleep. If you start to get sleepy while driving, NHTSA suggests drinking one to two cups of coffee and pulling over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop, while noting that the effect lasts only a short time.

The best fix for fans is often the plan itself. Book a room near the venue for the night of the event and drive home in daylight, or line up a well-rested driver who skipped the late-night celebrating.

Tailgating, heat and driving sober

Tailgating rules are set by each venue and can differ a lot, from when lots open to whether grills are allowed. Read the venue's official policy before you pack a grill or a cooler.

If alcohol is part of the day, plan who's driving before you arrive. NHTSA states: "It is illegal to drive impaired by any substance in all states – no exceptions." It also notes that alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness. If you take any medications, check the labels for drowsiness warnings.

Hot parking lots carry their own risk. NHTSA warns never to leave children alone in a car, noting that a child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's and that even at 60 degrees outside with the windows cracked, a vehicle's interior can quickly reach deadly levels.

If you rent a car for the trip

Renting can make sense for a long drive or a bigger group. The FTC's guide to renting a car suggests comparing the total cost, not just the advertised price. Watch for:

• Toll programs, which may charge a daily service fee for every day of the rental, even days you don't use toll roads.
• Fuel charges if you don't return the car with a full tank.
• Fees for additional drivers. The FTC also notes that a collision damage waiver could be canceled if you let an unauthorized person drive.
• A hold on your card for more than the rental cost.
• Your data in the car's infotainment system. The FTC recommends deleting your paired phone from the system before you return the car.

The FTC also suggests checking whether your own auto insurance or your credit card already provides coverage before you buy the rental company's options.

Key takeaways

• Check recalls by plate or VIN, and set tire pressure using the door placard, not the tire sidewall.
• Carry NHTSA's recommended roadside kit, and keep the tank close to full.
• Drowsy-driving crashes are most common between midnight and 6 a.m.; plan to stay over or use a well-rested driver after late events.
• Driving impaired by any substance is illegal in every state, so set your driver before the tailgate.
• Venue parking and tailgating rules vary, so check the official venue page.
• Compare total rental car costs, including tolls, fuel and additional-driver fees.

Sources

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Summer Driving Tips
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Drowsy Driving
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Check for Recalls
• Federal Trade Commission, Renting a Car (September 2023)