by Angela V Are you planning a road trip to visit family during the holidays? I have usually only gone on road trips with the kids during the summer but there are a lot of people who choose to drive to their destinations during the winter as well. If you are one of them and you are hitting the road this season be sure to check out our safety tips below to ensure you make it a safe experience for all. Special thanks to Hyundai Canada for sponsoring this post.
Pack your First Aid and Emergency Kit: Ensure you have booster cables, a headlamp, fleece blanket, hats, knit gloves and hand warmer in your vehicle, and that there are enough for all passengers. If you are ever stranded and have to wait for help, having the proper equipment to stay warm while you wait can save your life. Be sure to pack all necessary medications and emergency food and water.
Get your Vehicle Checked and Snow Tires Changed: Make an appointment to get your car checked by a mechanic to ensure everything is in order. Get your tires switched to winter tires or consider purchasing winter tires if you don’t have them already.
Check Weather Warnings: Before hitting the road be sure to check the weather reports for any storm or weather warnings. Roads may be closed due to bad weather as well so plan ahead. If possible, avoid leaving if there are warnings and delay your trip until the roads are clear.
Clear All Snow Off Your Vehicle: Before you leave, ensure that all snow has been cleared from the roof, doors, windows, mirrors, and headlights of the car. Snow left on the vehicle can blow off while on the highway and cause accidents. If possible pack a small shovel and keep a snow scraper in the trunk of the car.
Get Wi-Fi in Your Car: If your vehicle doesn’t have Wi-Fi connection already, consider purchasing a mobile hotspot device to stay connected while you are on the road. You can check online news reports, stay in touch via e-mail with family and friends and be ready in case of emergency.
You are now ready to hit the road. Download your favourite family-friendly jams and get the family excited.
Happy driving and stay warm!
THE GIVEAWAY
Win it: One very lucky Canadian reader will win a $50 Visa Gift Card from Hyundai Canada. Perfect to help you winterize your vehicle before a road trip or to put towards a new set of winter tires. Enter to WIN via Rafflecopter below.
Good luck all!
Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Hyundai Canada. However, all opinions and views on this post are 100% my own.
191 Comments on “Tips for Safe Road Tripping During the Winter {$50 Visa Gift Card Giveaway}”
Spending time at home.
Don’t need to winterize the car if we all stay home all winter…
We are heading up to Chicago from Knoxville. I suppose I need to see about winterizing the car, now that I think about it…
I’m spending the holidays at home with my 2 kids. My mom comes and stays with me every year which is wonderful.
We are staying at home and having the whole family come to our house.
Spending Christmas at home/close to home, but getting out to the lake for New Years!
This Christmas I am staying at home 🙂 Merry Christmas!
We are staying at home.
We are spending the holidays at home, no travelling for us this year.
Have relatives over at home for christmas
We are spending the holidays home and catching up with our extended family.
We will be at home.
We will be spending the holiday at home.
This year we are spending the holidays at home because last year we spent the holidays visiting family in Quebec. We usually go away for Christmas every 3-4 years because it is such an expensive time to travel so we have to save up.
We will be spending the holidays at home and not travelling far. I am having surgery on the 22nd!
Spending the holidays at home with Netflix
We spend the holidays at home and most of our extended family comes home as well.
We are staying home since it is our son’s first birthday and we want there to be snow and a real Christmas tree.
We’re spending Christmas at home.
Im spending holidays at home this year.
I am spending the holidays at home
I’m spending it at home.
‘m going to my sisters for Christmas , not the far but far enough when your traveling alone.
We’re spending the holidays at home this year.
We always spend the holidays at home. I can’t imagine adding the stress of travelling into this busy time of year!
We spent a bit of time at my in laws (out of town) the past few days but that is about it. We will be spending the holidays here at home!
I am going on a road trip to see my mom in law.
I’m spending the holidays at home.
We usually travel every year but this year we are staying put.
I used to live away from most of my family, now that I live nearby, I stay put!!
We are spending holidays at home
I will be spending my holidays at home.
We are doing a bit of both. We are staying home on Christmas Day but going to my inlaws in Collingwood On for a few days over the weekend
I’m spending the holidays at home
We’re spending the holidays at home, I’m hosting Turkey dinner for my family.
We are staying at home this Christmas!
We are traveling to my in-laws
We will be spending the holidays at home!
staying home and having a merry little christmas
We’re at home this year, my daughter and family are coming up, my son’s in-laws are coming from SK and perhaps their son and children too. Another son of mine will be there too, so we’ll all be enjoying our time together.
We will spend Christmas Day at home with family and friends, but will also be traveling to see our grandparents during the holidays.
At home with extended family.
We are traveling to pick up our kids to bring them home for the holidays.
We are staying home this year!
All our family lives in the same town so we will be visiting everyone. Thanks
We’re staying home this holiday. People are coming to us instead.
Staying home with all the kids!
Spending holidays at home with family
Im spending the holidays at home with my little mini me! 🙂
We’re spending the holidays just a bit further from home, out in Kelowna, with my husband’s fam this year.
Some great tips here. We keep a metal shovel, heat pads and snacks in the car in addition to the first aid kit.
Just spending time at home this year.
Staying home for Christmas.
We will go Christmas day to the inlaws for supper but thats it. My son has been laid off and will be moving back home from another province and will be here during the first few weeks of jan to bring his three cats and some possessions with him, then we’ll do another meal for him
We will be travelling to Calgary at some time during the holidays as our first grandchild is due to arrive really soon.
I am staying at home with my hubby and kids and my mom is coming to stay with us for a few days !
I am staying home and having everyone here
this year we are staying home and enjoying some quality family time!
We are staying at home.
We’ll be staying home in snowy northern Ontario.
We will be staying home with family this Christmas 🙂 Thanks
We are spending the holidays at home, just venturing out for some winter recreation.
this year, we are spending the holidays at home
Home for the holidays
At home this year
We are spending the holidays home
At home this year.
We are staying home for the holidays.
We’ll be staying home for the holidays!!
I am staying at home.
we will be driving a couple hours up north to visit family
We’ll be staying home this Christmas.
At home with my dog
We will be at home.
We will be spending the holidays at home for part of the holidays.
I will spending the holidays at home
We are staying home for the holidays.
At home!
We are hosting Christmas at our home! Can’t wait to see the family!
We’ll be spending the holidays at home with family visiting us.
We traveled away last year for Christmas so this year will be a stay at home kind of year.
All my family lives in the city I do so we’re staying home. Thanks for the chance to win!
I will spend the Holidays at home.
We are staying at home!
We are at home with our boys and a girl. lol So use to having our boys.. it is nice to have another female around.
We are having Christmas at home!
I will be at home
travelling to the in-laws
I will be at home.
travelling to see family this year
At home
I am spending the holidays at home, my famil y is coming in from out of town
We’ll be staying home for the holidays.
I’ll be spending the holidays at home with family
For Christmas I am visiting relatives. I like to spend time with my family.
At home
I’m spending the holidays at home
I’m spending the holidays at home
Spending the holiday at home.
I will be staying home with family.
We will be spending the holidays at home this year!
I plan to spend Christmas with family…..
Staying home!
We will be having a quiet Christmas at home this year.
I am spending the holidays at home. I have family coming in for the holidays this year.
I’m spending the holidays close to home. We just travel a half hour out of town to family’s houses.
I’m spending the holidays at home!
We will be splitting our holidays by spending half at home and the other half traveling to spend time with family.
Spending Christmas at home, but having dinner with long time friends.
This year, we are spending the Holidays at home. Just relaxing and recuperating from the stress of the year.
I will be spending them at home with my little family 🙂
At home
We’re staying home this holiday.
We’re spending it at home, at our kid’s place.
I will be staying home for Christmas!!
Family has dinner and time together.
I am spending it with my family, no need to travel!
I’m staying home because I have to work!
I am spending Christmas at home.
i went to mexico but got back yesterday
I am spending the holidays at home.
We went to my parents place for Christmas. Today, we’re going downtown Toronto for Disney on Ice! 🙂
I am spending the holidays at home
Spending the holidays at home!
We’re staying close to home for the Holiday!
we went to the mainland on the 23rd, and so far the rest of the time we stayed close to home
I am spending the holidays at home
We are just staying home this year! Lots of appetizers, Netflix holiday specials, & relaxing!
I am spending the holidays at home.
We spent Christmas Day with our daughter and are heading to Montreal soon to our son’s.
Spending it at home.
home for the holidays,,, a few friends will come and enjoy treats,,
We will be staying at home and visiting with family and friends.
We spent it at home.
Staying at home this Christmas!
We have stayed home this year but are spending lots of time with family and friends. Thanks for the super giveaway opportunity.
I am spending the holidays at home this year
This year we are spending our holidays at home
Spending it at home
Out of work could use the cash for bills
We spent the Holiday at home as we do every year as don’t like travelling Northern roads in winter or flying across the country! Will get in some visiting with good friends and enjoy our time off from busy schedule.
I am spending the holidays at home.
Great car – great brand – great contest. Thanks!
We are spending the holidays at home. Family we be coming to our place
Spending time at home.
I spent my holidays locally this year. Most of my family is in town, so we got to spend it together!
We stayed home and spent it with family and friends.
I spent the holidays at home with friends
Spending the holidays at home. (Too cold to travel!)
We are mostly spending them at home. We only have to travel within a half hours distance a couple of times to visit with family!
I’m spending them at home
We did a bit of both! And we’re not done yet! I like to add a bit of a ‘staycation’ with a night of pizza and swimming at a local hotel. 🙂
I went to Calgary
spend time at home by fireplace, entry pls
I spent the holidays home i had family fly in from Vancouver
This year, our family is staying home and entertaining visiting family members.
I stayed home for the holidays.
Holidays at home 🙂
It depends on what you mean by “holidays.” I spent Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day all at home. I happened to be visiting my parents out of state on Halloween. 🙂
we are spending the holidays at home
We stayed home. Nice to not have to travel
I am spending the holidays home with my 2 munchkins – 1 is leaving for college/uni in the fall so it’s probably the last one like this for a while.
Sorry, I sound sad – I’ve begun to realize what will change when she goes away and I am not happy for it. Happy for her but the change not so much.
M
Definitely spending time at home.
We spent the holidays at home. It was nice to not have the additional stress of travel, especially when it was -40 outside!
I spent the holidays at home, most of my family is in the same city.
We spent the holidays at home.
Definitely spending time at home.
We spent the holidays at home! We are lucky that both of our parents live in the same town as us, so never have to travel too far!
I had tot travel a little but for the most part staying home
We always spend the holidays at home and visiting family in the US.
I spent the holidays at home with friends i had a christmas party.
We didnt go anywhere my wife cooked at home
We actually travelled to my parents 2 days in a row due to other family members not making it due to weather. We also, hosted a family Christmas.
We traveled a bit, but mostly stayed home. 🙂
We went to my in laws for the holidays
Stayed home with the children.
spending it with my bestie and her amazing family
We’re spending Christmas at home.- family dinners
I’m travelling from Niagara to Winnipeg to visit my family! Praying I don’t freeze to death!
we arent going anywhere
we spent the holidays at home
We spent time with family near home on Christmas day and with other family a couple hours away from home after New Year’s.
I went to see family. It was great
I spent the holidays at home this year! Thanks
We spent them at home.
We travelled to visit my boyfriend’s family for part of the holidays and stayed with my parents for the other half.
we spent the holidays at the grandparents which was a 6 hour drive
Always traveling to visit are family and friends
Spending time at home.
Congratulations Ira on winning a great prize. 🙂
We were 17 staying from 1 night to two weeks and 18 for the turkey feast. 🙂