Best cars to rent for long road trips

No kidding! Think about it-especially if you have kids-why would you limit yourself with a stuffy, cramped car when you can get some leg room and some snooze room with a van?

I mean seriously, you already have a car right? Then why not try something different…a vehicle that will give you some pretty descent memories and some muscle on the road as you push your way across this great country. And not just any ol’ van…not one of those cute little fit-in-the-parking-space vans that spill out of virtually every garage in America on the first day of school and for 9 months afterwards.

road trips

Not quite.

What I’m talking about is a roomy comfortable highway super-cruiser. Now this is what I’m talkin’ about…a full sized van that doesn’t intrude on your comfort or compromise on power. Plus, with it huge front windshield, it opens up a whole new view of the road in front of you.

Friend, I have taken many a road trip in every kind of vehicle; from my used Honda Civic with two kids, to a nice big van with three kids, and I can tell you that they were the best times of my life. I would leave tomorrow with my grown-up kids if they wanted to hang out with dad for a couple of days.

Sliding down the Cascades after visiting Mt. Ranier…rolling across Idaho’s Sawtooth mountains…rumbling into Montana…Yellowstone…the Grand Tetons…pausing to soak in the breathtaking panorama of Glacier National Park before heading back down the rugged Oregon coast…

Believe me…IT IS THE BEST!

And forget about the gas mileage-there is no comparison with a car and a full sized family van that is designed to get you there and back in comfort. Here are some tips to help you minimize the impact of high gas prices. And remember, it’s not a problem because you can fit all of it-and your luggage-behind the back seat…

road trips

Get an ice chest and fill it up with sandwiches, snacks, cold drinks, fruit and whatever else suits your fancy. Put bags of munchies under the oversized seats. And most importanty: have an itinerary so you make the most of every mile.

This is about the best, not the cheapest. It’s about being comfortable, not making do. Your road trip should be a blast…and trust me: you certainly don’t want to be listening to whining kids while you’re looking out the window at the Columbia River with Mount Hood in the distance. And doing it all while sitting in your big, comfortable family van…and feeling good.