Popular Winter Road Trips You Must Try

Experience The Best Getaway Winter Road Trips 

Between the falling leaves, cold weather, and brown grass, the Southern Hemisphere has finally reached the bulky puffer jacket season. With lots of hot water bottles and hot chocolate to pass around, it’s safe to say winter is finally here. 

Depending on where you’re based, you could be having the mildest winter that the year brings to your city or be experiencing some bone-chilling winter wind throughout the valleys and coastline.
 
Between traveller blogs to publications like Car Mag, there are a couple of favourite spots to visit this season; it’s just a matter of bringing the family and spouse to the idea of leaving a cosy home for a rather “chilly” adventure. 

From finding the best routes and spots that cater to everyone’s needs to preparing the best road trip snack ideas from our beloved Woolworths, as well as games to keep passengers entertained. You certainly won’t have any trouble making it a memorable one for all involved, even if the in-laws want an update every 5 minutes from the next vehicle.

Road Trip Preparation  

Before heading to your next destination, there are a few things you should remember when travelling, whether it’s nearby or over 2 hours away. 

Whether you’re someone who prioritises comfort or enjoys keeping busy during the road trip, here are a few tips and tricks you can put into action:

1. Car servicing is a must a few weeks before you travel. Get a professional mechanic to look at any issues that you’ve had.  
2. Give it a good clean inside and out. Remove excess items that take up space.
3. Check tyre pressure, top up fluids, and make sure lights are working properly.
4. Keep everything organised according to activity or snack.
5. Prepare dustbin bags for rubbish along the way. 
6. Ensure the essentials are always in your vehicle, such as a warning triangle, a spare tyre, jumper cables, and more.  
7. Pack according to the weather of your destination, an extra jacket or two, for example. 

You’ll want to make sure you have a few things ready and organised: 

• A vehicle maintenance checklist.
• Plan your route ahead of time, especially if you’re taking toll roads. Even if you put your trust in Google Maps the night before, planning matters.
• An appropriate pet-friendly car seat (if you’re travelling with a pet).
• Ensuring that your child’s or baby’s car seat is set up accordingly and meets safety standards. You’ll be surprised by how many mistakes parents make when it comes to car seats for children younger than 12 years old. 
• Be sure to plan your rest stops ahead of time. 
• Have the right toll fees in cash or card if you’re travelling long distances.
• What happens if you break down? Read our guide for more: What to do if your car breaks down. 

Road Trip Snacks

This is where the important road trip planning actually begins, especially for the passengers. You can’t travel too far without the right padkos, right? 

Here’s what Woolworths suggests: 

• Pack snacks that travel well: food that you don’t have to put away in a fridge and that are easy to store.
• Ready meals are a must if you’re visiting rest stops: things like chicken wraps or sandwiches make for a light but fulfilling meal. 
• Bring your favourite sweet treats, granola or protein bars, and nuts. These make for easy packing. 
• Pack and chill your drinks before you hit the road. Be sure to have the right cooler bags that you can carry without extra hands or heavy ice blocks. 

You need just enough for however long your drive is, don’t over-consume or over-pack like you’re going to starve– there’s always a stop along the way. 

Now that you’re ready to go, did you pack the biltong, too? 

Games for a Road Trip

When the trip gets going and starts to feel endless, choosing a game for a road trip makes it worthwhile, especially if someone left their iPad charger behind.  

Aside from watching a movie, the classics spring to mind for good reason. Here’s how you can keep the passengers entertained on long drives: 

This is especially useful if you’re travelling with children. 

• Play the alphabet game: spot the letters using billboards or car stickers. 
• I spy: The classic games of all games on car trips, find something with a letter and let the others guess what you’ve spotted using that letter.
• Licence plate game: Try to figure out licence plates from their respective provinces. 
• Word association: Someone says a word, and another person responds with a word they associate with the previous one. It then continues with each passenger until you run out. 

Best Road Trip Ideas According to Travellers

The Best Place to Travel in Winter 

Thanks to travel bloggers and getaway publications, you know you’re going to be in for a good time. 

The Karoo

Although it can get quite nippy in the middle of winter, that shouldn’t stop you from bringing your flask, puffer jacket, and beanie along. Between beautiful sunrises and cosy fireplaces, the Karoo is more than just a vast landscape that stretches horizons and passes flat-topped mountains. 

From mountain ranges and quad bikes to wine tasting activities and charming towns, the Karoo makes for a wonderful stop, especially if you’re travelling through to another city.  The day can get nice and toasty, although the evening might leave you feeling frosty and in need of a fireplace, so it’s a good idea to pack wisely. 

Accommodation ideas: Places to stay in the karoo

The Drakensberg Cathedral Peak

This one is for the snow lovers. The trip covers around 390 km straight from Johannesburg, a doable 5-hour drive. This is an iconic, free-standing mountain that sits 3005 metres above sea level. Hiking trails, views, and waterfalls make for an adventurous time if you’re excited to spend time outdoors. 

There’s enough accommodation to go around, from motels and hotels to self-catering and Airbnb.  

Accommodation ideas: Places to stay near Cathedral Peak 

Afriski Lesotho

The kingdom of Lesotho is pretty special in winter, as outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous couples can take the weekend to go skiing and snowboarding. This gorgeous spot sits 409 km outside of Johannesburg, which allows for a 5-hour drive with a few stops along the way.

There are plenty of booking experiences that you can choose from, via TripAdvisor or Get Your Guide; there’s enough to do in the cold season. Plus, there’s no shortage of lodges and resorts to meet all budgets in and around the area. 

Don’t forget to pack your passport and make sure you read up on tips to help you cross borders easily. 

Accommodation ideas: Places to stay near Afriski Lesotho

Dullstroom 

While temperatures can average around 14 to 18 degrees and blue sunny skies, it’s the nighttime that can keep you up as temperatures drop below freezing at this time of year. What makes this spot special, especially for couples, is that retreats are incredibly popular. 

From quaint villages to some cosy spots and experiences, Dullstroom is a trip that you won’t want to leave off your bucket list, even in the winter. Be sure to pack a few layers, thermal bases, scarves, and jackets. 

Some of the key highlights: Harry’s pancakes, whisky tasting, fly fishing, hiking, horse riding, and much more. 

What really makes this trip worth it, especially for Joburg residents, is that it’s only a 2h 48m drive (approximately 263 km). 

Once you’re back from your trip, don’t forget about post-road trip car maintenance and car servicing. Now that people are hanging onto their vehicles longer, it’s wise to start investing in long-term care.

Accommodation ideas: Places to stay in Dullstroom

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve got some gorgeous spots to visit this season, there’s no reason why you should push it to warmer weather. Sometimes, the best experiences are ones where not everything is crammed together at the end of the year. 

If you have children, use those school holidays wisely. If you’re married or travelling with others, nothing quite like grabbing the 4X4 and testing the adventurous spirit out on the open road in South Africa or across our neighbour’s border.